GAME BODY MIND OFF THE PITCH NEWS

Dewayne De Rosario’s Perspective On Being A Pro Footballer

As the first “Footballer Q&A Feature” we’re doing here on the new blog, I thought it would be cool to feature DeWayne given what we personally have in common (fifth metatarsal injury). More importantly DeRo is just a class act and I really enjoyed interviewing him and I really would like to hear your feedback about this interview and who else you would like us to feature and what format you’d like to see. Heck, maybe we should feature you?

Given that we are all about helping players here on Footballers FC you’ll see that this interview with DeWayne is really centered around our belief in being a total footballer which requires you train your game, your body and your mind for peak performance. So, below are some of the questions we asked Dewayne and I hope you enjoy his feedback.

Also, please feel free to submit any questions you might have by text below or post a video response on the FFC video player. Now, enjoy DeWayne’s advice:

Q. What things do you do from a nutritional perspective to keep your body at its optimal performance level?

A. Well, I am a vegetarian so I don’t eat meat. However, I eat a lot of fruits and vegatables and I keep my body very hydrated. I drink a lot of water because hydration is extremely important playing at this level. It is especially important at the peak of the MLS season as hot is it is. Plus, playing here in Houston it’s very humid and it was one of the more difficult to adjust too coming here from San Jose. Players especially from Europe have a difficult time playing in the heat we have to perform in so, I really focus on keeping myself hydrated well.

Q. What has been one of the most challenging times in your career?

A. When I fractured my fifth metatarsal in 2003 it was difficult to get back into match shape with the entire rehabilitation process. Once I completed training and was ready to get back into it we had our first exhibition match with San Jose State and Dom came to me and said that he was going get me in for the last 15 minutes to get my legs going and open up my lungs. I told Dom I was excited to hear it and was really looking forward to getting back in. When the time came I got in and remember taking a volley at the top of the box and a defender jumped into my leg and I ended up snapping my LCL – I scored though (and he laughs HUH!) and I played the rest of the game. I thought it was just a good knock on the knee and played through it. It wasn’t until later in the evening that I was really in pain and had to see a doc to confirm that I had torn my LCL.

Hearing that I was going to be out the rest of the season after just coming back from my broken foot was really tough to take but, I did what the docs told me and was patient and followed their advice. The good thing is that we ended up winning the Cup that season and that was great!

Jason Cronkhite – Dewayne, I definitely can sympathize with you. I also broke my fifth metarsil – twice actually.

Dewayne – “So, did you have surgery?”

Jason – Yep, I actually have a 3 inch pin in my foot.

Dewayne – Is’nt funny they call it a pin and it looks like a screw you’d pull out of your tool box. (everyone laughs).

Steve Arters – yeah that sounds smaller huh?

Q. From Steve, DeWayne – with the time you’ve been with the Dynamo can you explain how the MLS has grown talent wise?

A. I think the MLS has grown tremendously but, I don’t think the talent level has been lacking. When you have players like Demarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and many others that have come up through MLS you can’t say that the talent has been bad since these guys are playing on a world class level.

Q. What can you tell us about your pregame ritual – how you get prepared to play?

A. Well, the day of the game I am in my own zone, my own world. I close the door to my room so my kids don’t get in and I tune in and focus on the game. I visualize what I have to do. I drink lots of water and pile up on pastas and carbs and really just try to relax and think about what I have to do.

My wife goes crazy on game days! My bodies here but I’m not. I’m no help around the house with the kids – you’re on your own for this one day. ( we all had a few laughs ).

Steve comments: you know it sounds kinda like a boxer the way you prepare, shutting everything out and really mentally focusing on the game.

Dwayne: Yep, it’s a very demanding sport and I always get comments from other athletes saying they don’t know how I play soccer. You have to run for 90 minutes especially in this heat here.

Q: Steve: Your bio says you have a knack for pulling off the unexpected. For the younger players, how would you advise them on how to create such opportunities in games – is it anticipation?

A. You know I think it is a lot of things, anticipation is one of them. Creativity is a big one and coaches of young players need to provide an environment for the players to experiment and do new things. It will help them with the confidence and their creative abilities to not be afraid of doing new things. You know a lot of people ask me when I do something really crazy – how did you do that? And, I often respond – I don’t know I just felt that doing a particular move or something was just the way I could get something done. I try things sometimes just because I want to and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But, this is what I think makes great players. Some players will do things in training but won’t do these things in games. Trying new things is just me and when it works its great and when it doesn’t well, I think I’ll never do that again. (laughs all around).

