University of Saint Katherine’s Men’s Soccer – Coach Bradley Green

On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Bradley Green from the University of Saint Katherine’s Men’s Program in California. We talk about their small, yet progressive school atmosphere. We cover how their students spend their time on and off the field. Lastly, we discuss how he feels players should go about finding the right school for them. Learn more about St. Katherine’s.

[00:00:00] Matt: Hi, everybody. Welcome to discover college soccer today. I’m lucky enough to be joined by coach Bradley Green of the University of St. Katherine men’s program. Coach. Welcome.

[00:00:09] Coach: Hey, Matt, thanks for having

[00:00:10] Matt: me on. Yeah, doing great. Well, I, you are in one of the most beautiful parts of California, uh, that at least I’ve ever visited.

[00:00:18] So, uh, I’m, I’m, I’m jealous. Although, most people, a lot of people say that about the brain’s and Florida area too. So I think we’re both lucky in, in where we’re sitting right now.

[00:00:27] Coach: Yeah. So he has a beautiful area, mate. That’s for sure. Yeah.

[00:00:31] Matt: Well, let’s dig right in and talk about recruiting a little bit.

[00:00:35] When do you start looking at players when you start hearing from players kind of what year in high school are they usually when you’re, when you’re beginning of that process?

[00:00:42] Coach: Yeah. So hearing from players, uh, varies. You know, we, we hear from anything from, freshmen’s always up all the way up to seniors to last minute kids, you know, uh, junior college kids reach out in the, uh, towards the end of their second year as well.

[00:00:58] Um, but for us, um, you know, we are a small NAA school. Uh, we only have about 275 students. Um, so we typically start the process the summer before their senior year. Uh, that seems to be. Uh, a good time for us. I think we we’ve tried we’ve we keep an eye on juniors, for sure. Like we will identify them in summer.

[00:01:23] Tournament’s um, we do, you know, Thanksgiving tournament’s and Vegas, and then play a showcases and things like that. So we’ll identify players if we’re out there watching seniors and we come across, uh, a junior that, you know, uh, we feel is a good fit for the program. We’ll, we’ll get in contact with them and start the process.

[00:01:42] But generally. Uh, we kind of put our foot down and work in a year ahead. Um, we just feel that that’s more realistic to, um, you know, kids wanting to commit to us at that stage. Um, and I personally, you know, I feel if you, if you recruit in a, a sophomore. A lot can change developmentally from their sophomore year to their senior year, you know?

[00:02:07] So, um, I think sometimes you can, you can get a bit carried away if you go a bit too early. So for us, yeah, the start of their senior year end of their junior year is typically when we, we start that process.

[00:02:21] Matt: And what do you like to see in that first communication from a player? You know, they’re suiting you and email.

[00:02:26] W w what do you want to, what do you want to see in that email?

[00:02:29] Coach: Uh, well, so some basic things of, um, majors, what majors they want to do again, as a small school, you know, we have four majors that, uh, that we offer. So, you know, it’s great when kids talk about their playing careers and what they’ve achieved and all that good stuff.

[00:02:47] But at the end of the day, the heads get an education first and foremost. So having their major and their GPA. Oh, the two things that are really important because then that if we do like them as a player, then we can go through, go through the process. If they want to be an engineer, for example, you know, we don’t offer that program.

[00:03:05] So there’s no point in getting carried away in a conversation or, you know, um, trying to recruit them if, if they’re not going to be happy academically. So first things first is making sure that they tick the academic boxes with the, uh, The major, their GPA, um, and then video, any video that they do have is also really, um, you know, worthwhile for us because that might give us a glimpse of, okay, there’s something that we want to go and watch, or, you know, maybe this is not a player for us or what have you, you know?

[00:03:38] So, um, I think short and sharp is always better as well. I think the lengthier they get, you know, sometimes it’s just, you know, too much information. Um, I think a picture paints a thousand words. So if you can get a clip in there of you playing, um, I think that can, that can help a lot too.

[00:03:58] Matt: Yeah, that makes sense.

[00:03:59] So how many, how many inbound contacts do you think you get in a week?

