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What if you're a soccer star but you can't do that anymore and that's the one thing you're good at?
Greetings! I'm Ms. Tipton at the International Community School. My 3rd graders have a few questions and I'd like to share your advice with them. Thanks in advance!
#soccer #career-advice
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9 answers
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Michael’s Answer
I am going to assume that your definition of being a "Soccer Star" is that someone has reached the highest level (i.e. professional) for that sport. With that assumption, it can be very difficult as a pro on top of their sport to arrive at the conclusion that I can no longer play. Once you accept that I can no longer play, then there can become new alternatives. For instance, the retired star can now seek to be a coach, and pursue great achievement. As a coach, the retired star can set an example and teach others to become great. The retired star can also become an ambassador of the sport of soccer, and promote the sport to those who know or do not know of the sport. Lastly, the retired pro can go into what is called the "Front Office" and become either a General Manager of a team or an Owner of a team. Therefore the retired pro can create soccer camps, aside from scouting and drafting potential future soccer professionals.
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John’s Answer
Often great athletes struggle with what to do when the careers are over. Many often try coaching. This said the most important thing is to get a good education. Athletic skills diminish with age. Education stays with you your entire life. You will use your knowledge every day to make simple and complex decisions.
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Kimberly’s Answer
I bet you're good at other things also! You just may not have discovered what all your other talents are. I played soccer also in high school and was pretty good. I played left forward. I was a fast runner. What were you good at? Were you good at running or playing defense. You can try to find another sport that uses those skills. For example, I ran track also.
Talk to your gym teacher for other sport suggestions.
Kimberly recommends the following next steps:
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Alexander’s Answer
There is a range of options for an ex-star player revolving around the sport.
One could pursue a coaching career - several famous soccer managers are ex-players that had to stop playing careers for various reasons (injury, retirement, etc) and achieved further success by managing soccer teams.
Many ex-players are now TV pundits / experts / commentators offering unique perspectives with their knowledge of the game.
There are also plenty examples of successful soccer-related business and managerial careers that former players go into (club presidents, sporting directors, advisers, negotiators, agents, etc).
One could pursue a coaching career - several famous soccer managers are ex-players that had to stop playing careers for various reasons (injury, retirement, etc) and achieved further success by managing soccer teams.
Many ex-players are now TV pundits / experts / commentators offering unique perspectives with their knowledge of the game.
There are also plenty examples of successful soccer-related business and managerial careers that former players go into (club presidents, sporting directors, advisers, negotiators, agents, etc).
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Kim’s Answer
People have many skills, talents, and abilities that they don't recognize they have. You often don't consider yourself "good" at something because it comes so easy to you. Or you can't figure out how one job relates to another. But it does! I'm going to give you an example. It's not about soccer, I hope that's okay!
I used to have a job helping people to find jobs! A young lady wanted a job at the "doggy daycare center," where people drop off their dogs and the dogs get to play with other dogs. But, she had no experience working with dogs! Her only experience was working at a fast food restaurant. However, the job description for the position was very clear - this job would include doing a lot of cleaning. So, that is what we focused on - showing how she had to clean the grill all the time to prevent infectious diseases - the very same reason it is important to pick up dog poop in the yard! This is what we call "transferrable job skills."
I used to have a job helping people to find jobs! A young lady wanted a job at the "doggy daycare center," where people drop off their dogs and the dogs get to play with other dogs. But, she had no experience working with dogs! Her only experience was working at a fast food restaurant. However, the job description for the position was very clear - this job would include doing a lot of cleaning. So, that is what we focused on - showing how she had to clean the grill all the time to prevent infectious diseases - the very same reason it is important to pick up dog poop in the yard! This is what we call "transferrable job skills."
Victor Suarez
Director, Production Engineering, Governance, Riska & Compliance
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Victor’s Answer
At some point in their careers all athletes face the fact that they won't be able to play the sport they love. As people get older, their athletic skills will reduce. The good think is that there are many skills and talents that people have and not just their sport skills.
Many professional athletes become coaches, assistant coaches, and some eventually become owner of teams. One great example is the famous basketball player Magic Johnson.
Many professional athletes become coaches, assistant coaches, and some eventually become owner of teams. One great example is the famous basketball player Magic Johnson.
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Stephanie’s Answer
Did you know that super famous TV chef Gordon Ramsay used to be a soccer star? He had to retire very young after an injury, so he thought about other stuff he liked to do ... like cooking! I'd say he's been pretty successful as a chef. You are never just one thing; you're a person with many feelings, passions, interests, and you're never too old to keep discovering more.
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Greg’s Answer
There is an expression that you don't want to put all of your eggs in one basket. The reason is if that basket drops you can break or lose all of your eggs. It's good to have a multiple skills and a plan "B." That way, if plan "A" doesn't work out or comes to an end, you have more that you can do. Another thing your question makes me think is the importance of learning how to save money.
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Ken’s Answer
Being educated is important for everyone. Only about 1 in 1,250 high school seniors are drafter by the MLS. Even the best sports players can't play professionally forever. The average age of retirement for a professional soccer player is 35. This is a very low percentage. Sports players need to know how to manage their money both during their playing career and once they are retired.
With this being said, study hard because even if you become the best soccer player in the world, you will need to figure out what you can do once you are your parents age.
For now, study and enjoy playing soccer. Playing sports teach kids a lot more than just the skills. They learn teamwork, the dedication it takes to improve their skills and how to deal with winning and losing.
With this being said, study hard because even if you become the best soccer player in the world, you will need to figure out what you can do once you are your parents age.
For now, study and enjoy playing soccer. Playing sports teach kids a lot more than just the skills. They learn teamwork, the dedication it takes to improve their skills and how to deal with winning and losing.