Steamboat Soccer Academy Blog

Freddy Delgado - Soccer Questions and Answer

This week we are luckly enough to have Freddy Delgado join us for a little Q&A. Freddy was recently named as head coach for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Woman’s Soccer Program. Prior to UALR Freddy was the assistant coach for University of Louisiana at Monroe and has been a long time coach for the Steamboat Soccer Academy

SSA: What first got you involved in soccer?

Freddy: My Dad used to play soccer and when I was a kid he played in a men’s league. I used to go watch him and just started to play and just fell in love with the game. Really, the turning point for me was when I went to participate with my dad in a coaching course. I went to act as a demonstrator and I met a coach named Louis Dabo. He asked me to play on his select team and that was the start of my more intense soccer training.

SSA: Where did you player your high school and college ball?

Freddy: I played high school for Saint Marry’s high school out of Phoenix Arizona. From there I went to Regis University, a division 2 school in Denver Colorado. I was fortunate enough to play there for four years and was part some very good teams. I had some excellent teammates and really cherished my time there.

SSA: What position did you play?

Freddy: I was a central midfield. During my senior year they put me up top a little bit, but primarily I played central midfielder.

SSA: How did you get into coaching?

Freddy: I started because of my father. He started running his own skills camp during the summer time and when I was about 13 years old he asked me to help with the little kids. I helped coach these teams during the summer. When I turned 16 and I was able to drive, I actually got my own team and that is really where I got the coaching influence from.

SSA: How did you progress your coaching career?

Freddy: Each step kind of came naturally. I had some younger teams — U8 and U10 boys and girls. Then my Dad’s team needed another trainer. At the time I was 17 and they were U12’s. I started coaching them and from there we had some great success. They won state cup, went to Dallas cup made it out of our group. They did very well at regionals; it was just a great experience. At that point I realized I wanted to stay in the game. I went to college and worked camps over the summer time and as I got closer and closer to graduating, of course, my goal was to play in the brand new MLS league or the A league. As graduation came upon me I had couple opportunities that didn’t work out, but I knew I wanted to stay in the game. And the way to stay in the game was as a coach. I wasn’t fortunate enough to step in as a player anymore, so the next best thing was to coach.

SSA: What do you look for as a scout, and how do you build your team?

Freddy: There are two different theories. The first one is when I go to different camps across the country. You always notice a player’s talent or technical abilities, but in camp settings you really get to know the person. Maybe someone didn’t shine or take your breath away the first time you watched them, but you really grow and learn to respect somebody as you get to know them throughout the week. Now over the course of 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days you’re really able to judge them on a much fairer basis by being able to watch them multiple times a day, watching them in game settings and in training settings. When you go to recruit a player and you see them at a tournament it is a little bit different. You watch a player and you may think, “wow this is an unbelievable player,” but you’re always a little hesitant because you never really get to know their personality. You always in the back of your mind wonder, “was this a one time deal? Did this player just play the best game of his or her life?” From that point, when I am recruiting at tournaments, I look for good players but through the second step - through emails, phone calls and off campus visits - I really try and get to know the persons because that’s what is going to make someone successful at the college level. Not so much talent but personality - are they going to be able to stay for 4 years, are they going to remain eligible, are they good player off the field, are they going to be a good player in the classroom, are they going to be responsible socially? Those elements are what will make a great college player.

SSA: What would you tell a player who is interested in playing at the college level? What is that one thing they need to have to be successful?

Freddy: I think when you’re talking about playing at the college level it is never giving up. There is always a place to play. Now there are thousands of players that want to go to any particular school. The reality of it is there are only 20 – 24 roster spots for a University. So you may not be able to go to your first choice school. But if you really keep at it, there is going to be something else that pops up. Whether it is at the division 1, 2, 3, NAIA or even junior college level. There have been quite a few friends of mine and players that I have coached that the division 1 offer didn’t come out right after high school. But they went to the junior college, stayed eligible, earned good grades and they trained and worked hard. After they finished their two years they were able to go on to a division 1 school on a scholarship. There are other tremendous stories of people that were able to find a school last minute, for whatever circumstances - but that’s the thing: if you really want to play in college, you have to keep after it and follow your dreams. Sometimes when things don’t go your way you have to be strong enough to be patient and make things happen for yourself.

