Smitty's Summer Tips: Making a plan

Smitty's Summer Tips: Making a plan
by Caleb Smith
May 24, 2018

Greetings soccer fans. Wherever you’re reading this from, pull up a chair and tune into what’s about to go down. My name is Caleb Smith. But I’m known informally by my teammates and family as Smitty. This summer I will spit you guys tips about how to stay fit and active in the summer to become a better soccer player.

My soccer career began in the sunny fields of Miami. My brother and I played on a city league team in the Miami Dade Community. Stanley and I had an effortless connection on the field. I wasn’t the best player. I was the one who gravitated toward the ball to make people think I was going to kick it and at the last moment someone would swoop in, take the ball and dribble the other way. A couple of years later, we moved to Texas and that’s where my soccer career took off. I started off playing with a local club in Arlington called Texas Lightning.

Soon after I moved to Solar Soccer Club where I started to grow and mature into the player I am today. In 2012 I was invited to the U17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida. A couple years after, I signed my letter of intent to Southern Methodist University and three years later here I am preparing for my final season on the Hilltop.

College soccer is unique because the season is crammed into four months and then you spend the rest of the eight months preparing for the season again. The summer is very important. It allows players to physically, technically and mentally mature while not having to worry about the pressure of winning games. For me, the summer is a way to refresh your body while building up strength and endurance to reach peak performance by the time August rolls around. Here are some avenues to explore to keep you fit in the summer:

1. Find a local gym: If you’re looking for a way to stay local, find a local affordable gym to workout at. 45-60 minutes a day working on triceps, biceps, and legs will help build strength to hold off opponents on the field.

2. Train with your local club team: Not only will you be able to get touches in with people you’re familiar with, you’ll also get a chance to mentor current academy players who have aspirations of playing college and professional soccer.

3. Play with a summer league team: This is the best option in my opinion. Nothing substitutes playing in meaningful games against other good players. It is the perfect formula. It helps fitness wise and staying sharp on the ball. PDL, NPSL, WPSL and UWS Soccer are the main options for men’s and women’s players.           

These are just a few tips for staying sharp in the summer. I hope this inspires you guys to go out and get better! See you next week for some more of Smitty’s summer tips. Peace.

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