US Soccer’s Development Academy launches EXACT MAP

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This spring, EXACT Sports will launch Mental Achievement Program (MAP) with the US Soccer Federation Development Academy.   The partnership brings the MAP to over 4,000 elite level club soccer players across the country.   The program will give Development Academy Club’s the ability to monitor and train character in a focused program built towards success at the highest level.

The MAP is a short behavioral survey that provides coaches with feedback on player’s intangibles, such as leadership ability, self-confidence, training attitudes, and achievement motivation.  The program is used by over 100 NCAA teams, the National Hockey League, teams in professional baseball, and elite level youth programs.

In an effort to create a more comprehensive understanding of who is succeeding in soccer and why, the Academy will now be able to track player’s mental development along with other key metrics.

“The MAP allows coaches to improve their communication process and approach with players, raising the athlete’s self awareness,” said Director Simon Clements “The traits the MAP captures are essential to maximizing development”.

Dr. Ralph Tarter, EXACT’s Scientific Advisory Board Chairman was integrally involved in the development of the MAP..

“Our team has spent over 10 years developing a tool focused on providing consistent objective feedback on athletes character to coaches” said Dr. Tarter, “EXACT has worked with many of the world’s best athletes, creating standards and benchmarks for character that will allow coaches and athletes to better understand where they stand relative to their competition”.

The MAP’s online system will provide a detailed mental profile of each Development Academy athlete and team to the coaching staff.  The profile includes coaching tips, graphical representation, the ability to compare athletes, and a strategy to apply the information to the team and player in training.

How to Prepare for a Soccer Camp

Now that you have learned about the value of a soccer camp and how to pick one, it’s time to explore how to prepare for one. EXACT has worked with coaches and players all over the nation, and we know that in order to get the most out of your camp experience you need to be prepared.  In this article, we will talk about what you can do before, during, and after the camp to maximize your experience and performance.

Not only is it important that you bring all the necessary items, but it is also important that you are physically and mentally ready for the camp. Whether it is a day camp or an overnight camp, you will often be training for several hours, multiple times a day. Those training sessions will, without a doubt, be both physically and mentally draining. Because of this, it is important to take care of your body before and during the camp.

Before the camp, make sure you eat properly and consume as much water as you can. Being properly hydrated and well rested will ensure that you start the camp with the energy that you need. You may also want to set aside some time to practice imagery and goal setting. What is it that you want out of this camp? What do you want to accomplish? Asking yourself these questions can help you focus on your goals and achieve them during the camp.

It is also important to prepare all of your equipment and belongings well beforehand. You don’t want to be stressed and rushing around to find your cleats 2 hours before the camp. Make a list of everything you need and prepare your bags the night before. It is usually a good idea to bring extra cleats and socks (in case it rains), multiple water bottles, snacks (for in between sessions), a soccer ball, and a writing utensil and paper (for meetings with coaches/trainers).

During the camp, be sure to stay as hydrated as possible. Soccer camps – especially those in the summer months – can dehydrate a player quickly (Mamula 2004, Walker et al 2004). Drinking water before, during, and after training sessions will not only prevent dehydration, but will also increase your endurance, decision-making skills and recovery time. Eating healthy snacks and meals as well as getting adequate rest will keep you in top physical condition throughout the camp.

Being hydrated and eating right are important elements of your performance, but don’t forget to include your mental training. Throughout the camp you should periodically review your goals and reevaluate or revise them as necessary. For example, if before the camp you set out to juggle the ball 20 times on your head, but just can’t seem to get there, you may need to bring your goal down to 10 head juggles, or try a different approach. Remember, the coaches and trainers are there to help you reach your goals. If you’re having trouble with a certain technique or drill, be sure to ask an instructor for clarification – this will help you get the most out your camp experience.

After the camp, continue to hydrate properly and eat healthy to help your body recover. Write down any comments or suggestions the coaches gave you during the camp. This will give you something to refer to when making new goals or trying a new skill. If you attended a recruiting camp, be sure to follow up with a thank you email or phone call to the coach. A soccer camp is a great opportunity to learn from exceptional coaches and improve your game. Following these simple tips will help you stay on top of your game and be better prepared for your next soccer camp!

References:

• Mamula, P.W. (2004) Dehydration risk during summer youth sports camps. Physician and Sportsmedicine. 32(7): 435
• Walker, S.M., Casa, D.J. FACSM; Levreault, M.L., Psathas, E., Sparrow, S.L., Decher, N.R. (2004) Children participating in summer soccer camps are chronically dehydrated. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 36(5):180-181

How to Pick a College Soccer Camp

FAU Assistant Coach Tom Newell teaching campers at EXACT Miami NPDC

The value of a college soccer camp is undeniable (see EXACT’s article Discovering the Value of Camps), but picking a college soccer camp can often seem confusing and complicated. There are many factors that can affect your camp experience, so where do you start? Fortunately, this comprehensive guide will take the stress out of picking the right college soccer camp for you!

There are many things to consider when looking for a college soccer camp. Things like duration, cost, coaches, and size can all vary depending on the college or the company hosting the camp. Depending on what you’re looking to get out of a college soccer camp, some camps are better than others. Typically, there are three main reasons players choose to attend a college soccer camp: 1. To improve their game, 2. To be evaluated, and 3. To be “discovered” by a college coach.

Players who want to improve their game should look for camps that offer intensive technical training and lots of one-on-one time with coaches. Look for soccer camps that specialize in specific positions as well. For instance, a goalkeeper will likely improve much more over a 3-day goalkeeper camp than a camp designed for field players. If your main interest is developing as a player, remember that time spent with quality coaches and competing against high-level players is invaluable.

