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.