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2009 Mike Getman Soccer Camp Schedule
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RECRUITING
Step Two - Create Your Resume
By Coach Getman
If you just finished your High School
career, I hope you have found the college that fits you best and offers
everything you want in an education and soccer program.
If you are going into your Junior year, now is the time to be making
coaches aware of who you are and what
you have to offer as a person, student, and player. If you are going
into your Senior year, you may be playing catch up with some schools,
but there are still opportunities out there. Start contacting coaches
and making them aware of your interest.
If you are going into your Sophomore year, it wouldn't hurt to begin
the process, as the earlier a coach knows of your interest the more
chances he will have to see you play. But it's early and you may not
yet know what schools and/or career path you are interested in. Take
this time to explore your options and your interests.
Create a Soccer Resume and Cover Letter
The Cover Letter tells coaches that you are interested in their school
and asks them to send you more information about their college and
their soccer program. Include information about any upcoming events
(tournaments or camps) that you will be playing in. Make sure you
personalize your letter. Use the coaches name, not just "Dear Coach".
Most coaches receive hundreds of emails and letters so make sure they
don't think that this is just a form letter that you are mass mailing.
If you have something personal you can say about why you are interested
in their program/school then include it. The more personal the better.
In your Resume, include the following:
1. Your Name and Contact Information
2. Your grade point average and SAT or ACT Scores if you have them.
3. The teams you play on, with the Coaches names and contact information.
4. Any outstanding team accomplishments.
4. Any outstanding personal academic or athletic accomplishments.
5. Your height, weight, and what position you play.
6. A list of references; former coaches or other people who can speak
well about you. Include phone numbers and email addresses.
The more details you can provide about yourself, the easier it is for
coaches to get to know you. The less you provide, the more the coach
has to dig and search to learn about you. The more time he must
invest, the less likely he will do it. Make his job easy. Provide all
the details you can.
In the next issue we will talk about how to get the addresses and email
address of the coaches at the schools you are interested in and about sending a DVD with your resume. Check out
the June Issue of "What's A Blaze".
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Youth Soccer
by Coach Getman
Tips for coaching young players:
1. Keep it fun
2. Keep it simple
3. Teach skills. Coaches want to win, players want to learn.
4. If you have fun, they have fun.
5. Focus on fun & learning with young players. Don't worry about
wins. Soccer is no different than school. If the teacher makes the
subject fun while the student learns, then the student will want to
continue in that subject.
6. Use positive reinforcement. We want to remind players of what they
did right. Give attention to positive actions and it will occur more
often.
Parents often confuse winning with success. Real success at the Youth
Level is player development. Teach skills, teach the game, have fun.
Your players will thank you for it, and they will stay in the game.
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Question and Answer
by Coach Getman
How do I find out if I am good enough to play College Soccer?
First let me tell you that if you love soccer and want to play in college, you most likely will be able to find a college that fits your level of play. There are colleges at all levels. There are over 1,000 college soccer programs for men. Division I,
Division II, Division III, NAIA, Junior College, you name it, there's a
soccer program.
Start by asking your club or high school coaches what they think of your college prospects. Then go to soccer camps where you will be exposed to college coaches at all levels. At the end of the week ask them what they think of your college prospects. Go to College Soccer games and try to gauge your play against what you see. It's all a matter of finding the college with the right fit for you. Don't be shy, get out there and find your spot.
Email your questions. Coach Getman will choose one to answer in each NEWSLETTER. info@uabsoccercamp.com
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Question and Answer
by Coach Getman
My child is playing U11 Academy and is one of the dominant players on
his team. Some have suggested that I move him up to U13 Select next
year instead of letting him play U12. If he plays U12 he will
continue to start and dominate and get lots of playing time. If I move
him up, he will no longer start and get less playing time. His U13 team
would be very good while his U12 team drops off a little with the lower
half of the team. What would be the best solution?
This
is a question that comes up quite often. I am having this very same
dilemma with my own son. My general guide line is, If your child will
be one of the top players on the new team, than moving up is a good
idea. If your child will not be one of the best, then leave him
down with his age group.
A child's success on the field
goes a long way towards their enjoyment of soccer. If he is
struggling to "survive", he will not try new moves, learn new
skills or play freely. If he sits on the bench more, he is not
learning more. Being one of the best on the team will allow him to
express himself, he will enjoy more and will probably keep
playing in the future.
Moving kids up in soccer is no
different than moving kids up in school. If you child is bored and
wasting his time, than move him up. If he is enjoying and
learning, why make him compete against older kids? The more
successful a kid is at something, the more likely they will keep
pursuing that activity in the future.
I hope this helps.
Mike Getman
Email your questions. Coach Getman will choose one to answer in each NEWSLETTER. info@uabsoccercamp.com
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Greetings! 