If being evaluated by a college coach is the most important thing to you, make sure you attend a soccer camp early in your high school years. This gives you the chance to improve aspects of your game that may be weaker, and will help you evaluate potential college choices depending on your level. A camp that offers a low ratio of players to coaches, as well as a one-on-one meeting with a coach will be beneficial.

For players who want to be recruited and scouted at a college camp, it is important that they attend the camps of universities that they want to play at or with coaches they want to play for. In this situation, choosing a camp with a high number of players is not to your advantage, but is sometimes unavoidable. To help yourself stand out, make sure you contact the coach before the camp as well as introduce yourself at the camp. Be sure that the coach will be the one training you (often times colleges put on camps that are primarily run by the players). If you get a chance to talk with the coach in private, be sure to express your interest in the school and explain what makes you stand out from other players. After the camp, follow up with an email – this will keep your name fresh in the coach’s mind.

While most camps offer a mixture of these things, EXACT National Player Development Camps offer all of the above – a chance to work with top quality coaches from some of the most reputable and successful colleges in the U.S., mental training and evaluation, one-on-one meetings with coaches, 5:1 player to coach ratio, position-specific training, and a question and answer session with coaches. And while these are not recruiting camps, our unique approach ensures that players improve both mentally and technically while being able to meet, ask questions, and develop relationships with college coaches.

Remember, before picking a college soccer camp, make sure it is offering what you want. A college soccer camp is a great investment, but it can be a waste of time and money if it doesn’t meet your needs. Looking over a camp website or brochure will help you understand what is being offered and how it compares to other camps. Hopefully this guide will help you in your search to find the best college soccer camp for you!

For more information on training and camp opportunities with the NCAA/NAIA, as well as access to EXACT development tools, consider enrolling in the collegiate soccer contact database.

EXACT’s Facts: Fueling Optimal Athletic Performance 1/2

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Like a Lamborghini needs premium fuel and a semi-truck requires diesel, an athlete needs the proper nutrition and fluids to run at optimal athletic performance. So what does it take to properly fuel our body’s needs when we are burning calories and absorbing oxygen at astoundingly high rates on the field of play? How can we build muscle, conserve energy and stay at our best for extended periods of time?  In order to have the stamina to endure a demanding  soccer camp or to obtain a coveted college scholarship athletes need to know exactly what to put into their bodies. In part one of EXACT’s two part guide to fueling optimal athletic performance we will focus on the importance of sound hydration.

How to stay Hydrated:  As a general rule, eight glasses of eight ounces (or about four standard sized, 17 oz. bottles) of water is a good point of reference when hydrating. Other factors such as size, sweat rate and amount of exercise are means to increase the intake. That total amount includes water consumed from other foods and beverages as well such as coffee or fruit.

Importance of Hydration:  Athletes lose the water that makes up around 60% of their body composition in many ways, particularly on the field of play while they sweat. To many, drinking water and staying hydrated may seem like a given. However, many athletes suffer on the field by neglecting this essential factor of athletic performance, often times by not drinking enough water in the days and hours preceding the game.  A good way to gauge hydration levels is by checking urine color. Consistently light yellow or colorless urine demonstrates a hydrated body

Consequences of Dehydration: If an athlete fails to drink the proper amount of water to replace the amount lost in every day customs he/she will suffer from dehydration. A dehydrated athlete may suffer from any or all of the following; fatigue, confusion, headache, feeling dizzy among other symptoms. Energy and clarity of thinking are two tremendously important aspects of maintaining athletic optimization that are sacrificed when an athlete becomes dehydrated.

Best ways to Hydrate: Good old H20 remains the best way for the body to rehydrate, particularly on off days. Sports drinks do have their place however, as they can be used to replace essential minerals and electrolytes spent on the field of play, which in turn can increase stamina and performance.  A sports drink with a little sodium, potassium, chloride and other elements is absorbed faster by the intestine than pure water which is very important in the heat of moment on the field of play. When shopping for sports drinks pay attention to nutrition labels for low sodium levels and a moderate dose of protein to aid in the muscle repair that takes place after the natural cellular damage that occurs during exercise.

Hydration tips:  Always keeping a water bottle on hand and refilling it at the drinking fountain, ordering water at restaurants,  and drinking water before, during and after workouts will all help prevent dehydration.

EXACT has the athlete covered in fueling athletic performance.

CLICK HERE for part two of EXACT’s two part series on fueling optimal athletic performance.

What if your “genes” don’t fit?

I just ready an interesting article in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated — Sports Genes by David Epstein. In this article, the author discusses the role of genetics in sports performance and he alludes to the concept of genetically engineering the perfect athlete. An interesting history of human evolution is also presented that examines the role of endurance running, the quest for meat, and the development of bipedal man (cool stuff from an anthropological standpoint).

The author then jumps into genetics, and the concepts of gene therapy and gene doping, the kind of stuff that makes you wonder what the heck we are doing and what lies ahead in our future.

Anyway, the part that struck me was his reference to  a quote by Wayne Gretzky “maybe it wasn’t the talent the Lord gave me, maybe it was the passion.”

Is there such  thing as the perfect athlete?

What if you were not born into this world with the “right” genes?

Should we genetically test our children after birth to see if they are “pro” material.

Or, perhaps we need to look at the other side of the coin and realize that yes, some athletes are born athletes, but a good percentage of pro athletes are playing at that level because of their passion for their sport, their hard work throughout the years, and their ability to develop the mental side of their game. So if you are one of the many that are not genetically gifted, don’t give up on your dreams, you can overcome these obstacles through hard work, passion, and the development of your mental game.