How does the draft work?

mikhail · 06-28-08, 12:19 PM

How does the draft in american football work? also could a similar system be used for soccer in europe?

Goldenboy219 · 06-28-08, 06:44 PM

The draft in all prime time American sports works on the simple premise of amateur status until signed. Yet the drafts are a little different, but i will explain the NFL process.

Amateur status is achieved simply by not playing professional football. That goes for Canadian football leagues as well as club teams such as AFL's Chicago Rush. The next premise for getting drafted is by actually playing good football for a good college. Due to the fact that the NFL mandates player entry to be no younger than a college sophomore. This would mean a player is 99% of the time no younger than 20 years old, but there is a loop hole. Say a player is able to advance through high school faster than normal, they would of course be able to reach their sophomore year at a faster rate. Amobi Okoye is a good example.

Now, there are 7 rounds in the NFL draft with each team picking once per round, and the players who coach's, scouts, and people of this nature believe will be the best players usually go first. I say usually because there have been a number of 6th round running backs taken by Denver who have had 1000 yard rushing seasons. Also, draft picks can be traded to obtain other players and first round picks in the top 10 can always land you a superstar player.

The reason i dont believe a draft of this nature can work with true soccer clubs in Europe is because there isnt a real system of amateur soccer on the collegiate level. I say this because with college football, there is a multi billion dollar industry that is hell bent on pushing out an amazing product. Therefore, the collegiate trainers and coaches are nearly identical to their NFL counterparts. The only difference is college football is full of young men/boys, as where the NFL is full of grown men. Which is why the 20 year/sophomore rule is in place. It also allows for a more complete prospect entrance.