WAY TO GO!
LETTER FROM SHASTA
It's me, Shasta! I am 14 years old, and I will be entering ninth grade in the fall. Like many of you, I have been flipping through college guides, dreaming of one day playing college soccer. Many readers who have written WSW seem to have questions like mine, on how to best advance in soccer.
Hey WSW Readers!
I took some of your "frequently asked questions" - also known as "FAQ's" - to University of Arkansas Head Soccer Coach, Janet Rayfield. Rayfield was Anson Dorrance's first recruit at the University of North Carolina, where she still holds the hat trick record (14) and is the only player in UNC history to be named captain all four years. Before joining the Arkansas coaching staff, Rayfield coached the Texas Spirit Soccer Club for eight seasons. The University of Arkansas' Lady Razorbacks are the 1996 Western Southeastern Conference Champions.
FAQ: What can parents do to help their daughter "go in the right direction" for elite and college soccer teams?
RAYFIELD: The bottom line is to provide an environment where their daughter can reach her potential. For women, this is a good rec team and for some it may be the national team. The key, in athletics like anything else, is to find an environment that is challenging but rewarding - too easy means boredom and disinterest - too difficult ends in frustration and a sense of failure. Playing with and against players that are of similar or better ability will always stretch a player to become better. Some places that environment is easier to find than others. I think the key thing is for a parent to listen to their daughter and help her find the level of competition that SHE desires - not the level that they think she should want or that they think she is capable of.
FAQ: What do college coaches look for in a player? What should high school and junior high girls be doing to help them take advantage of a college athletic opportunity?
RAYFIELD: The good thing about this sport is that it takes players of all types and all sizes. Depending on a given team's situation, the coach may be looking for something different, but I think we all look for a student athlete to have a unique gift - it might be mentality, it might be speed, it might be an uncanny ability to read the game - but it is something special that they do better than anyone else (or better than most anyway).
Athleticism - speed, strength, endurance, and quickness - are all very important to succeed at the highest level, and therefore, I think, a great emphasis is put on those qualities. An athlete can be taught to play the game. But all coaches realize that "marginal" athletes have been very successful in this game, but they are the ones who have some other VERY special gift or talent!
Academics are a very important part of choosing a STUDENT-athlete. The NCAA has put restrictions that are making sure that the student part of that role is carried out. It is very important for young girls to realize the academic demands that they must meet and to start to learn how to manage their time, so that they can perform well on the field, off the field, and in the classroom. I would recomment that all prospective student-athletes meet and get to know their high school advisor, so that they can be aware fo the requirements and also to use them as a resource to find the RIGHT program and school for them!
FAQ: How do women coaches feel about opportunties and salaries?
RAYFIELD: I can only speak from my perspective, and I am pleased with the opportunities that have been afforded to me and am happy that I can have a comfortable lifestyle and pursue a career I feel passionately about. I don't compare my salary to my male counterparts or to other sports. It's not about that for me. But, you must realize, that I - at this point in time - don't have a family to support or be responsible for, so that makes my decisions and my perspective different.
I think that women are very excited about the opportunities that are out there from both a playing and a coaching perspective - endorsements for players like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, the talk of a women's professional league, the Olympic's Gold Medal - all those things makes it an exciting time for women in sports, especially soccer. However, there are still many areas where men still dominate the profession, and I see many women unable to fulfill family and personal dreams and maintain their athletic related careers at the same time. Time will tell if the problems are resolved in the future.
Other FAQ's concern training and what it takes make it to ODP and other top teams. WSW asked if I could answer some of these from my own perspective:
FAQ: What type of regimen do teens follow to be able to make competitive teams or ODP teams?
SHASTA: My weekly training regimen consists of strength and speed development training four days a week, attending every scheduled practice, training outside of practice either by myself or with other teams, pick-up games, a day of rest, no conditioning on game days, and eating healthy.
FAQ: Are there some tips for training for teens?
Shasta's Training Tip: Train your Left Foot to be your "RIGHT" Foot
During practice, I used to cringe when we would line-up on the left side to take shots at the goal. My left-footed shot would always be an embarrassing "shank"! During games, I would maneuver the ball to my right foot and lose uncontested clear shots, crosses, and passes because of the delay. Last spring, I committed the summer to improving this weakness. This is how I did it!
- Begin by kicking a ball in a soccer pal with your left foot while watching TV, reading a book, or playing out in the backyard. This helps your left foot feel comfortable with the "touch" of the ball.
- Go to a racquetball court or brick wall and kick the ball against the wall using the inside, outside, and instep of your left foot. Increase the speed as you improve.
- You're ready for the big kicks. Go to a baseball field and practice crosses into the backstop.
- Now it's time to shoot the ball. Don't be too hard on yourself at first. Begin against a wall, add construction paper targets, then take it to the goal!!
The key to overcoming your "left foot" is daily committment and perserverance over a long period of time. It does not happen overnight!
Good luck in your training and games! In the meantime, I want to hear from you! E-mail me here at WOMENSOC@aol.com or snail mail me at WSW, 1728 Mulberry St., Montgomery, AL 36106. Keep the Ball Rolling!
Shasta
© Women's Soccer World July/August 1997
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