[00:04:04] Coach: Well, we’re including the recruit in the international recruiting agencies. Uh, I gotta be a hundred or so a week. Uh, yeah, we get, we get peppered quite a lot, uh, with, with kids reaching out. Um, so yeah, it, I would say over a hundred a week.

[00:04:24] Matt: You mentioned the international creating agencies. So, you know, I looked at your roster, your guys’ for an NAI school pro are, are less international, heavy than a lot of other NAI programs. So how does the whole international recruiting thing fit into your overall plans?

[00:04:40] Coach: We, you know, w we’ve been lucky that we’ve had a few internationals in my short time here, you know, I’ve been with the school, uh, three and a half years now.

[00:04:48] And, uh, I inherited a couple of internationals. I recruited a couple of, uh, of the, myself that just graduated last year. Um, it was, I wouldn’t say it was a straightforward process, but, you know, it’s something that we definitely like. Slow because that’s part of football is multicultural and diversity and having players from all over the world.

[00:05:10] And that’s great for the kids too, you know, because they get to meet people from all over and then they build them friendships and they’ve got holidays in Chile or England or France or wherever them kids are from, which is. You know what it’s all about then the day is building those relationships between each other.

[00:05:25] So, um, unfortunately we’ve, COVID has been a little bit tougher, uh, just because of the, you know, uh, economics and, and the, and the money side of things. Um, budgets have got smaller for us, as you said, we’re in a beautiful part of the world that comes with a price, unfortunately, as well. You know, the cost of living here is quite quite high.

[00:05:47] Um, so for us, when we’re looking at international. As well as, you know, play inability academics, like we talked about earlier, you know, budget is a factor for us. Cause we, we don’t do full rides. Uh, we can offer academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, um, but you know, there’s still costs for them. So.

[00:06:07] Uh, the budget side of things comes into play. If they’ve got a healthy budget and they’ve got that drive to come to California, which, you know, fortunately, uh, some internationals do, um, then we can get the ball rolling. So, um, but you, you get a lot of them, but again, a lot of them would be, you know, X amount of money and no way near our budget.

[00:06:27] So we kind of move.

[00:06:29] Matt: Well, and I always like to ask this just because I’ll always, the first question on, on, on parents’ minds is, is about the money, right? So you mentioned the scholarship side of things. So how does your what’s, what’s kind of the overall look in terms of athletic and academic money at St.

[00:06:47] Catherine? Like what what’s kind of an average or what should people expect? You know, obviously stacking people always are asking whether you can stack and those kinds of things.

[00:06:56] Coach: Yeah. So we’ve asked, you know, we’re, we’re, you know, we’re very blessed with our university that there’s no pressure on us to build a big roster.

[00:07:05] Um, you know, w w there’s no pressure on us to get kids in to. You know, feel money up and, and all that stuff, you know, we’re very, you know, we’re an Orthodox Christian university, uh, and we have very high standards and we take things, you know, very seriously in regards to making sure that we’re doing everything ethically and, uh, and the right way.

[00:07:28] So, um, it, it varies. To be honest with you. It really does vary, you know, we have, we go off a percentage of our school, um, you know, obviously to make sure that everything is funded and, uh, and well looked after, um, in regards to the academic side of things and the athletic experience that the players in the students get.

[00:07:49] Um, so we go off a percentage of what we can offer, and that varies to be honest with, uh, The player or themselves, uh, in regards to maybe the experience that they’ve got, the quality that we see them coming in, are they coming in as a starter? Are they coming in as a, as a freshmen that we know is going to take a year, 18 months to sort of develop into that starting role?

[00:08:14] Um, Academics is pretty straightforward. We have our chart, you know, from 3.0 and above a 3.0 to 4.0, depending on where you live, that’s what you qualify for. Um, so that’s, that’s pretty straightforward. That’s, you know, more on the kid. Um, and again, The earlier we can talk to a, a student, um, you know, if we can talk to them in the fall and their GPA is for example, around the 2.9, 3.0, you know, we can dangle that carrot that, you know, if you get it up to 3.2 or 3.3, you’re going to be saving so much more money over the, over the four years that you’re with us.

[00:08:53] So, um, that part of it’s a little bit more black and white in regards to. Uh, well, what the, what the students get, but in regards to the football side of things and the athletic side of things, you know, that that really does vary depending on, um, you know, what they, what they qualify financial aid, what, what way we see them within the team?

