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| Bradenton, Florida |
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For the past eight years, AthletiCo has enjoyed a relationship with U.S. Soccer by providing athletic training coverage, both domestically and internationally, for U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams. AthletiCo’s certified athletic trainers (ATCs) have traveled to California, Florida, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand, Canada, Rio de Janeiro, and Portugal, to name a few.
In addition, in 2003, AthletiCo became involved with the U.S. Soccer Residency Program. The U.S. Soccer Residency Program began in 1999 as a way to provide development opportunities for players, as well as to demonstrate U.S. Soccer’s dedication to the success of their Youth National Teams. Youth players under the age of 17 are invited into the full-time Residency Program where they live and train together in Bradenton, Florida. The program fields two full teams who train together during the week and then have the opportunity to compete against club, college, and international teams on the weekends. Since its inception, 170 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 40 of those players have moved on to Major League Soccer, or the professional leagues in Europe.
In August 2003, AthletiCo’s Michael White, ATC, started down in Bradenton as one of the Residency’s athletic trainers. A year later, a second AthletiCo employee, Paul Rushing, ATC, was added as a second athletic trainer. Both Michael and Paul live in Bradenton working and traveling with the U-17 National Soccer Team. We have caught up with both of them with some Q & A regarding their experiences.
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| Bradenton, Florida |
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Michael: While in Florida, our weekdays are pretty much the same. Treatment at 8 a.m., leave for practice at 9, return from practice around 11:15, post-practice treatment until players leave for school at noon. From 12 p.m. until 5:30 we eat lunch, workout, do paperwork, go on physician visits/surgeries, and take care of general administrative duties. The players return from school at 5:30 and then we do night treatments. We usually play Saturday mornings. When we travel, it is always a different monster.
What is your favorite thing about working with the U-17 National Team?
Paul: Our favorite thing is the traveling we are able to do. It is great to see other cultures. I also like to see the kids become successful players after they leave residency—whether it is college, professional, etc.
Michael: Even though we are usually really busy when we travel, I really like seeing the different cultures. My favorite thing though, has to be our role with the players. We have kind of a big brother role. That allows us to interact on a personal level and help them to become good young men and good young professionals. I think that’s the most important thing about the job.
You have a new head coach and coaching staff. What is that like?
Paul: I don’t like the adjustment period when working with new staff. Change is always hard to deal with, but it’s a part of the job. We learn to be very flexible in this job.
Michael: This is my 3rd head coach and coaching staff since I’ve been here. I have really liked all our coaches. I miss the old staff but am looking forward to getting to know the new staff. They seem like good guys, and I like the mentality they bring in.
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