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Two coaches break down NCAA versus NAIA for young soccer players aiming for pro. NCAA offers better scout visibility. Playing USL 2 in summer, especially with teams affiliated to pro clubs, works as a stepping stone to professional soccer.
Two coaches break down NCAA versus NAIA for young soccer players aiming for pro. NCAA offers better scout visibility. Playing USL 2 in summer, especially with teams affiliated to pro clubs, works as a stepping stone to professional soccer.
NCAA is better than NAIA. That is my opinion. However, I am very well aware that there are lots of NAIA schools that are equally, if not better, than NCAA schools. The truth is, NAIA or NCAA really depends on your goals, aspirations, and what fits best for you. So there is not really a, this one is better than that one.
But when it comes to going pro, It can be helpful to say you've gone to an NCAA school. Often the coaches that are at the pro level are very familiar with the NCAA because players get drafted from the NCAA. They can also get recruited from NAIA schools to go pro. It definitely has happened many times, and sometimes NAIA schools are better for going pro abroad because you make a lot of connections. If you plan on going pro in the United States and you want that pro soccer blueprint, what I would tell you to do is try and play at an NCAA school in the summertime. Go play USL 2. The next summer, play for a USL 2 that's directly affiliated with a professional team, whether that be in the USL, the Women's USL, or the MLS on the men's side, because they have direct contacts with the first team. It's really no different than getting an internship. When you get an internship, you're more likely to eventually gain that position because the people know you. So if you can go play for a team that's going pro, it's going to be a lot better for you because they're going to know you. Now, if you're not sure which teams are connected to the pro teams at the USL2 level, or maybe you don't even know what USL2 is, of course you can schedule a call with me, but you can also Google what is USL2 and which teams are affiliated. Now, I have a document that those who work with me get that document to see which teams are connected with who, and if you guys really want it, leave a message in the comments and I can probably add it into the link in the bio so that way you guys can have access to it too. I want everybody to get a chance to know what the Pro Soccer Blueprint is. I know you guys were really wondering where my shirt is from. This is Atlético Paranaense. When I was 15, a coach by the name of Beto, who coaches at LA Breakers here in SoCal, took me to Brazil along with our American team and we played in this tournament. That Pato used to play in and Kaká used to play in. And Atlético Paranaense was one of the clubs that showed a little bit of interest in me, and I got to train with them, and it was a transformational experience. If you're under the age of 14, I'll say 15 as well, and you have the chance to just go train abroad, even if you don't get to sign with the team, I would totally say go for it because it's a game-changing experience.