SSA: Favorite player?

Freddy: Favorite player of all time is probably Pelé but favorite at this time is Cristiano Ronaldo.

SSA: What team do you follow or support?

Freddy: I like Man U on the international scene; Arsenal before they lost Henry was a very nice team to watch, very creative and played with a lot of excitement. In the MLS, I like to watch the Rapids; I think the Rapids have improved tremendous over the last few seasons.

SSA: Do you have any advice for parents?

Freddy: One of the mistakes that I see a lot when it comes to recruiting is that I get a lot of emails, DVD’s, and other information from parents - they’re actually doing their child an injustice. Sometimes the parents want it more then the kid. As a coach I am not recruiting a parent, I am recruiting their son or daughter; in my case I am recruiting their daughter. I want to know that the young lady I am recruiting is taking an interest in her college education. What I tend to find is that most of those parents that have done all the paper work, that have done all the busy work for their son or daughter - they have done it out of great love for them but eventually what happens is that the child winds up quitting soccer as soon as the parent leaves the equation. It really hurts the child, my biggest suggestion for parents is to encourage and help your child in every way, but also get your child the responsibility to fend for his or her future.

Six Tips for a Successful Soccer Tournament

6. Don’t forget your music. Traveling can be stressful and boring—two things that are definitely not conducive to playing focused and at your best. Don’t for get your music player because it will save you from the zombie-like stupors long trips in the car or airplane may cause you. Once you settle in next to the pitch you’ll be playing on, turn on that song you love and then your socks, boots, guards, etc.—the better the song, the better focus you’ll have once that whistle blows.

5. Remember why you’re there. Traveling to tournaments are obviously meant to be fun—take advantage of the opportunities provided to you by enjoying wherever you go with your teammates and coaches. But remember that the money paid and the gas guzzled is so you can play the game. Don’t make “having fun” your priority unless it is on the field—and I can promise you this: playing badly individually or as a team because of a lack of focus off the field is not very fun, especially when it is a chance granted only for a limited time… Other opportunities might present themselves, but what happens on the pitch is what you’ll remember. My advice is to never leave a tournament with any regrets!

4. Eat right! Given, in the midst of travel this is easier said than done. Fast food seems to have been invented solely for the caravan or flying passenger who has little time and a huge appetite, so eater beware… Even if you think it won’t affect you—after all, you don’t play until tomorrow, right?—understand that a good diet starting 2-3 days before a tournament that lasts throughout will bring results. You’ll wake up easier, have more energy, and play better if your body has what it needs and doesn’t have what can hurt it. Carbohydrate foods like pasta, whole-wheats and grains and fruits and vegetables are a sure thing because carbs are essential to the body before and after any strenuous activity that lasts around 2 hours. Another tip: try and eat as fresh as you can—processed foods contain ridiculously high amounts of sodium and little nutritional value in terms of vitamins and minerals, whereas fresh foods digest the quickest (important if you are eating in between two games) and have high amounts of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to recover from strenuous activity. You’ll likely go out for dinner a few nights, so I beg you…stay away from the sampler plate at Chili’s! Don’t gorge yourself; instead, try and pack a lot of healthy snacks like apples, bananas and bagels to keep your body satisfied throughout the day without stretching your stomach. Remember the first 30 minutes after a game are the most vital, replenish quickly. A few places I find to have a good assortment of good options are places like Noodles and Company, Panera Bread, and Qdoba or Chipotle. Remember no matter where you eat it is a matter of portions and staying away from heavy cheeses, sour creams and side items that will only slow you down during the game.

