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Devils Advocate: why is it ok to play professionally in a foreign country?
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:03 pm
Why is it acceptable to play professionally in a foreign country and compete later on in ncaa athletics but not ok to do the same in America?
And if players are now paid in college, they’re already pros, so what’s the big deal if other pros want to enroll in college and compete at any given school?
And if players are now paid in college, they’re already pros, so what’s the big deal if other pros want to enroll in college and compete at any given school?
5
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:05 pm to Complete Linebacking
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:05 pm to Complete Linebacking
It really isn't much different, but it just "feels" different to people because its been done for a long time in basketball
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:12 pm to Complete Linebacking
Other countries have a much stronger foundation for youth sports with things like academies that they get players in at a younger age than we do. So its not quite 1 to 1 as a comparable to someone playing in college, flaming out as a pro briefly, then finishing college.
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:27 pm to ShrimperDan
Yeah to ShrimperDan's point, sports academies work entirely differently in Europe. They join professional teams academies in their teens and are potentially getting paid at ages 16-17 with no drafts. The lines between professional and amateur are much less defined than the typical US college/pro dynamic.
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:30 pm to ShrimperDan
quote:agreed
its not quite 1 to 1 as a comparable to someone playing in college, flaming out as a pro briefly, then finishing college.
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:45 pm to Complete Linebacking
It shouldn’t be
Posted on 8/26/26 at 1:52 pm to ShrimperDan
That’s good info. Wasn’t aware of the differences internationally. Still feels arbitrary to me that a kid can be a pro in Europe and then play over here as a student athlete but I can appreciate there are at least some significant differences
Posted on 8/26/26 at 10:25 pm to Dr RC
Other countries don’t really have college sports body like NCAA so for most part they play HS sports and sign professional contracts to continue careers
Posted on 8/27/26 at 10:03 am to ShrimperDan
quote:
Other countries have a much stronger foundation for youth sports with things like academies that they get players in at a younger age than we do. So its not quite 1 to 1 as a comparable to someone playing in college, flaming out as a pro briefly, then finishing college.
It's an interesting debate if we look at how "professional" could be defined.
On one hand, the academies seem like they'd be worse as it's even MORE time at the "professional" level training with pro adults, spending all their time focused on sport etc.
On the other hand, a 3rd tier English academy =/= La Masia. The level of quality & resources would probably be less than a D1 college
Posted on 8/27/26 at 10:46 am to Bigdawgb
While it isn't one of the major collegiate sports, Track and Field is different in Europe as well. My oldest is on a cross country and track scholarship, and her roommate is from overseas. She said this is the first time she will be on an actual team at a school and not just competing individually. They don't have the same high school set up that we typically have in the states for many sports. Obviously team sports like basketball and soccer may have school teams or club teams, but it just isn't the same everywhere.
Posted on 8/27/26 at 11:50 am to Bigdawgb
Yeah, I'm guessing that outside of the super-elite soccer players, we're probably talking about very different ideas of "professional."
Posted on 8/27/26 at 12:08 pm to Complete Linebacking
Illusion and control
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