I’m going to share the one thing you need to be doing to go from amateur football to pro.
This secret will change your playing career, and I won’t waste your time—I’ll get straight to the point.
The Secret: Setting Goals
The secret to moving from amateur football to professional football is setting goals. It might sound simple, but let me explain why it’s so crucial. Many players, including those in girls football, come to me and say, “Alan, I’m an amateur player, and I want to go professional.” They have big dreams but often don’t have a clear plan for getting there. This lack of a plan is what holds them back.
Without a plan, you’re walking through life without direction. It’s easy to fall back into old routines and habits that don’t push you toward your goals. You might start strong with a new routine—training daily, eating healthy, drinking more water—but then slip back into old habits when things get tough. This happens because changing yourself from zero to 100 overnight doesn’t work.
The Importance of a Plan for Amateur Football Players
Creating a plan gives you a pathway and direction. It doesn’t require you to overhaul your entire life at once, but it helps you focus on what you must do today to move closer to your goal. For example, if your goal is to become a pro player, start by visualising what life looks like for you. Whether you’re training at a soccer academy or pushing through the ranks in amateur football, the steps remain the same.
Some of you may aim for the top—Champions League, La Liga, World Cups—but that might not be realistic depending on where you are now. Let’s break it down:
Visualise the Big Goal: Picture yourself at the top—playing for a big team like Chelsea, Barcelona, or Real Madrid.
Work Backwards: How do you get there? You’ll likely need to start at a lower professional team before reaching that big team.
Identify the Steps: What must you do to be selected for that lower team? Maybe you need to work with an agency like Elite Football Australia, or maybe you need to improve your skills and get scouted first.
By breaking down your big goal into smaller, actionable steps, you create a realistic pathway to success.
Setting Achievable Goals
Start by identifying where you are right now and where you want to go. Break down your journey into phases, each consisting of smaller goals. For example:
Phase 1: Create your CV, make highlight videos, and focus on training and improving, especially if you’re at a soccer academy.
Phase 2: Attend events, participate in trials, and work towards getting scouted or joining an agency like Elite Football Australia.
Phase 3: Move up to playing for a State League team, then aim for NPL, and so on.
These small goals will help you build momentum and clarify your next steps.
Be Fluid and Adaptable
As you work toward your goals, be prepared to adapt. The path might not unfold exactly as you planned, but consistently working toward your goals will present the right opportunities.
It’s important to be flexible and adjust your plan as needed.
Setting goals, breaking them down into smaller steps, and working consistently toward them is the key to success in football—or any area of life. Whether you aim to go pro in amateur football or girls football or pursue another big dream, this approach will help you get there.
If you're serious about transitioning from amateur football to a professional career, it’s time to take action. Contact Elite Football, Australia's #1 Football Agency, below 👇
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