[00:09:14] Um, And things like that. Yeah. No, that makes

[00:09:17] Matt: sense. So you mentioned a little bit ago, a play player showcase and some of the terms he goes, what, what, what would you say are the top tournaments you like to go to, to check out players? Um, had an out of camps fit into your overall recruiting, uh, plans.

[00:09:32] Coach: So th the, the main tournament we do is obviously to serve Thanksgiving, uh, tournament, you know, again, we’re lucky that that’s, you know, literally right down the road from us.

[00:09:42] So, you know, coaches travel, bless them all over from all over the country during the holiday. Um, we’re lucky enough just to pop down the road. So it, so that that’s a big one. And that brings in a lot of local talent, as well as, you know, schools from all over. Um, so that that’s obviously at Thanksgiving time, and then we just got back from Vegas, uh, from the players showcase, which we’ve had a lot of success with and enjoy that tournament again.

[00:10:07] Um, if you’ve got an initial contact with kids and students from the Thanksgiving tournament, that’s a good one to follow up with as well. And also start to look at those juniors, um, to sort of monitor over the. Over the summer. So they’re the two main ones that we use. Um, we’ve gone out of town before we’ve gone to ones in Texas before.

[00:10:28] Um, but a lot of our recruiting comes from local sort of California, Arizona, Nevada. Uh, those sort of catchment areas are more appealing. Kids coming from Texas, the east coast. It’s not really, we’ve not really had a lot of success with that just as yet. Um, so they’re the ones that. Um, mainly keep our eye on and attend.

[00:10:53] Um, we obviously go to a lot high school games during those that season. Um, that’s a great level of player for us. You know, some of the kids that are not in the MLS next category, but a good players. Um, so they, you know, that might not be going to all the showcases and that, but they still want a lot of ability and talent.

[00:11:14] So we try and find those players and give those players an opportunity to. To play at university, whereas maybe they didn’t think they could. Um, and obviously clubs, you know, we got a good relationships again here in Southern California. Like, like a lot of places in across America. Now we’ve used the way you’ve always, it’s so massive in this country that there’s so many good clubs and teams.

[00:11:36] And, um, we go to a lot of games and have some really good relationships with our local clubs. So we’ll go out to practices. We’ll go to local games, um, at the weekends to recruit. Um, ID camps is something that, where we did that. Uh, to help build the program. And we built the program in 2018. Um, we kind of, sort of, we, when we took over in 2018, we only had seven or eight kids in the, in the program.

[00:12:03] So we had to recruit a lot. So we, we did our own ID camp have built a really strong foundation from that. Obviously again from COVID ID camps over the last two years, it’s not really been an option, um, or something that we’ve been able to really explore. We just did one the other week, uh, on president’s day, which was again, very successful, um, mainly for local local players, um, on our men’s and women’s side.

[00:12:30] Um, so again, that’s something that we would like to. Um, expand on with the ID camps and do a bit more of that. Um, but again, we, you know, we literally only sort of now just coming out of that pandemic and that back to normal quote unquote, where we can invite kids out and everything’s a little bit safer and, and we can sort of crack on with that.

[00:12:54] Okay.

[00:12:55] Matt: So when you’re at, whether it’s an ID camper or high school game, or any of these tournaments, what is your, what is your checklist? What’s your, your hierarchy of things I’m looking for in a player, whether that’s on the field or off the field?

[00:13:09] Coach: Well, first thing is, you know, we have our squat depth chart, so we have our players, uh, currently on, on, in our squad, uh, in their positions.

[00:13:18] Um, We know who our graduate in an obviously stay in. So first things first is positioned, you know, w w we don’t try and recruit every single position every single year. You know, they’ll always be that odd player where you’re like, okay, you know, he, he’s got a lot of potential, or we really like him. So even though we’ve got two or three players in that position, we, we may pursue them.

[00:13:40] But first thing is, is, is position, position specific. Um, and then outside that is. Technical ability, you know, on and off the ball, making sure that, you know, on the boards they’re technically sound, um, and can tick the boxes in regards to the way we want to play. Um, and then, you know, physically making sure that they’ve got potential physically, um, uh, to grow and to expand them, to get up to the collegiate level.

