How to Raise A Soccer Player: Top Tips for Parents

If you are the parent of a boy, who has already been showing success in the youth football team, this article might be useful to you. You will receive detailed instructions on how to be helpful to your son in achieving his dream of a brilliant professional football career and how to join a soccer academy. So you  willl find how to raise a professional soccer player.

Those children who have such a hobby can look different from others. After all, professional sports are always a separate thing in society.

Unfortunately, in most cases, parents have some problems with young stars, especially when it comes to the balance between the various needs of the child and his career. Most adults just follow the wishes of children, not knowing how to help them competently.

The biggest problem is when the moms and dads of young 12-year-old soccer players don’t understand what is needed to make their child an elite player.

There is another type of parents who think that if their son dives deep into sports, then the rest of his life will be undeveloped. They are so worried about school, education, institute… Since it’s not easy to get a child to study well while attending workouts.

We want to tell you the secrets of the process of becoming professional footballers so that you can look at this path from the outside and see all the stumbling blocks, possible difficulties. And after that, you may draw conclusions about which method of European youth soccer development to choose.

We will also share stories of how to combine education and constant football competition without prejudice to both sides. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on how to support your child in his professional development. You will also read additional comments on how to be useful to your child, and detailed advice on each stage of his development.

So, here’s how to become a professional football player!

Summer Camp in Your Country or Abroad

This option is ideal if your son is between 5- and 12-years old soccer players. However, we immediately warn you that the closer your child approaches the title of “teenager”, the more you need to make sure that he doesn’t ignore his studies for the sake of football.

This is the biggest risk that mothers of such children face thinking about what age can you go pro in soccer. The best decision at this age is to place your child in an American high-performance academy. Another good option is the same educational institution but in European countries. If you are from Europe, traveling abroad to the United States can discipline and educate your child to take responsibility for his own life and independence.

There are many ways to become a pro player in soccer, it depends on both countries and cultures. Even if you cite the example of a soccer player from an American state and a European country, their path will be radically different! You should learn about how, when, and where footballers travel, what competitions they take part in, what elite trainings they should pass, what stages of European youth soccer development they should go through. And only then your idea of this sport can develop. But getting to know the professional path is only the first step.

Below we will tell you about the path of players from the USA and Europe in the world of football, and you can compare their soccer experience.

America’s Youngest Elite Footballers: Professional Growth

So, what age can you go pro in soccer? Below you’ll see recommendations at different stages of the development of football players regarding their age.

5-9 years old: At this age, the best way to gain experience is to take part in a local or travel team, which will consist of experienced and talented coaches. You may need good contacts to put your child in really good hands.

9-12 years old: Your son should start attending the USSDA team and pay as much attention to training as possible. This will help him get closer to becoming the best in the area. In the summer, 12-year-old soccer players can go to football camps somewhere abroad. This will allow you to deepen your knowledge, get additional education in a sports environment, exchange experience with foreign players.

12-17 years old: At this stage, you can take more decisive steps and try to join the Football Academy in the USA, for example, the one that belongs to FC Barcelona in Arizona. This step will be one of the most crucial. The footballer will spend there from 1 to 4 years.

15-18 years old: At this age, the question arises about how to join a soccer academy and gain recognition. It’s very important to maintain contact with coaches and teachers in the college, as well as take tests. One of the good options is to go to the European High-Performance Soccer Academy. Of course, this will also last up to 4 years, but here the young athlete will gain confidence and a sufficient knowledge base for the game.

18-21 years old: Here a football player can play at the university of the first division. These universities know how to become a part of the MLS and, besides, they will professionally teach and prepare football players for the exam. You will also need to get to know the MLS trainers and college representatives personally. Another option is to sign a contract with Adidas to participate in the early pro game. And in the end to play MLS Superdraft. 

21-22 years old: you can go to MLS Superdraft and receive the title of a professional soccer player.

European Footballers: Youth Soccer Development

5-9 years old: What age can you go pro in soccer in Europe? Usually, at this age, young European players participate in local competitions and are a part of the youth teams of the eminent football clubs in their city. A child should participate in a summer football camp, where already famous football clubs gather. This will help you gain experience and exchange skills.