3. Sleep…smart. I say “smart” because much like boring car rides, too much sleep is a sure way to dull your senses when it’s time to play. If traveling to a game that day, be sure to wake up and be alert for at least 30 minutes to an hour before you get to the field. If you are staying in a hotel and your game is the following day, get up and get breakfast early. Rest is imperative if your body wants a chance to produce over a period of three to maybe 6 days of serious activity, but getting proper rest is not simply equivalent to the number of hours slept; going to sleep at 2 am and sleeping right up until you need to be at the field at 12 PM is not the same as turning off the lights at 9 or 10 PM and waking up at 7 AM. One thing that many players overlook is that waking up earlier means your body will have more time to digest the food you eat—if you eat at all (sleeping until game time is a great way to forget to eat before a game)—and enough time to shake off that reluctance to act and think with intention—drowsiness. What your body tells you when you first wake up (that it needs more sleep) is a lie. Realize this and you’ll have an edge come game time.

2. Leave it all on the field. Usually you’ll have at least two or three games to play no matter what, and hopefully, the quarters, semis and finals after that. Be conscious that if your first or second game doesn’t go so well for whatever reason, stay positive and intent on doing well in the next match. Tempers may flare, but above all else stay positive with your teammates—there is nothing that can affect a team worse than having a bad sense of camaraderie before the next match even begins. Teams that win tournaments are not always the most skilled or the biggest and fastest; they are, however, always a team that is in tune with one another and on the same page. Individuality and teamwork work best together when each player knows his or her role. I advise you to find yours and do whatever you can to keep your team a cohesive and positive unit…when that happens good things come.

1. Stay hydrated. When it comes to your body’s ability to perform and recover during a tournament, staying hydrated is its primary concern. Therefore, it should be your top priority to make sure you have enough water during the day while you play, and to also stay conscious of your hydration needs off the field. This means going everywhere with a water bottle in hand—on and off the field. The summer months comprise the majority of the tournament season because the weather is beautiful, but beautiful also means hot. Not hydrating properly means you’ll hit that wall even sooner, no matter what your fitness level may be.

So enjoy your tournament! Stay entertained, but focused; eat right, but eat smart; sleep, but not too much; and build the bonds between you and your teammates. Do these things, and you might just come home with a trophy.

Budgeting Your Free Time

Now that summer is finally here, it is time to think about how you are going to budget all this newly acquired free time. There are many options: basking in the sun at the beach or the local swimming pool; the annual family vacation, etc. etc.

With this new freedom, I encourage you to take full advantage of what the summer has to offer. The summer months offer you plenty of opportunity to grow as a player and I encourage you to work hard for your club at practice and to try and train outdoors while the weather permits. Be serious about your diet—fresh foods flourish during the summer months and have the most to offer in terms of vitamins and minerals—especially important for those of you who are working hard on your endurance by breaking your body down with tough workouts. But beyond practice there is another form of training that is perfect for the summer months: by yourself, take a ball, or many, to your local soccer pitch. Set up a net if you have to, and start doing whatever it is you want with the soccer ball.

Consistent practice and tournament schedules over the course of the summer can sometimes drain players of energy and enthusiasm, but going out on your own time to the field and doing exactly what you want to do is a great way to have fun and relax with the sport that you love. Take your shirt off and strap an ipod to your arm, put on your favorite music and have a good time. Work on trying to bend the ball from a place kick, or combine juggling with dribbling and a final shot at the end—whatever your heart desires. If you find you enjoy training this way, invest in a group of 5-7 inexpensive balls and a small set of cones so your options increase; you can set up five spot kicks outside of the penalty area or work on corner kicks from side to side, or set up cones to dribble through or areas to juggle into before having a shot on goal.

Welcome

Welcome to the Steamboat Soccer Academy Blog. In the coming weeks will be featuring

• great technical tips for all players
• up to date soccer news from around the globe and a special highlighted informational scene from the local Colorado youth and High School scene.
• Helpful hints pertaining to the College Recruiting process from the horses mouth - top college coaches.
• unique soccer videos.
• And of course spotlights from the Steamboat Soccer Academy Youth and Senior Camp.

Technical Tip: Characteristics great athletes.
As everyone is on the eve of their Spring seasons I would like the wish each of you the best in your perseverance to grow, development and have fun. I invite each of you to read the following great article as I feel it covers many great attributes every player should be reminded of.

Rob Bohlmann - SSA Director