Dewayne continues, I think that this is where your confidence in yourself comes into play. If you’re not afraid to take risks and fail sometimes it’s hard to grow and develop your game. Of course, there is an entertainment aspect at this level and it is a sport. Although when I do things I am not really thinking that oh… I should do a bicycle kick here because it will be cool and the fans will love it but, if this is an option and could help put the ball in the back of the net then it would not hurt trying.

Q. So, what would be your best advice to young aspiring players that dream of becoming professionals?

A. You have to believe you can make your dream a reality. You have to be determined and work really hard. You have to put yourself in the right place in your community, stay focused keep the right mindset. When I was growing up had the opportunities to go the wrong way but I stayed focused on what I wanted to accomplish along with my brothers help. I became a professional soccer player because I focused all my energy into the game. Making smart choices, not partying and sacrificing the quick thrills to stay focused on the big goal. I stayed away from the parties for five years and thought about what I would be able to do and enjoy later. Now, I am able to travel and play the sport I love because I stayed focused and was very determined.

Q. Can you talk more about some of the specific things that helped you make it through your back to back injuries?

A. Sure. I think one of the things that motivated me was my son. He was 2 years old at the time and I remember seeing him start to run around and thinking man I have to get back – I have to do this. I think the cure for me was my own mental decision to really decide that I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it back and play this season. Just having that will power and determination makes a huge difference. The guys on the team really played a huge part too. I remember their encouragement during training sessions when I was just able to get back out and run they clapped for me and really took an interest to where I was and how I was doing. Having their support made me feel really good and it gave me more confidence to work even harder.

You know the camaraderie amongst the Dynamo is one of our team dynamics that I think make us so great. Our guys really want to work with each other. We work hard to encourage each other and we back each other to achieve and

Q. Can you talk about some of the things you do to pick yourself up when you might not be playing your best?

A. You know I like to watch film footage of when I was performing well and doing the things I know I can do really well. If you get to down on yourself its hard to get out of that mindset and if I am not playing well for some reason then I try to focus on the simple things. I go back to fundamentals and focus on make sure I am passing the ball well, moving into space and supporting my teammates and try to make sure I can just play my role well enough for the team to win.

At this point unfortunately we lost Dwayne on his cell but caught back up with him a few minutes later and really thanked him for his time and sharing everything he did. So, I hope this advice from a class act footballer helps you as a player. And, if there is someone that you’d like us to interview or a topic you’d like us to cover please feel free to use the “SUBMIT A TOPIC” button in the right hand corner.

Do you have any comments or just want to share something with us? Drop us a line in the comment box as we always want to know what’s on other footballers minds.

Advice From A Hall Of Fame Soccer Coach

Have you ever had a coach that really challenged you to be something more than you thought you could be? Do you struggle to impress them? Do you excel beyond their expectations? Well, no matter what your answer may be, a special coach like Howard Patterson brings out the best in you which is why he’s a College Soccer Hall of Fame Coach. With a career record of 395 wins, this was the most wins of any coach in NAIA history at his retirement. Given HP’s accolades and having played for him, I am honored to share with you a little about Howard in this Q&A feature.

What do you feel has been the most influential impact you have made being a soccer coach?

There are probably a few things, but I hope that I helped provide students with a means to get a college education; stay in school and graduate, using soccer as a motivator. Also, helping students learn self-respect, the value of hard work, dedication and team work.

What would you say was the most important lesson you learned from the game?

The game is not always fair, but you tend to get out of it what you put in to it.

What advice do you have for young college coaches just starting their careers?

Be organized and network. Seek situations, such as coaching schools, where you can gain coaching skills. Realize where soccer fits in higher education. It is not THE most important thing at the school or in life, but it can be very internally rewarding. Coach a youth team for free.

As a college coach, what did you look for in the players you recruited?

Integrity, intelligence, drive, soccer skills, and fitness.

What advice would you give to a young player aspiring to play college soccer?

Develop your skills at every opportunity. Maintain your integrity. Seek out those who will make you a better player, not just those who want you to play because you are talented. Do extremely well in school and make good decisions on and off the field!

What effects do you think a highly successful professional league could have on the college game in America?

It would help, but not make THE difference. Players should attend college to get a marketable degree. If they can play pro soccer after college for a few years, great, but make sure you have that degree for the day when you no longer are part of the team. Often times pro soccer, and pro sports in general, provide bad examples, such as overly aggressive fouls, fighting, acting and disrespecting others. Strive to walk of the field so your children are proud of who you are.

