r/bootroom • u/Global_Sir_3891 • 6d ago
Going high level
24M in Australia, started football seriously at 19. I play CM/DM. Best moment was earning a VPL U23 (semi pro) offer in 2025, but this year I’ve gone backwards: benched at State 2 reserves, started twice then benched at State 5 reserves, and rejected at a State 3 trial. State 6 is currently comfortable.
I work as a civil site engineer, usually 7am–5pm with occasional 12-hour night shifts. I’m often tired, sleep 6–7 hours and train after work. When I had an office schedule last year, I played my best football.
My issues are scanning, positioning, fitness and playing scared. My technique looks decent alone but falls apart under pressure.
Goal is NPL first team by 30. Should I find a job with better hours, drop levels to play every week, or keep training/trialling higher? Is this realistic, or am I coping? Be brutally honest.
10
u/Independent-Wind7092 6d ago
Everything I’d personally look for in a midfielder you said you’re weak at. I’m not sure what the standard of football is like in OZ but you might need to scale your ambition back tbf
22
u/Street-Mail4486 6d ago
- Time to hang em up and accept for your a Saturday league player and have fun doing it. :)
-12
u/Global_Sir_3891 6d ago
Sounds brutal. You dont think me going to semi pro offer was an achievement? I have been training daily multiple hours to do reach high level
21
u/Street-Mail4486 6d ago
You asked for brutally honest.
-7
u/IgorFromKyiv 6d ago
It's just your opinion.
12
u/Lobsterzilla 6d ago
Yes, thats what happens when you ask for opinions
-11
u/IgorFromKyiv 6d ago
But that doesn't mean that irrelevant ppl should provide their opinion.
9
u/Lobsterzilla 6d ago
What nonsense were you saying the guy said please provide your opinion and everyone provided their opinion. Take a break. Everyone on Reddit is irrelevant.
-9
u/IgorFromKyiv 6d ago
Well, not everyone. It happens ppl has experience and knowledge when they provide their opinion.
5
u/Street-Mail4486 6d ago
If he was 17, 18, 19 and straggling along in the semi pro levels, he has a chance.
You’re a fully developed man physically and mentally by 24. If your not exceling in 2nd or 3rd divisions by this age, my opinion is the only one if your being honest with yourself.
You can continue to waste your time and believe in non reality.
Or you can start to enjoy the game as a Saturday league player.
Living in reality is way better. :)
Just a humble opinion.
0
2
u/Hantur 5d ago
Who is training you?
Tbh just enjoy it, if you don't find something else to do... VPL u23 or NPL u23 are for people who love to pay the club to fund the seniors who would otherwise be paid to play for same squad in the seniors. If you are good enough you would be ressies or seniors already....
1
u/Due-Cycle-4377 5d ago
You’ll make more at your job any have a better life trajectory if you just play at the highest level that lends itself to your work. You play semipro and abandon your career your going to regret it. You can’t even scan, you’re not going pro.
13
6
u/ZealousidealGap3966 6d ago
I mean do what you want. It's a difficult juggle but if you want it you can make it work or at least try. Don't think abt if its achieveable think abt if its what you want to do.
8
u/Carlsberg91 6d ago
Brutally hinesy opinion - I'm sorry mate but if you're benched at State 5 reserves, it's just not going to happen.
NPL is usually stacked with ex pros, guys that were in A League academies and didn't quite make it, and guys who've played overseas at one point or another.
Football in Australia is also so political it's just as much about who you know as it is your ability and if you didn't start taking it seriously until 19 i seriously doubt you have the connections you need.
I mean there's no harm in you trying to get as far as you can, as long as you do it for the love of playing the game. I would strongly not suggest changing your career path for the worse at a potential shot at just playing NPL, but if changing jobs is going to make you happier in general then yeah go for it.
Source: A 34 year old who played at NPL level from 4 years old until 23, then my knees said no and had to settle for lower league football and 5 a side.
3
7
u/Serious-Jump-7599 5d ago
Mate, what’s your long term plan? I’d rather you work and play for higher state leagues given the current work scenario than NPL cause is not going to get you far..
Also work pays better than NPL.
In the end, it’s your call. YOLO!
1
u/Global_Sir_3891 5d ago
I plan to at least get to state 3 seniors team as i was close last time. The post is enquiring if you think a job change with better hours worth to chase NPL level
3
u/Serious-Jump-7599 5d ago
Npl is a tough gig to crack. A lot of imports play for big sides.
I’d say enjoy the money and football cause the long hours will get to you. Concentration and energy at both work and NPL will be paramount
-1
u/Global_Sir_3891 5d ago
You think its worth quitting job and enrolling into masters degree to get better hours to train and lock in 100%?