[00:14:07] You know, as you know, the collegiate game is, is a, a lot faster and physical is not in silent. Always the best football you’ll see at times, but it certainly is very quick and, and strong and, and, uh, and direct the time. So you need players that you feel that can, um, grow with that and, and, and, um, improve and get to that level.

[00:14:29] Um, so, you know, obviously you’re looking for quality players. There’s no, you know, there’s no height in against that. And I think anybody. Shies away from that is that he’s lying. You know, you’re looking for players that have got quality, but for us potential and the culture fit is really important. You know, getting to know the player again, what do they want to do academically?

[00:14:51] It could be the best player in the world and, and interested in. But if we don’t have their majors or if we’re trying to force them to do a major, that they’re not happy and, you know, that’s just going to aspire when, and they’re not going to be happy within our programs. So making sure that academically we can look after them and, and they’ve got a picture, they’ve got a plan and we’ve, we can paint a picture for them and how to achieve that, um, for our support and everything we offer academically.

[00:15:17] Um, and, and, and like I say, the culture fit is very important. Are they, are they selling. This I hated, you know, what, what’s their, why? You know, why do they want to be a college athlete? You know, are they doing it because that’s what their family expect them to do? Are they doing it because they want to better their family?

[00:15:33] Are they doing it because, you know, there’s multiple reasons for why kids want to do it. So I think coming and finding out and having them conversations with the students to find out what their, why is. What their end goal is, um, to make sure that it’s realistic in regards to what we can offer them and what we can help them.

[00:15:53] Um, because you know, again, as you know, the culture side of things and getting the lads to enjoy playing with each other, building relationships, you know, that can get you points as much as talent. Um, so it’s really important that they have them, right. That right. Um, motivation coming in, uh, straight off the bat, you know?

[00:16:13] Matt: Yeah, absolutely. Well, let’s talk more about the school. You kind of mentioned some things there, but you know, I clicked around the website, learn a few things, but, but give me the inside scoop. What, what am I, what are the awesome things about your school that I’m not going to find? Uh, just by clicking around the website.

[00:16:29] Coach: I think, you know, our schools is unique, would be the word I’d use is a brilliant school because it’s a, like I said, we only have 275, 280 students. Um, we have a brand new athletic and academic building that we’ve just got over the last couple of years. So we’re a very progressive university, you know, we’ve been around for around 10 years now.

[00:16:51] Um, But, you know, it’s been a very slow and steady progression, um, where, uh, fully athletics go. Uh, we are a big goal of our school is to improve on the, uh, non athletic student, you know, building more of that, uh, student body that way. Um, but we offer, you know, I think 11 or 12 sports from men’s and women’s, um, basketballs, volleyballs beach, indoor.

[00:17:18] Um, we’ve got softball, baseball, we’ve got tennis’s um, you know, you name it. We’ve got cross-country now. Um, so, you know, we’ve got, you know, so many sports that we offer, uh, in regards to which really creates a athletic community. And I think that that’s the big thing about our school. It’s not just a, a comment.

[00:17:40] Go to class, go to S go to practice type score. There’s lots of things that we do to keep the students, um, busy, uh, keep them progressing as, as human beings. Um, And we have what we call a log. Cross-pollination where, you know, when you’re at school, you know, my players are happy talking to the women’s basketball coach, as much as they talk into myself and my assistants, you know, so we have a really close knit community feel.

[00:18:09] Um, and it’s quite exciting for the, for the, for the students because every year we’re getting bigger and better. And, you know, um, in the Cal PAC division, uh, we’ve already had our baseball. When the division we’ve had our, uh, beach volleyball. When, when the league, uh, we just had our men’s basketball, won their division, uh, tennis women’s tennis, one, the GSR.

[00:18:31] Um, softball the cow pack last year as well. So, you know, as a, as a school, you know, even though we are, we are small, um, you know, I think that one thing that we provide is, is a lot of support. And again, a lot of community type feel, which is, is again, Unique because kids can come in and have a name, have a phase.

[00:18:53] Um, everybody knows who they are. Um, and, and generally, you know, get well looked after in regards to making sure that they have the best academic, uh, athletic experiences as an athlete and get well looked after and treated professionally. But we’re not going to shy away from the fact that we want to produce good students with good grades and make sure we set them up for success because.