How important is the performance of US National Team for continued growth of the game in America?

People will play soccer regardless of what our national teams do. I’d dare say the vast majority (99%) of today’s young players can’t name two players on any of our national teams, but they can tell you who some top basketball and football players are!

Hank Steinbrecher once stated that “the US would win the World Cup by 2010” as he laid out specific plans to accomplish this goal. Since then leadership has changed and with the 2010 World Cup quickly approaching, what do you think the US chances are given this goal?

Hank is a great man with a vision for the future, but I am not sure the US will win a World Cup this decade or next, and the way things are going in the world, we may not make it past this century.

Lastly, if you were leading Major League Soccer today what do you think would be your most important strategy for the next ten years?

Sorry, but I would not want that job. The future of our country is in its youth, not the pro leagues. Working with the future is the life for me.

My Thoughts & Reactions

Well, I thought Howard provided some very interesting perspective to the conversation. And, you can certainly see where his values and beliefs are and you have to respect that. Having an education and being able to learn from the game and having the capability to apply such lessons learned to life are crucial. I really like the importance that HP thinks should be placed on youth development. The strength of the grassroots organically raises the competitiveness of the professional leagues is something worth noting. Now, I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

What did you think about this interview?

Using The Power Of Soccer To Fight AIDS

It is not very often that you meet someone that is so humble and cares more about the well-being of others than his own. When you do meet people like Ethan Zohn, they make you want to model their actions and follow their lead to greatness. And leading is exactly what Ethan is doing by creating a grassroots youth soccer movement to help fight AIDS in Africa called Grassroot Soccer United.

After playing professional soccer in Zimbabwe and experiencing the AIDS epidemic first hand by losing one of his best friends to the disease, Ethan founded Grassroot Soccer along with Tommy Clark, Kirk Friedrich, and Methembe Ndlovu in 2002. After winning the reality television show Survivor in Africa, Ethan decided to put his prize money to work by saving lives and fighting AIDS.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting Ethan and learned about his plan to raise awareness and money to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa with his Dribble Campaign. Ethan started his mission on August 20th at Gillete Stadium during the New England Revs game and will be dribbling 500 miles across the East coast making various stops for clinics then ending the dribble in Washington D.C.

Help Ethan Fight HIV/AIDS

While Ethan is dribbling to raise awareness for Grassroot Soccer United, you can get involved in several ways. Here is a short list of what you can to personally to help Ethan:

1. Join the Grassroot Soccer Dribble Team << REGISTER HERE >>
2. DONATE $10 TO GET STARTED and ask 10 friends to do the same. (That would be $110).
3. Share this blog post by clicking on the Share This Icon below and choosing your favorite places to share the Dribble Campaign OR email this link to your friends.
4. Follow Ethan and encourage him on his YouTube page and his Facebook group.
5. Buy A GRSU T-Shirt or Ball
6. Nominate GRSU for the American Express Members Project.
7. Do something in your local community ( I’m holding a soccer clinic for the kids at my church ).

24 Key Elements To Being A Great Footballer

Have you ever wondered what makes a footballer great? Do you dream of being a great footballer one day? Well, what is it that makes one a great footballer? I’m sure there are many opinions and suggestions to these questions Read more

Things You Want To See

As a soccer player or coach, I am interested to hear what you’d like us to write about for you?  We are in the final testing stages of making everything work here and there’s just a few more things we have to fix like our store link (gotta get the first few shirts and bags loaded).  And, there’s a few other minor adjustments so if you see something let me know.  You will probably see some incomplete posts on the blog and those  are there from testing things and they’ll be cleaned up soon.  So, thanks in advance for the help and I look forward to meeting you or hearing from you.

About Footballers FC

Who are we and what are we about is what you might be asking?  Well, we are a couple of guys — Jason Cronkhite (me), Steve Arters, Chris Campasano, and Ed Sakiewicz — that are trying to build an football club that provides innovative resources for players all over the world.  Any player can be a part of the club and we welcome you to join some of the rest of the footballers at http://club.footballers.com .  There are currently about 1,700 other players and coaches from all over the world you can connect with, learn from, and just share your passion for the game.

