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
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