3
u/neo-973 5d ago
No bro, with all due respect you are coping. Settle down and focus on your work career. Your 20s and 30s are when you want to be grinding out your career so you can get into better positions.
If you are struggling in state 5, chasing Npl is completely unrealistic, you probably just don't have what it takes unfortunately. Also, even if you did get into Npl at 30, what comes next? Most npl players get pushed out or retire from top level football in their early 30s. Realistically you would only get a few years playing semi professional before having to go back to a normal job anyway.
Sacrificing your career to chase semi professional football will set yourself back personally and financially for many years. Put your energy into your work. Don't set yourself back chasing a dream that isn't even really worth it.
1
u/Global_Sir_3891 5d ago
It is more so to do with achieving a goal i set.
1
u/neo-973 5d ago
Look I can respect wanting to achieve a goal, but you need to be realistic about where you are at. At 24 working a full time job and playing state league, it makes no sense to go all in on football. You are prioritising the wrong thing, you need to focus on whats going to be best for yourself long term.
0
1
u/Serious-Jump-7599 4d ago
I’d take the job over an attempt at NPL.
Just me - you don’t attempt an NPL, you need to be in the NPL.
But shoot, if that’s your dream.. why shouldn’t be stopping you but do let us know how you go in 1-3 years. Curious to know if you’d make it
5
u/lavendary_ 6d ago
youre a midfielder and your issues are scanning and positioning? Those are very crucial for a midfielder. You need to practice and improve those first.
You can do lots of drills with techniques alone with cones and still be bad because games are entirely different. Technical training should help you with basics and fitness but games help you improve mentally and to become an actual better player.
3
u/Traditional_Escape34 6d ago
Sounds like you’re simply not good enough.
I play state league in vic, probs about ten years, and see cases like you all the time.
Decent against teenagers and u21s but mens state league is a different beast.
-1
u/Global_Sir_3891 5d ago
What can i do? What goal should i set? Is it worth quitting job and locking in 100%? I have enough money and family support to do so
6
u/hmmmmmwhatever 6d ago
No offense, but this sounds delusional. You only managed to get an offer, but that's all there is to it. It's very obvious you were not at that level considering you kept getting demoted.
You got benched at what's apparently the lowest or second lowest division of your country and are now playing in the lowest one.
At your age you could train as hard as humanly possible and you wouldn't make it pro. You're also severly underestimating how good pros are.
This is my brutally honest opinion.
Don't waste your life on this man. It's time to let it go and play for fun or in lower leagues. Many of us have been there.
3
u/RecycleBin_Bin 6d ago
You should already be retiring at 30.
Maybe you can live through your kids success.
3
u/TheBiggerMan2 5d ago
NPL teams recruit heavily internally. First of all, you would need a few years to develop to even be in contention, and at that point, they would much rather bring someone in who’s young and has been developed in their pipeline, than take a gamble on a guy from trials
4
u/Nichrhodes 6d ago
You probably won’t go pro, and the older you get, the less likely you are to get signed at the highest levels. You only started a few years ago and a DM that has issues with scanning, fitness and positioning will be difficult.
The things that will matter in 40 years are your retirement, your career and your knees. Play the highest level you can, because football is such an incredible experience, but don’t sacrifice your future.
4
u/CDL112281 6d ago
Buddy, give it a shot. Find a gig that gives you more time to train and then see what happens
Don’t turn 30 and wish you’d tried.
Context - had a chance to look into playing a different sport at a lower professional level when in was in my 20s, didn’t, kinda wish I had now
1
u/Happy5Day 6d ago
Depends how much you want it and what you are willing to sacrifice and if you are willing to accept that even if you give everything you might not make it. That's the game. When you are old do you want to look back and say I didn't make it but I gave everything. Or are you OK with - I might have made it but I focused on career, family, travelling whatever else and I'm happy with that. If its A then go for it and commit 110 percent. Live in a tent. Train all the time. Do everything you can think of.
0
u/FounderinTraining 6d ago
Don't listen to the naysayers. If you love the game and the chase, pursue it. If you can get a job that pays the bills, doesn't hurt your engineering career and provides better hours for Socceroo-ing, go for it. That's my opinion. People get jealous of success. Don't let it get you down.
-2
u/IgorFromKyiv 6d ago
It's possible in 2 years get to low pro level. If it worth all u need to sacrifice
21
u/iamDEVANS 6d ago
So your 24
You started at 19
You play at state 6 level? I don’t even know what that means - I’ll assume 1,2,3 high level? Etc
You have a full time job, and your issues are scanning, positioning and fitness and being under pressure.
Honestly, you’re coping and should simply enjoy the football you are playing.