We're seeing an uptick in super-talented young American players turn pro, sort of emulating the European model. If a teen shows a ton of
potential and gets an offer from a pro club, she's likely to turn pro these days--though some may still opt to go to college. I don't know what sort of offers these 15/17/18 year-olds are getting. It's important to know that signing a pro contract as a 15/17 year old doesn't mean you're going to make it as a pro. Some won't--and that's been an issue in Europe and South Africa as a lot of boys--and now, to a lesser degree ,girls--start training with the youth teams of pro clubs at age 8 or 10--and it essentially becomes their lives, with a bit of schooling mixed in--for a number of years. How long they stick with the club depends on how well they develop. Those who develop and show considerable promise stick, those who don't get cut at some point, which can be devastating for kids who've devoted years to pursuing a soccer career.
Of course there are different pro levels, and there are a lot of players who are good enough to play professionally in a second-or third division pro league but not for the senior club. Our own Shae Yanez played for England's second division--which has some quality soccer teams-- for about three years before being signed by San Diego of the NWSL. And then you have players who are good enough to play for senior clubs in Europe--but they may be lower table clubs in prominent leagues or clubs in lesser leagues like Portugal or Iceland, most of which have less money, lesser facilities, lower pay.
One of Pensky's first blue-chip signings was a midfielder from Northern Virginia named Carlyn Baldwin. She played for the U.S. Under 20 NT and played in the 2014 U20 World Cup. Her father was the primary owner the Washington Spirit from 2018 to 2022. Baldwin was a good but not great player for us--and then as a junior, I believe, tore ligaments in her one of her ankles pretty badly. As I recall, she lost a season here, then signed to play professionally with a Swiss team in 2016. She played one year for that team, then has spent her career ever since playing in the Portuguese League. It's not a great league--one hardly hears of it--but she's played in Champions League matches and is still playing in that country. I don't think she's been good enough to play for better teams in better European leagues--she signed with Benfica, a well-enough club in the Spanish League--a couple of years ago, but the contract was terminated after a couple of months. Neverthess, I assume she's had a wonderful international experiernce.
potential and gets an offer from a pro club, she's likely to turn pro these days--though some may still opt to go to college. I don't know what sort of offers these 15/17/18 year-olds are getting. It's important to know that signing a pro contract as a 15/17 year old doesn't mean you're going to make it as a pro. Some won't--and that's been an issue in Europe and South Africa as a lot of boys--and now, to a lesser degree ,girls--start training with the youth teams of pro clubs at age 8 or 10--and it essentially becomes their lives, with a bit of schooling mixed in--for a number of years. How long they stick with the club depends on how well they develop. Those who develop and show considerable promise stick, those who don't get cut at some point, which can be devastating for kids who've devoted years to pursuing a soccer career.
Of course there are different pro levels, and there are a lot of players who are good enough to play professionally in a second-or third division pro league but not for the senior club. Our own Shae Yanez played for England's second division--which has some quality soccer teams-- for about three years before being signed by San Diego of the NWSL. And then you have players who are good enough to play for senior clubs in Europe--but they may be lower table clubs in prominent leagues or clubs in lesser leagues like Portugal or Iceland, most of which have less money, lesser facilities, lower pay.
One of Pensky's first blue-chip signings was a midfielder from Northern Virginia named Carlyn Baldwin. She played for the U.S. Under 20 NT and played in the 2014 U20 World Cup. Her father was the primary owner the Washington Spirit from 2018 to 2022. Baldwin was a good but not great player for us--and then as a junior, I believe, tore ligaments in her one of her ankles pretty badly. As I recall, she lost a season here, then signed to play professionally with a Swiss team in 2016. She played one year for that team, then has spent her career ever since playing in the Portuguese League. It's not a great league--one hardly hears of it--but she's played in Champions League matches and is still playing in that country. I don't think she's been good enough to play for better teams in better European leagues--she signed with Benfica, a well-enough club in the Spanish League--a couple of years ago, but the contract was terminated after a couple of months. Neverthess, I assume she's had a wonderful international experiernce.