10-15 years old: Young footballers can often stay in local small junior teams or take the next step and get into a larger team in prestigious football clubs with an option to live on site. In local clubs, you can continue playing without spending the night.

13-18 years old: At this age, teenagers who have already determined themselves can try their skills in the most highly qualified educational institutions, usually football academies. Even though they have one drawback, the expensive cost of education, these effective institutions can still maximize the safety and the best knowledge base for your child. This will help the young footballer become a highly paid professional in the future. An excellent opportunity is to enter the American Academy of Achievements since a football player will have a chance both to learn and participate in competitions and matches.

16-21: Probably the best age for young stars. During this period soccer players begin to sign contracts with cool football clubs. Usually, well-known teams invite young players with the further prospect of becoming part of the main team and participating in world matches.

Also, another goal is to raise a young soccer player into a professional in his field and then send him to games for other teams (the so-called rent). Or another way is to sell the player to another club for a lot of money.

How to join a soccer academy? If you are still for sending your son to a high-level academy in the United States, please note that to be admitted, a football player must attend a winter football camp and pass entrance exams.

Also, camps for young football stars are the best way to reward your child and give him an unforgettable experience. Firstly, it is an excellent exchange of experience, and secondly, an opportunity to improve communication skills, become more independent and organized. It is worth noting that such an experience allows soccer players to discover new parts of a child’s talent and awaken their even greater interest in sports.

Another important point is that the youth team under the age of 12 should train as much as possible, learn from great masters in a variety of approaches. This is what can help reveal their talents from different angles. So, at a very early age, the child will already be able to determine his direction, his strengths, and weaknesses, continuing to grow even more effectively.

One of the main tasks is to provide the child with the opportunity to learn from different masters. This will give him a chance to discover various sides from many angles. Since every coach is just as strong in something of his own, and this is the only way to help reveal all the talents of young elite players.

12-year-old soccer players will be able to try all styles of play, as well as innovations that football offers. Adapting to diverse positions and working with different coaches will give young footballers the opportunity, already at an older age, to be more adaptable to changing jobs, playing styles, and more flexible in solving all serious problems.

It will also be great if your child tries himself in different positions on the field. This will help him understand the game better, navigate faster, and get the victory by scoring the best goals.

Getting to know the different styles of play is best done during the summer vacation soccer camps.

When your son turns 13, his workouts are likely to be more intense and highly effective. At the same time, according to the experience of most players, discipline and rigor appear.

How to Join Soccer Academy?

Of course, another important part is constant training and work on yourself. Even if your child has outstanding inclinations and talent, if not developed it will fade away over time. You can’t just pass the boards on raw talent. And this is also applicable to football. If a child doesn’t work, doesn’t develop his skills, he will not withstand the competition among more persistent players. And even if, on the contrary, your son hasn’t shown super results right away, but he is hardworking, energetic, then the chances that he will become one of the world-class stars increase significantly! 

Of course, the task of parents is to support the child’s initiative to attend classes, and at the same time, it is important to establish discipline and a strict regime. This is the most important KEY to the success of any professional. 

However, you shouldn’t bet all the cards on football. After all, this is life and it’s changeable. You can’t predict how it will be in 10 years or 20. That is why it is important to develop your son in many ways and give him a good education. Only in this way, if he leaves football, he will be able to find himself in life not to get depressed and not be left with anything.

A great way to give a young footballer everything he needs is an academy. This will create a balance between learning, sports, and communication. Boarding schools are also included in the list of institutions, which cope quite well with the tasks set helping young talents to develop their skills and discover various parts of their creativity. Thanks to a professional team, academies help to cultivate the willpower, character, endurance, and leadership qualities of the players.

While getting an education at the American Football Academy it is not important where your family lives whether in a European city or one of the American states. Every talented and persistent young footballer can get into the academy.

Education in the States is arranged in such a way that, in addition to knowledge, students also receive good sports training. This helps to stay in shape and not ignore training. Also, participation in competitions is a bonus for all elite young players.

If your child has outstanding talents and shows excellent results, he is quite eligible to receive a scholarship at a prestigious educational institution.

