How I Signed With A German Soccer Academy
An in-depth summary of my time in Germany and how I made the most of it.
Background
At 16, I was lucky enough to receive an offer to move to a new country to join an elite soccer academy. The academy brings American players to Europe and exposes them to a higher level of soccer. The offer involved a year of living in München, Germany, enrolling in online school and a German language course, two practices daily, and opportunities to play in front of scouts from the highest division in Germany.
Arrival and First Impressions
When I first arrived in Germany, I was extremely excited, I was with my best friend and we would get to play the best academies in Germany, explore a new culture, and make new friends. However, I did not experience the warm welcome I had hoped for. I thought that when I arrived there would be an introductory meeting, time to unpack, and time to see the place I would be living. I could not have been further from the truth.
Within just 30 minutes of landing, the team had a scheduled training session, leaving me scrambling to throw my belongings down, prepare, and rush off to practice. When I showed up at the field all of my teammates seemed to already know each other, the coach seemed intense and scary, and the level of play was seemingly high. I was nervous, jet-lagged, and was already questioning my choice to play here. The pressure to make a positive first impression was very high, and I managed to do the exact opposite. I didn’t play like I usually do, I felt like a shadow of my former self, I had grown up being the best soccer player on every team I was on, but here, so was everyone else. My confidence took a hit, and I found myself well outside my comfort zone which left with me a sense of isolation.
Following the initial training session, I reassured myself that everything would be okay, and I shrugged off the initial challenges. I took the next few weeks to adapt, meet my teammates, and get comfortable in my surroundings. I was living in a dorm-like setting, with my teammates living down the hall from me. I shared a room with my best friend, so I got to have a sleepover every day! I got to know the town, started socializing with new friends more, and my initial uncertainty began to fade into familiarity.
Embracing new Culture
I found lots of the culture interesting, like how you had to pay to use the restroom in certain places or having to pay to use a shopping cart. But I embraced the language and cultural tapestry of the country, discovered a newfound love for breakfast with weißwurst, and I learned about German history and architecture.
Don’t think I didn’t have fun either. Although I was there to become a better soccer player, I still had a fun experience. After the high-pressure situations we were in each day at training we needed to relax too. When you live alone, thousands of miles away from your family and friends, it can be hard, but it can also be very fun. We had fun doing almost anything just because we were alone and felt free.
We would ride our bikes to the grocery store, push buttons with pranks, and explore surrounding cities. Let me tell you something about being a 16-year-old kid in a grocery store with his friends… It is not easy to buy all healthy snacks. I was a disciplined kid, but if you’ve ever been to Germany you know how hard it is to walk past the chocolate aisle without putting something in your shopping cart.
Struggles
I was enjoying myself, playing the sport I loved every day learning a new language, having fun with friends, and exploring a new culture, but it was exhausting at times. As I mentioned earlier, I had never been exposed to the level of play and intensity that was at this academy. This quickly affected my mental health because my mood was dependent on how I performed at training that day. I wasn’t where I wanted to be yet and I didn’t have the patience I have now. I found that even when I reached a milestone of mine it was not as fulfilling as I thought it would be.
“Sometimes, reaching a goal may feel hollow if you weren't happy during the journey. Learn to appreciate the progress and celebrate small victories along the way.”
Reflecting on this period now, I know why. Something I would tell to my younger self is that the key to good mental health during the grind is finding happiness in the process and avoiding the misconception that reaching a goal will automatically bring happiness. Happiness is a state of mind, and it's accessible in the present. If you're not content with your current situation, reaching a goal won't magically change that.
I was also very worried about the future, given the limited time frame I had to achieve my goals and realize what kind of competition I was up against. Patience was hard to have, especially considering my relatively short stay in Germany, spanning just 10 months.
To get through this, I committed myself to the belief that if I truly possessed the skills to secure a club contract, it would happen. I spent the next few months just trying to get better every day, really dedicating myself to watching films, taking care of my body, and giving 110% in practice.
“Good things come to those who wait. Winning the marathon is more fulfilling than the sprint. Avoid getting lost in the future; focus on the present.”
Season
As the season neared the end, I felt a true sense of emergence. The hard work I had invested throughout the season was paying off, and my confidence in my playing style was increasing. Among my proudest moments was the incredible experience of scoring a goal against VFB-Stuttgart, a team competing at the highest level in Germany. If you want to watch some of my highlights in games, click the link below.
As the season was ending, my dedication to improving myself and my passion for the game intensified. I found success, consistently scoring goals and competing against some of the top youth teams internationally. However, the season was coming to an end and it was almost time to go home at the end of May. But before I went back to the United States, I had earned myself a trial. I was given a trial but u17 second division team Rot Weiss Erfurt.
A group of us were undergoing trials for the team, and the process involved initial training sessions at a smaller nearby club linked to Rot Weiss Erfurt. If the coach at this smaller club deemed us worthy, we would then proceed to try out for R.W.E.'s U17 team. Unfortunately, on the very first day of trying out at the smaller club, I sustained a back injury that sidelined me for two months
I was devastated because this opportunity was the result of my season-long dedication. I went back home to California, and started recovering, without knowing if I’d ever play in Germany again.
Throughout the summer, my focus shifted to recovery, involving rehabilitation, exercises, stretching, workouts, and eventually, a return to the soccer field. It was early July when I fully recovered and the new season started in August. I played every day training to get back to my best but I was still unsure if I’d be able to play in Germany again.
I hadn’t spoken to any coaches in Erfurt in months. My window of opportunity seemed to have closed, but then I thought of the place where it all started, the TalentProjekt. Following a conversation with the director, I received a warm invitation to return for the upcoming season in August. This not only provided an opportunity to regain my fitness and performance but also held the promise of potential trials elsewhere.
Per the title of the article, I ended up receiving more trials, so stay tuned for the reveal of my new club.
Things to Remember
Remember, life is a journey, not just a series of destinations. Embrace the grind, stay present, and find happiness in the now. The journey is as significant as the destination. If you don't find joy in the grind, achieving the goal might not bring the fulfillment you seek. There's no escaping the necessity of enjoyment; success is not just about the destination but the satisfaction derived from each step of the journey.
Constantly worrying about the future can take a toll on your mental health. Stay grounded in the present moment, and let go of the unnecessary stress. Be content now, finding joy in the small victories along the way. Don't fall into the trap of expecting a wall of accomplishment to magically fill the void.
Understand that milestones are checkpoints, not endpoints. Happiness is not a distant goal; it's a state of mind accessible in the present. Embrace your uniqueness, stay patient, safeguard your mental health, find joy in the process, and let the journey shape you into the person you aspire to be.