Footballers FC is all about inspiring players and coaches to become great!  We don’t have all the answers but we’ll certainly try to help or find someone who can help you.  We are a small group of people with very BIG IDEAS & DREAMS who are very passionate about football.  You can read more on our “About” section if you like but I’d recommend connecting with us directly in the club.  Just do a search for Jason, Steve, Chris or Ed and we’ll tell ya all you want to know.

Topics We’re Looking For

With in our blog here we have broken things down in 4 primary sections.  The sections are as follows:

• Game
• Body
• Mind
• News or Off The Pitch (News will be update to Off The Pitch soon).

Game covers any and everything from a technical and tactical perspective.  We may share drills, strategies, provide tips and others things that relate to helping you improve your game performance.

Body covers many aspects from a physical training perspective like strength and agility strategies, nutritional information, hydration, injury prevention and recovery, and much more.

Mind covers mental and pyschological aspects of how to maintain and improve performance.  We may discuss strategies and provides tips on how to get out of scoring slumps, what you learn from losing, and many other aspects of the role you mental preparation has on your performance.

News / Off The Pitch is our section that covers anything and everything that could be happening in the world of football or with in our community or whatever.  This is an area that is really wide open.

How Can You Help?

There are really three things that you can do to help Footballers FC and they are:

1. Submit A Topic that you’d like us to cover.
2. Consider becoming a contributer for Footballers FC.
3. Help us find more Subject Matter Experts.

If you have a burning topic you’d like us to write about find the “Submit A Topic” button on the upper right side of the blog and let us know or just click on the links I’ve provided above.  If you have an interest to become a contributor or know of an Expert like a sports psychologist, a nutritionist, a professional soccer coach or a cardio thorasic surgeon (just joking but hey that would be cool) just email me at jcronkhite at footballersfc dot com .

Start A Video Conversation

Heck, why not?  If you want to just say hi or let us know something with a short video you can record and submit one on or video player on the home page bottom left.

Any Comments or Thoughts?

If you have any I’d love to hear them - please don’t be shy to chime in and let us know.  We are building this website and football club for you and what you think is very important to us.  The very last thing you should do is make sure you subscribe to our blog as it is free - nothing to lose, go ahead

Tackling Tough For Transition

Tackling should always be done with vigor. One should never try to tackle lightly for several reasons. One, if you tackle your opponent lightly you run the risk of getting injured. Two, if you don’t tackle tough your opponent may win. Each approach you take to regaining possession should be done in such a way that it allows you to regain possession and more importantly allows you to create a transitional opportunity.

This is just another test…..

Interview With Derby County Academy Manager Kevin Thelwell

Coach Gary Littlefield caught up with Kevin Thelwell of Derby County last week to briefly discuss the academy and its assessment practices. Here’s what Kevin had to say.

Can you give the younger Ziga Zoga members an idea of what is expected of a player while on trial at the academy?

The first thing to recognize here is that there is quite a stringent process for trialing at the Academy. Trialists will either be within our development system of support or will have been identified through the scouting process. So they are usually of a good standard on arrival. With this being the case we ask them to do three things; Listen well / work hard / Make sure you enjoy it! And hopefully the rest will take care of itself.

Once accepted to the academy, how often and what forms of assessments are there?

The boys at all age groups are continually being assessed both informally and formally on a weekly basis. This can include; Fitness testing – Assessed in all components on a quarterly basis Technical / Tactical – Weekly review (Informal) / Parent meetings (Quarterly) with a Mental Weekly review document (Formal document). The review and evaluation process is very important to both the staff and the players to ensure that they are continually on the right road for progressive development. This element is taken very seriously especially at the older age groups.

The emphasis this week has been on self assessment, can you give an example where a player has assessed himself correctly and an example of the opposite?

All players between the Ages of 11 and 16 are issued at the beginning of the season with a self assessment handbook. This allows the players to make comment on specific areas of their game on a weekly basis. The coach will review these comments and add to it on a monthly basis. We feel this process provides players with the opportunity to think seriously about their game and develop their own perception of how they are doing with guidance from the coach on a regular basis. This handbook also allows the player and coach to communicate and discuss on a regular basis to ensure they become of the standards required at the Academy.

Last of all can you comment on individual goal setting?

Following on from the last question at the end of the month players identify with the coach where they feel they can improve and this is then taken forward through games and training for the next month. This process is really important as it helps players to strive for continual improvement with guidance and support through key individuals. Such goals are very simply; very relevant to the individual, realistic in terms of achievement, recorded (Through the Handbook – allowing progress to be traced) measurable.

So, what are your thoughts and how will you Get Stuck In?

Football News Around The World

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