Brains or Brawn?

 

I receive many questions from the Perfect Soccer community and young players in general, asking whether it’s more important to be strong or more important to be smart. These young players also ask me if they should bother at all with higher education since they plan on going pro. Since these are questions that I field so frequently, I thought I’d discuss them a little more in-depth.

 

Make no mistake, the majority of the time your mind will outlast your body, both on the soccer field and in life. So, why are so many players intent on neglecting the development of their minds?

 

 

Physical fitness is necessary for every soccer player, from rec league to the pros. I would argue though that being smart on the field will provide you with an even more significant advantage than being overly muscular. I once heard it said that if the speed of play is good, then it won’t need to be as physical. 

 

The reality of the situation is, your mind will be in the game far longer than your legs. At some point, you are inevitably going to get tired and need to rely on your soccer IQ and wits to guide you through the game. This is to say that you certainly shouldn’t ignore the development of your mentality in favor of developing your muscles. 

 

 

You may be asking yourself, ‘do I need to go to college if I intend on becoming a pro player?’ I’d ask you to think about this scenario, what if you don’t go pro?

 

Since the majority of players don’t end up going pro, every player should have a strategy that accounts for that worse case scenario. Going to college is in the best interest of most players, and this is coming from someone who is an autodidact who believes that you can learn anything on your own if you have access to the internet and the motivation to do so. 

 

While you can undoubtedly learn anything on your own if you are willing to do the research and reading, the experience of attending college is something that you can’t get from a book. You’ll learn about how to live and work with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, different beliefs, and different cultures. If you do end up playing pro soccer, understanding how to live and work with different people will serve you well as you integrate into a team. 

 

Now, say you don’t go pro and are seeking employment, what will set you apart from anyone else applying for jobs? If you and the other applicant are equally qualified, the only thing that may give you an advantage is that college degree. 

 

As of now, many people highly value college degrees, and if they are the ones responsible for deciding if you’re getting hired (or not), it’s in your best interest to put your best foot forward. Of course, thinking about not making it pro isn’t what you want to do, but you owe it to yourself to have this possibility accounted for in your action plan and overall strategy.

 

If you do go to college and end up making it pro, you’re in an even better position! As a player, you’ll be better prepared for when your soccer career does end (and they all end sooner or later). 

 

The earlier you understand that retirement is a part of the process and you begin doing the work today to implement a plan that sets you up for a successful retirement, the likelihood that you make it to the professional level greatly increases. 

 

If at the end you’ve gone to college and have a degree under your belt, you have a better network than those who do not, to head out into the workforce and transition into a different career. 

 

(I may need to write another article on picking a degree/field of study that will give you the greatest chances of accessing a valuable network. Because that’s really what/how I think you should view college and which degree to look to study; an opportunity to build/access a valuable current and future network. At the very least, also know that the type of degree you pursue is most important. Don’t just choose what’s easiest for you right now. You’re capable of much more than you think, don’t sell your future self short because you just want to have fun now. Challenge yourself and have fun, you can do both. You have enough time.)

 

Approaching it this way means at very least you won’t be starting back at square one, sitting in a college classroom as a grown adult, trying to get your degree while you care for a family, and juggle other responsibilities while wishing you had just done the work necessary the first time around.

 

Make sure you set yourself up for long-term success by investing in your body and mind. You’ll see the rewards on and off the field.

00:00 – 04:28: Welcome To The #AskASoccerPro Show Ep 79!

04:37 – 08:07: What Does Quincy Have Planned For Ep 100 of the #AskASoccerPro Show?

08:10- 11:42: Do Pro Players Need To Be Muscular? @emiliolemagne

11:43 – 14:29: What Quincy Really Thinks About Josef Martinez And His Mentality @mariopineda55

14:30 – 16:37: How Long Did It Take Quincy To Go Pro? @caleb_ck13

16:44 – 19:08: Is Being Smart Better Than Being Muscular? ? vs. ?  @emiliolemagne

19:11 – 22:56: What Age Should You Start Playing Soccer? @emiliolemagne

22:58 – 25:59: How To Be Seen By Scouts! @jonnytest101

26:00 – 29:04: Should You Go To College If You Plan To Play Pro? @emiliolemagne

29:05 – 30:53: Earl Edwards Jr. Joins The #AskASoccerPro Show!

30:54 – 33:53: How Long Has Earl Been In The MSL? ?????

33:54 – 37:07: How Did Earl’s Mentality Get Him Through The MLS Shutdown?

37:08 – 43:43: What Did Earl Focus On To Improve As A Player?

43:44 – 46:30: How Sharing Your Secrets To Success Will Make You A Better Player

46:32 – 51:07: How To Lower Your Body Fat @emiliolemagne

51:08 – 55:17: Did You Catch Earl On CNN And ESPN?! 

55:19 – 59:49: 2020 Has Been A Year, And It’s Not Over Yet! #2020VISION ?

 

 

MSL – Mental Strength League
www.QuincyAmarikwa.com/About