It is our intention to develop players and teams to a high enough level to attract the attention of college coaches and the last couple of years have been particularly fruitful with several players developed through the club playing and attracting interest at the collegiate level (see Alumni). If it is a players intention to play collegiate soccer we will do our best to help but ultimately it comes down to how dedicated the player is.
We are also establishing links with college coaches, one of those being Bobby Clark head coach of Notre Dame. The following is an extract of a recent e-mail he sent to our director of coaching.
"Please pass on my best wishes to your dad. I have a team photo of the Scotland team who played Belgium in 1971/72 and your dad is in it. We won 1-0 and Kenny Dalglish (regarded as the finest player ever to play for Liverpool F.C.) also won his first cap that night. I always say to people, when they ask about players I played alongside, that your dad was the best all round player. He had a great engine, good technique, a good passer and could win balls in a very fair way. He was a great midfield engine who could play and was a pleasure to have on the team.
Regarding players and what we look for. I don't really know but usually I like players to have one outstanding quality. Is he good in the air?...can he pass well?...does he score goals?...is he a ball winner?...is he fast?
One of these qualities is a start but then I ask if he makes good decisions.
I always feel that when you watch a really good player the game seems to slow down around him. It really doesn't. It is an illusion but it seems that way. A good player always seems to have time and makes it look easy.
Well let me know if you ever have a special player we should be looking at.
Remember he also needs good grades with a strong class load and SAT's.
The best time to look at youngsters is in their junior year"
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