[00:19:19] You know, the college play in days, come and go. And then there’s a big, whole wide world out there. And we want to make sure that our players leave with an identity and, uh, um, uh, make sure that, that, you know, we set them off. And when they’re in the community, people are like, oh, they must’ve gone to U S K because of the way they, they act and behave, you know?

[00:19:37] So that’s the ultimate drive that we have. Um, and thankfully we’re having success, um, as an athletic department. Um, w with that in mind. So, yeah, I think that, that, that would be the biggest thing for me is, is really, you know, becoming a part of a community and not just a, not just a player. Oh, that’s great.

[00:20:00] Matt: Um, and I think you mentioned before in terms of support, you know, being almost all athletes there at the school. So, so how do your students balance that academic and athletic component and, and what kind of support systems are there in place that the school offers.

[00:20:15] Coach: So there’s, we’re very lucky that we offer free tutoring.

[00:20:19] So, you know, uh, the, the students can get up to three, three free for each user in a week. Um, so that really helps them, um, off the field in regards to making sure that they, they stay on track. They obviously have, uh, the heads of department and. He on a regular basis. And again, with the school of our size, that’s very doable.

[00:20:39] You know, it’s very, it’s very easy. They get, um, classes picked for them. So, you know, they don’t have to worry about all can I get on this class or that class? Um, so again, that keeps the timeframe manageable for them, you know, keeping it within that four to four and a half years graduation if they come in as a freshmen.

[00:20:57] Um, and then obviously as a team. Uh, all the teams across the board, we do study hall. So, you know, part of being, you know, the men’s soccer program or women’s, or, or what have you, is, you know, study hall is a part of your schedule. Um, so we do that once a week. Uh, we’re in both seasons, in the fall one in the spring, um, at the moment we’re in spring season, so they’re doing it on a Friday.

[00:21:24] So on a Friday morning, they get to. Eight 30 to 10 30. Um, you know, they open the books together, um, you know, get crack on with the homework and do what, what they need to do. And then straight after they’ll go in the gym and they’ll, they’ll play a bit of foot Saul, get some touches on the ball and have a bit of fun with each other.

[00:21:42] So, uh, having that built into their schedule were going to study. Is as important as going to practice. So, you know, um, I think reinforcing that and just being able to have the resources for them, um, to go and go to tutoring and, and, uh, we, you know, we harp on about a lot because. Um, players on the field have different strengths and they can help.

[00:22:09] For example, a senior that has had a lot of success with us or has come in from a good junior college, um, can help a freshmen. Um, and there’s nothing wrong with having that off the field as well. You get some of these freshmen coming in. Absolutely so talented in the classroom, 4.0 students, you know, our captain is a 4.0 student, um, and being okay with, uh, with, with having that support off the field as well, which jogging a subject again, if you’re an international and English, isn’t your first language.

[00:22:40] So okay. To ask for that extra help. And that’s the environment we try to create as a school that we all have our strengths and our areas of improvement. So. We might as well utilize each other because it’s a lot easier to, to bring each other’s potential out that way. Well, you

[00:22:55] Matt: met, you mentioned that the Friday study hall right now, but let, let’s go back to, like, if you were in season, what would that typical week look like?

[00:23:03] If you’re a player in terms of, you know, each, you know, what are you doing when you wake up to, till you go to bed? What is, what does a typical week look like?

[00:23:10] Coach: Yeah. So if we say, well, obviously we have preseason, so we have that, you know, two and a half weeks we’re allowed basically before. Uh, our first game, you know, we, the 17th or 18th, I believe is the first game we’re allowed to play.

[00:23:25] So we’re only allowed 18 days before that to come in. So that’s, you know, that’s what we have the player, uh, the students do. Um, we do two a days during that point, so we’re in the gym in the morning. Um, and then we’re on the field in the afternoon. Uh, we do all that all the way up to when school starts.

[00:23:43] Once school starts then, um, we’re, we’re down to one practices day. Um, and again, if we go, if we fast forward a little bit through preseasons, a bit messy, because of, depending on when games are, sometimes they’re on a Wednesday, sometimes they’re on a Saturday. Um, just based on, on people’s schedules that we can arrange.

