Are you wondering how old should you start training to become a professional athlete? Read on to find out expert advice on the ideal age to begin your journey towards a successful athletic career.
it is common to see athletes who began their careers at a very young age, in small clubs. They then face several difficulties before finally becoming stars. In fact, this is the story of the overwhelming majority of sports professionals, whether they are in soccer, basketball.
A classic example is the player Neymar, recognized worldwide. The footballer began his career in the youth ranks of Portuguesa Santista in 1998, at the age of six. He was transferred to Santos in 2003, at the age of 11, when he was already attracting the attention of coaches. At 17, he was promoted to the main team and is considered the greatest revelation of the Campeonato Paulista.
Neymar is a phenomenon and his career has been meteoric. For boys and girls seeking recognition, the path is more difficult. And that’s where the question arises, for both parents and children: what is the correct or ideal age to start playing professional sports? And how to do it?
According to Walter Junior, an athlete selection specialist and President of Referência Futebol Clube, in São Paulo, the practice of professional sports is related to a formal contract, that is, when a young person makes a formal financial commitment regulated by the courts. However, he says that some athletes begin preparing themselves with professional goals long before they have the long-awaited contract in hand.
Young athletes: what does the law say?
Today, in Brazil, the law states that at sixteen years of age, an athlete can sign a professional contract with the club. However, the intention, the professional attitude, already happens much earlier. “There are eleven-year-old children who already have a routine at the clubs that is a professional routine, of course supported by the club and their parents,” Walter highlights.
“It’s the parents who commit to taking them to training sessions and the club, through good professionals, provides activities that are appropriate for their age, but they have a philosophy, an attitude and a commitment that is already professional. There is a good side, in terms of discipline and seriousness, and perhaps there is a bad side, which is losing a bit of childhood, not playing as much as other children, but I think it’s a choice. However, in legal terms, only at the age of sixteen can an athlete sign a professional contract,” he explains.
Parents’ or children’s dream?
Regarding demand, Walter states that the large number of young people and children who seek football as a professional career is linked to cultural factors. “In Brazil, nine out of every ten children who want to be athletes want to be football players. I personally think that it is part of our culture. Adults follow football, they like football, many because they played as a hobby, others because they played professionally, others because they like to play soccer with friends or cheer for their team. So, I believe that it is passed down from father to son and the children are the ones who have this desire, especially since there is social media, where they can see the players”, he states.
How do young athletes get to clubs?
Walter explains that both clubs can find young athletes through the famous tryouts, and parents themselves can look for opportunities for their children. “In big, traditional clubs, parents or businesspeople introduce their children or clients to the club and they sometimes open the tryouts, receive them here for an evaluation and at the same time the clubs look for them with their scouts,” he says.
And what about school? How do these young people balance studying and their professional routine?
According to the coach, this is an important issue. “All clubs and federations are very concerned about studies. For cultural reasons, in my opinion, we end up failing when it comes to school. In other countries, you can balance things better and give more importance to not just being enrolled, but actually learning. But the culture also allows it, like the US, which supports sports a lot and has a structure linked to the educational aspect that allows the athlete to continue playing at a high level. So, the boy is fifteen years old and plays basketball or soccer very well and has a test, he’s not going to miss it, he finds a way to take it. There are reports that the guy takes the test on the bus, on the way to the game. He has a tutor by his side, etc. In Brazil, we still don’t have this structure,” he points out.