Ohio Elite ITP - Day Four

Day 4 – Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Game day!

The training grounds were in full use this morning. The 1993/1994 group started their day with fitness and never developed the training session beyond 8v8 to one goal and a counter line.  This groups plays far less full-sided soccer than the younger teams.

The 1997/1998 group spends much of their time in modified 9v9-11v11 games to goal and the 1995/1996 players do a lot more possession-oriented games and also rarely play to goal.  These groups finish with fitness.  All groups end with a static stretch with players carrying their own mats to training for core work.

Our kids trained with one of the U15 coaches.  The goalkeepers went with a Fluminense goalkeeper coach.  The attention to detail and focus on our kids by the goalkeeper coach was tremendous.

The activities were all slight variations to sessions we run at home.  There is no magic to developing – the more time spent on task the better a player will become.  The rule of 10,000 hours exists worldwide! 

A dozen Fluminense 1999’s mixed with our guys to finish with an 8v8 + 6 bumpers to goal in a 30x30 space.

We are getting a more clear idea of the environment and culture.  The idea of residency was previously lost in translation.  The club keeps approximately 35 players in each age group from the 2001’s to 1995’s with another 30 in the combined 1993/1994 age groups.  From these groups, nearly 100 players (mostly top players from outside the area) live on campus with full room and board.  The hotel we are staying in houses additional players (some overflow, others on trial).  Most of these players are relocated when groups are brought in (ours being the first apparently) or when the reserve team stays for a few days prior to a match.  It was the old First Team pre-match facility, but has been replaced by 5-star hotels nearer the stadium in today’s culture.

The local players live at home and get themselves to and from training.  Many players starting as young as the 2001 group received a monthly salary, although they don’t sign contracts with the club until they turn 16.

Training schedules:

2001 | 3 days/week after school from 3-5pm (currently on break)

2000 | 3-4 days/week after school from 3-5pm (currently on break)

1999-1996 | 5 days/week from 9-11:00am (special school in the afternoon)

1995-1993 | 5-6 days/week from 9-11:30am

The 2001’s were brought back from their vacation to play our group.  The game was played in three 25-minute periods with each player playing in at least one full period.  Fluminense lined the reserve field and brought in a referee to make it more official.  It is an honor to play on this field.  We sincerely appreciate the hospitality the group has shown us.

 

The parent arrived from the Copa Cabana to watch the game and had a few minutes with their kid after it ended.  They watched the game from behind an enclosed area with a fence on three sides and wall behind.  Brilliant by the way!

The match went as expected with long periods of defending mixed with short periods of possession and a few chances on goal.  The difference in speed of play was readily apparent.  The Brazilian opportunities on goal developed almost organically while our ability to cross midfield was forced and ineffective. 

In transition, our players’ first inclination is to dribble into open space or turn first then dribble into open space until their final touch is a tackle.  The Brazilians look to pass, often connecting multiple passes is a small area until switching the field where they have a numerical advantage before going to goal with numbers.  Their possession allows a 4-4-2 formation to be played as a 2-4-4 committing as many as 6-7 players to goal.  They dribble only to create chances on goal, rarely taking players on in their defensive half.

Tomorrow – training and then Fluminense v. Cruzeiro at the Maracana!

Ohio Elite ITP - Day Three

Fluminense | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day 3 – Monday, July 29, 2013

I failed to mention we met an American yesterday who signed to train with Fluminense and is expected to have a trial in Germany next month.  Dallas, who played for the DC United in the Development Academy, took time to talk with the boys for about 10 minutes in the dining facility, explaining the process for the local players.

One thing you learn quickly on any international trip is the ability to adapt to changes in the schedule.  They aren’t so much unexpected as they are something you should be prepared for.

Due to the Pope’s extended stay in Rio, schools remained closed and the junior leagues suspended for two weeks.  The 2000-2004 age groups were put on a break during this time since public transportation is limited.  This meant our players could not be integrated into their training with their own age group.

(The 1999 and older players go into residency.  The 2000 and younger player require transportation to and from the facility from their homes.)

Fluminense did a great job of pulling 1998 and 1999 players in to train along side our groups this morning to give the boys a sense of the standard and have called their 2000 in to play us tomorrow evening even though they are officially on break.

We were able to watch multiple age groups train, including the plyometric and physical training as well as the on-field sessions.  The players are getting a complete view of life for these lucky kids, not just on the field, but the not so glamorous off-field life.  The fortunate kids, who are selected out of the local league from a full-time scouting department live the game, practicing 6 days/week, 3 hours per day are bussed to and from school and have very limited social life outside the gates of the facility.  The turnover is relatively high as kids are released from the program and replaced, usually on a yearly cycle, but sometimes more often for behavior, a lack of discipline or issues at school.

The Brazilian and American kids are becoming more comfortable around one another and integrating at meals. 

Today’s schedule:

7:30am | wake up call
8:00am | bus to Fluminense training facility
8:30am | breakfast
9:15am | change into Fluminense training uniform
9:30am | training with Fluminense staff coaches (12 players pulled from the end of 1998/99 training which started at 8am to integrate in the final 45 minutes of our boys’ session)
11:30am | end of training, change into Ohio Elite gear
11:45am | lunch
12:30pm | bus to hotel
1:00-2:00pm | mandatory rest in horizontal position in own bed
2:30pm | bus to Fluminense training facility
2:45pm | change into Fluminense training uniform
3:00pm | training with Fluminense U-17 physical coach (club trains in the mornings for 2.5 hours)
5:00pm | end of training, change into Ohio Elite gear
6:00pm | dinner
6:45pm | bus to hotel
7:00pm | free time in the hotel
9:30pm | evening meeting
10:00pm | lights out

We have posted more than 200 pictures on Facebook

Ohio Elite ITP - Day Two

Fluminense | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day Two – Sunday, July 28, 2013

The group arrived in Rio de Janeiro just after 8am local time. We were moved through customs in a matter of minutes and made our way to the Fluminense training facility.

One of the benefits of the Pope giving mass on the Copa Cabana was over a million people were on the beach and not on the roads.   Unfortunately, it made for a mess for our parents who are staying at a hotel literally across the street from where mass was held.

The club is largely shutdown on Sundays, but was very accommodating for us.  We are staying at the old First Division hotel that now serves to host players who are invited to the club for a trial.  If a player makes the youth program he is transferred to their youth facility, which is very similar to our U-17 residency program in Bradenton, FL).

The facilities (lodging, meals, training, equipment) are fantastic.  Players are bunked two in a room with a television in each room and shared restroom facilities on the floor.

The players and coaches were checked in and the parents boarded the bus toward the Hotel Debret . After a “short” meeting the players and coaches boarded the club bus to the Fluminense youth facility just a couple blocks away and ate lunch with the Fluminense players who hadn’t gone home for the day.

After a nap back at the hotel, we returned to the youth facility for training.  The club has provided each player with a training uniform to wear for the day to be turned in, washed and returned the following day.

The session comprised of a dynamic technical warm-up, Barcelona three-team possession game and 8v8 play.  Frankly, for several kids it was simply a way to keep them awake.

After dinner at the facility, the boys were bussed back to the hotel and given free time in the swimming pool or playing cards, table tennis, snooker, foosball or watching TV.

Lights out at 10pm.

Follow the photo album on Facebook.

Ohio Elite ITP - Day One

Fluminense | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day One – Saturday, July 27, 2013

The trip started with two groups departing Cincinnati on different flights and meeting up in Dallas for the 10-hour flight to Rio de Janeiro.  Wheels were up after solving the over-sold issue and finally getting everyone on the flight at the last possible minute.