[00:24:01] But once we’re in season, you know, we, we play, um, Friday, Sundays. So we, we have to have. Uh, one day off a week. Um, so if we’re on a, on a Sunday game, typically we’ll have the Tuesday off. So Monday we can bring, bring the lads in, um, for, for a cool-down a recovery session, yoga. That’s when we’ll do study hall, then during that, that period of time, because there’s nothing physically demanding on them, you know, we’re just literally stretching them out and doing yoga and recovery session.

[00:24:37] We’ve done it that way instead of doing the day off the day after, because we feel like recovery is so important these days in nutrition and stuff. So making sure that we do, you know, um, look after them, then Tuesday we’ll be their rest day. So that’ll be just a typical day for them. With class. Um, and then obviously Wednesday, Thursday back on the field preparing for Friday Friday’s game.

[00:24:59] So they start class here at 7:00 AM. Uh, typically they finish around 11 30, 12 o’clock depending on their schedule. And then we practice from one til three in the afternoon. Um, and then from three o’clock onwards that, that they’re free, um, to, to, to do their studies work, do whatever they, whatever they do, we’ll play our game on Friday, Saturday, we get them in again, um, for a recovery session, a debrief on the last game, and then obviously the video analysis ready for Sunday’s game.

[00:25:33] So, you know, whatever happens on the Friday, we’re very quick to, um, Regroup refocus a good, good, bad, or ugly and get focused. Ready for Sunday’s game. Okay.

[00:25:47] Matt: So let’s, let’s talk more then about the, about the team, the soccer side of things. So how many players do you like to carry? What’s your, what’s your ideal roster size each year?

[00:25:57] Coach: Ideally it’s somewhere in the region between 23 to 26. I think that is, that is a, is a great number. Last year, we had a little bit more than that. We had 28, 29 on the roster. And to be honest with you, that, that, that did cause its own problems. Um, I feel like with a players want to play, you know, and nowadays, um, in my experience is.

[00:26:23] Players and students are a little bit less patient with wanting to play and, and being a part of a process and an understanding, you know, how the time it takes to develop to play at this level, it doesn’t matter if you’ve played ECNO or MLS or whatever, you know, it’s still a step up playing collegiate level, uh, for also, um, Some players need that little bit more time.

[00:26:49] Some freshmans can come in and, and do very well. Um, depending on how they prepared themselves in, in the Selma, um, So, yeah, I think 20, 23 to 26 is a great number. You know, I think this, this year we’re aiming for 24, that that’s our, that’s our number with free goalkeepers so that, you know, that’s where we’re looking to get, you know, we’ve got, uh, 18 on roster right now.

[00:27:14] So we’re looking at bringing in six, um, you know, we’re talking to, you know, a lot of, a lot of players right now, uh, in regards to make sure we get the right sex and. Um, and they’re in the right positions and they’re going to be able to cope with, um, the, the load of what we put on them and also making sure, like I say, cultural, cultural wise, they’re, they’re going to be a right fit for us as a school.

[00:27:39] Matt: Okay. Now, how big is your soccer staff and what role does each of them.

[00:27:44] Coach: Yeah. So, uh, I’ve got my assistant coach, my assistant head coach, uh, Danny Jones. Um, you know, he’s been my right arm, man, since I took over the job. Um, so he’s, you know, very hands-on with the day, day out. This is still obviously part-time with the size of our school.

[00:28:01] We’d love to have full-time assistants in there as well, but that’s just not manageable for us at the moment. Um, so yeah, so we have, uh, Donna who’s my head assist assistant head coach. And then we have, um, Phil Shuttleworth who’s, uh, what we would probably call like a seasonal coach. He comes in during the fall and helps us out in that busy time to work with the players.

[00:28:26] He’ll come into two to three times a week. He’ll attend all the home games. Um, And then in the spring, he’ll come out maybe once or twice a week. Um, so to be with a players, he’s a great support mechanism, you know, on and off the field as well. And then we have our goalkeeper coach. So you know, which I guess I, again, w we’re very blessed to have a goalkeeper coach and I was talking to some division two coaches this weekend and, you know, they still don’t have.