It is very important from an early age to pay attention to the level of education in your region since this is the initial guarantee of success. If the sections are not strong enough or do not provide the necessary amount of knowledge, you should think about moving or transferring the child to another place for training because it is the level of the coaching staff that affects what knowledge and skills a young athlete will acquire. And if he doesn’t receive the knowledge base, he will hardly be able to compete with his rivals at higher levels.

However, high-profile colleges have created an interesting proposal. Only those athletes who have previously studied in other prestigious institutions and competed with the most world-famous clubs can get to them. This certainly helps in the future to reach the highest level for everyone who enters the academy. However, it is very important not to forget about the very first experience of the child. Therefore, in the initial stages, he must receive the best knowledge.

Getting into such an American institution, the competition among applicants will be one of the most serious. But if you have done everything necessary during these years and followed all the recommendations, you have nothing to fear! Be sure that your son will receive the support of the scouts and their professional interest.

However, to say that there is no equal opportunity for everyone would be untrue. If your child has studied in the hinterland without super cool coaches, but he has excellent inclinations and plays great, he will receive a scholarship like others. Only now the statistics of such cases are very low.

European Education for Elite Players

The United States is not the only option for education. If you do not consider it, Europe is a good alternative. The European Union has a lot of professional sports academies.

Spain is one of the most highly efficient places to develop the talents of young athletes. Here is the best level of professional training in the world of football.

The Spanish academy had the honor to host such eminent stars as Oliver Torres from Porto, Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, the wonderful soccer player Berta Pujadas from Real Club Deportivo Español, and thousands of other stars who have become the property of world football in professional and semi-professional levels.

Another good option is the UK Football Academy that is famous for the eminent players who studied there. Among them is Emmanuel Oyeleke, a guy who became part of the English National League and plays for Aldershot Town, as well as a member of the second division of the English League, Calaum Jahraldo-Martin.

The differences between the European and American systems are big. For example, the importance of learning and getting a decent education is often overlooked in Europe. That is why the European system gives many chances to play at an advanced level, even if there is no diploma from a cool academy.

Typically, youth teams deny the effectiveness of traditional education. It is very common for players to become part of the official soccer teams that have high ratings at a young age. They hope that soon if they show good results and prove themselves as professionals, the way will be opened for them to a more prestigious, and maybe even a world level.

Such clubs often allow young footballers to live in a hostel. At the same time, they negotiate with schools, and then the student can go to school and train, having time for both. This system is very convenient. However, as you know, football clubs often devote most of their time to training and competition, relegating studies to the background.

Also, the clubs have already created their system, but apart from them, there is little use since they do their job only for personal interests. It often happens that good players who can easily become semi-pro in their field but do not have the necessary skills to bring money to their club are deprived of any professional help. For example, they are left without advice and support.

But don’t worry, there are other ways to make your child a professional player! You can train in places that prioritize learning and provide a lot of advice. These can be football academies.

Highly qualified football academies can help tackle the complexity of the youth system in Europe. This is what can become the most accessible path to success for your child.

Highly effective academies, first, set a goal to maximally focus on education, and develop professional qualities, will, endurance, patience, and leadership skills. They are the most unbiased because, unlike clubs, they do not have a closed system and therefore only defend the interests of their students. They take the utmost care to find the best opportunities for them, depending on their level of professionalism and playing style. Moreover, we are talking about both professionals and semi-professionals.

Learning Outcomes in the USA and Europe

It is very interesting when EU citizens go to American colleges and Americans go to European ones. This is a great way to get to know a different culture, country, and generally become independent and mature.

European highly professional academies work closely with football leagues from different European countries. The Spanish Academy of High Achievements in Barcelona broke all records. The institution continues to prepare many soccer players for the La Liga football league. And the English Academy in Britain produces brilliant footballers for the Premier League in the UK.

On the other hand, the academies of achievements in the USA have good connections with universities. That is why young footballers have a chance to get a scholarship and, before going to MLS (Major League Soccer), go through competition among all American institutions.

You should also know that Ertheo is a renowned Spanish education and sports agency that collaborates with all of Europe’s top academies, including the academy from Club Barcelona in the States.

The modern educational market offers various options for soccer players, namely summer camps with clubs such as Atlético, Liverpool, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Arsenal.