USL Feature by Jason Minnick
Thursday, February 04, 2010
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CHARLESTON, SC – The fourth annual USL Men’s Player Showcase kicks off today at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina, home of the Charleston Battery of the USL Second Division.
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Players will arrive and register for the event from 11:00AM to 3:00PM ET. Training sessions and goalkeeper specific training will take place from 3:00PM to 6:00PM. Players will break from 6:00PM to 7:30PM before meeting with their respective teams prior to dinner at the storied Three Lions Pub, the soccer museum and bar located inside Blackbaud Stadium.
Prior to the event USLsoccer.com talked to one of the six USL Premier Development League coaches guiding the players through the tryout process – the Kalamazoo Outrage’s Mark Spooner. Spooner took over as Head Coach of the second-year Outrage in 2009 after the club’s inaugural 8-6-2 season, immediately guiding the team to an 11-2-3 season and a Great Lakes Division Championship.
Here’s the conversation…
USLsoccer.com You were very successful in your first season as head coach of the Outrage, talk about what changes you made to the squad that helped you win the formidable Great Lakes Division.
Spooner We would not have been able to achieve what we did without the season Stu Riddle and his team had the year before I took over. The success they had gave me a great platform to build upon. From the day I took the job all I wanted to do was create an environment which allowed these young and talented men to be successful. We did that by really doing our research on each individual we brought in and ensuring each of them would be able to achieve what they wanted in the setting we were offering.
USLsoccer.com Will you be as successful in 2010?
Spooner I hope so! The best thing about the PDL is every team has a chance to win. We took ours last year and ended up falling a little short in the playoffs. This year, I would like nothing more than to rectify that loss against Chicago, but once again the Great Lakes looks like it’s going to be extremely strong. To achieve what we want we will have to come back stronger than we were last year and be prepared for what we will come across. I can honestly say that there is not an easy game in our division, and that is a testament to each club and coach in the league.
USLsoccer.com Discuss some of the players you have back.
Spooner We are returning a good core of players, which is helpful. We have added what I consider to be a great bunch of new players. We have some returners that will help those guys settle in quickly and understand what the division is about and what we need to do to be successful.
USLsoccer.com What was your favorite moment from the past season?
Spooner The favorite moment the team had has to be the last minute goal that clinched the regular season for us. It was an extremely tough game away at Fort Wayne and Domenic Barone managed to get his head on the ball in the last minute which clinched the point we needed. In terms of comedic moment it’s hard to say. The team we had was full of character and there was barely a dull moment. Just being able to spend the time we did together as a team really helped the chemistry and that is something we will look to bring back again this season.
USLsoccer.com Are any of your players in the current USL Men’s Player Showcase?
Spooner We have our goalkeeper Jason Stenta at the combine. Eric Alexander was just drafted to FC Dallas. We had a really young squad last year, which bodes well for future combines as I truly believe we have some real talent coming through.
USLsoccer.com Talk about the abilities/attributes that would make him valuable to professional teams.
Spooner I can’t speak highly enough about Jason’s attitude and his attention to detail in his position. He is always learning and has an edge about him, where he is always looking to improve. The fact he stands at 6’3 is a great start. He will surprise a few people if they are looking for a keeper.
USLsoccer.com Who was the best player you faced in the PDL in 2009?
Spooner This may sound cliché but I can’t think of any one particular player. Every team had someone that had the potential to hurt you. Andre Akpan and Mark Blades at Chicago certainly gave us some problems. Dave Hertel and Stefan St Louis at the Bucks. London had a few players that had some real potential. Division-wide players were very strong. It would be wrong of me to pick any one player as there were a few.
USLsoccer.com What are your thoughts on the USL Men’s Player Showcase?
Spooner It is a tremendous opportunity for any aspiring player. I am excited to be a part of it this year. It is a fine line between success and failure in this game and the combine gives players an opportunity to come together at one time, test themselves against the best the league has to offer, and to put themselves in the shop window for the USL clubs. If I can be a part of helping players get to the next level – that is what I want to do. The environment a combine creates means it is great experience for not only for the players but for the coaches and fans alike.
USLsoccer.com Highlight/discuss something about the PDL/Kalamazoo that I did not ask you about.
Spooner The PDL allows all involved to experience a taste of what it is like to be a professional soccer player in this country. The fact we are able to take a group of players, keep them for the summer and work with them every day is a coach’s dream. We are able to set our goals and work hard together to achieve them. The experience brings you a great sense of achievement. It is also great preparation for life after college and PDL. I thoroughly recommend any player becoming a part of it and making it a stop on their way to professional achievement.