[00:28:55] A full-time goalkeeper coach that comes in every day. You know, we’re lucky that we have that and we feel that’s very important. Um, we also have the women’s side, you know, we’ve got talent and coaches on our women’s program. Uh, coach K E coach Paul, uh, especially who we brought in, in 2019 in the spring.

[00:29:13] They’ve done a phenomenal job with that program. So they work with us a lot, you know, coach Paul Richie, you know, he played, uh, for man city and hearts and ranges and internationally. Um, so he’s a fantastic resource coach. Katie played professional in Canada and England. So she’s a great resource. So, you know, we’re not opposed to pinching them for the odd session.

[00:29:34] Um, getting them to come in and work with the lads on certain topics and certain areas. And I think that helps the players too, you know, that gives them a different voice, um, and a different perspective in regards to how to look at things. And, and again, philosophy wise, we’re all very similar in regards to our expectations.

[00:29:52] So it fits in quite nicely. No, that’s great.

[00:29:55] Matt: So, coach, how would you describe your, your team’s style of play, your style of coaching and kind of just the overall culture?

[00:30:03] Coach: Yeah. Um, well, to be honest with you, it’s something that’s been developing. You know, when we took over the program, like I said, in 2018, we didn’t really have. A very big roster or players or anything like that.

[00:30:15] So the first thing we needed to do was build, start building everything, you know, from the culture and the players to making sure we were competitive. You know, unfortunately that first season, you know, we were the wrong side of, of some big results. Um, so the first thing we needed to do is become competitive.

[00:30:33] Um, Stop the bleeding, if you like, you know, make sure we try to be successful. And we did a really good job of that in 2019, you know, we picked up a half a dozen really good results. Um, you know, beat some teams that we probably had no right doing. So from that point of view, when we were building it, we were quite defensive minded.

[00:30:54] You know, we really had to be structured and disciplined on and off the board. Um, so we were quite defensive minded and the shape of the ball was one of the key things in regards to what we would look to. Now we’ve built a good foundation of players and quality. Now we are really trying to, um, um, take it, take our levels, take it, take it to the next level in regards to how we play on the ball.

[00:31:20] So we want to be, you know, we want to be attack minded. We want to, we want to play good football. We want to play out the back. We wanna, you know, play a good brand of football. Uh, but we also. Very, uh, open to the fact that we’ve got to respect our opponent and be aware of how they’re going to play. I feel like we’re evolving now to be more being aware of what our opponents are doing, but now being brave, uh, with, uh, the way we want to play and making sure we take the game to them, you know,

[00:31:59] Yeah, so that, you know, being braver on the ball and wanting to play and take teams on now is something that we’re developing into, uh, in regards to the culture of the team, you know, we’re a big believer in, you know, mindset behavior, and that equals performance. So that’s something that we really. You know, bring in all our players, especially now, and days we’ve young men is making sure that the first thing we tackle is the mind and making sure that mentally we are in a good place, we are prepared for the sessions.

[00:32:31] We are prepared for our schedules and our days and our weeks that we’re, that we’re entering into. And then stripping that back into that moment of practice, for example. Um, so if we have that focus, if we have. Right. Attitude and positivity, recognizing that when the struggles come along, um, we’re okay with that.

[00:32:52] When the failures come, you know, they’re not failures and learning and things like that, then after you’ve got that mindset, right, then we think that behavior feeds off of. You know, if your mind is good, then obviously you’re going to act good. And you’re going to put in the effort you’re going to put in the work ethic that is required to be a collegiate athlete.

[00:33:13] And that’s not just when we’re looking, um, is when, you know, when you, cause we spend so much time away, you know, only 24 weeks a year where together. So it’s a lot of time when we’re not with them, is making sure that their behaviors are correct. And then if we equate those two together and make sure that where those two are in sync and are in a going well, then the performance can come.

[00:33:36] And we feel like given the lab. Um, the, um, the bravery to want to perform. Um, and you know, I was listening to a really good, uh, podcast the other day with, uh, Steve Clark, the, the Scottish, uh, head coach. And he was saying, you know, playing with the w playing with. The fear of failure, but playing with the anticipation of success, you know, I feel like that is, is, is a, is a, is a great quote and something that with the mindset and behavior, we, we want the lads to go into performance, excited to perform, you know, we all know how cruel.

[00:34:12] Football convey, you know, you can have the best games and walk away with nothing, but we also know how beautiful the game is too. Hence it’s called the beautiful game where you can grind it out and you can get that win and you can, um, make those moments happen. So having, having that type of philosophy of in the culture is really important for us.

[00:34:30] And that’s something that we, we embed with the players, um, outside of the X’s and O’s. I

[00:34:37] Matt: think that’s great. Um, so you mentioned the 24 weeks together, so you’re, you know, it’s March, this is spring. So what is your spring off season tend to look like in terms of what you guys are doing right now?

[00:34:48] Coach: Yeah, so, um, Mondays is a gym, so Mondays are in the gym.

[00:34:53] We give them a workout. Um, We don’t have anything in person on Monday that just got school and classes. So we give them their session. They it’s on it’s on them to do it, uh, at their own time, depending on their schedule Tuesdays, they’re on the field with us. Um, so we’re on the field one til three, and then Wednesdays, Thursdays, we’re in the, on the field and in the gym.

[00:35:16] Um, and then Fridays is our player led session. So that’s where they do study hall in the morning. Um, and foot sole in the afternoons or beach soccer. Um, we’re very lucky that we’ve got a couple of lads. We’ve got one lab that’s on the U S national team for beach soccer. And we’ve got another lab that’s in the pool for the U us national team as well.

[00:35:38] Um, so he’s on the cusp of it. So they’re, you know, talented boys. So they’ll take the boys down the beach after study hall and they’ll play a bit of beach football and have a good time down the beach because again, you know, why not, why not enjoy it and, and, uh, and have some time where it’s just them, them lads being lads together and enjoying each other.

[00:35:57] Matt: No. That’s fantastic. Yeah, that’s again, you’re in a good spot. Uh, geographically is same here. You know, my house is like 18 miles to the beach, which sometimes feels like an eternity, but, uh, we’re lucky enough to be that close so well, coach you’ve given us a lot of great insight into your program and in the school.

[00:36:16] So last question for you, kind of the. What else would you like, uh, folks to know that we didn’t cover or anything else you want to say, this is kind of your, your last sales pitch or last chance to, to give us a nugget on St. Catherine’s.

[00:36:30] Coach: Um, yeah, I think I’ve, I think I’ve covered quite a lot to be honest.

[00:36:34] So, um, you know, I won’t, I won’t overdo it in regards to, you know, we know we know who we are. We’re, we’re very blessed with what we can offer players. And I would just say, you know, for students looking to play collegiate level athletics, whatever sport that is is, is to make sure you do your research and, and make sure that you are aware that.

[00:36:58] You know, it’s not just about bricks and more and a night. It’s about people. It’s about relationships and it’s about experience. And, you know, you can be sat in an auditorium with 3000 people, but at the end of the day, it’s who’s to your left and right. It’s the most important thing. And they’re the people that you are.

[00:37:18] Nine times out of 10 spend the rest of your life being friends with. So I think that, you know, make sure that you do due diligence in regards to your research, into, into universities and take the time to go and see them and meet the people and, and, and, and have conversations with not just the coach.

[00:37:35] Students players, uh, admin staff, athletic directors, and, and really build your decision on, on the people that you’re going to go and spend, you know, what will be, uh, a really important part of your life, um, because you only get one shot. And, um, you want to enjoy it, you know, and that’s, that’s the main thing you got to, you’ve got to enjoy this time that we have then, um, and making sure you do your research to make sure you’re in a spot that you’re going to get supported and, and you’re going to be important and most important.

[00:38:09] You’re going to enjoy your time there. So thank you very much for the listening. And, uh, I really appreciate you reaching out to us and making this happen.

[00:38:17] Matt: No, I appreciate it. Great final words. And, uh, we wish you the best of luck in the fall. And, uh, if I, if I get back out that way, I’ll have to swing by and see you

[00:38:25] Coach: definitely hit me out, mate.

[00:38:26] We’ll uh, I’ll take you to some, some nice Mexican restaurants here.

[00:38:31] Matt: Sounds like a plan. All right. Thanks, coach. Appreciate it.

[00:38:33] Coach: She has not.