Pitch to Pro
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United FC. This will be our platform to tell our story about the club and the special place that we call home, Northwest Arkansas. This is a journey. We want to bring you along for the ride. We'll share what's going on behind the curtain, help educate the community at large about soccer, Our league, and give updates on the progress of the club along the way.
Together, we'll explore and unpack our journey to professional soccer, the magic that is NWA, our community, and talk all things soccer from on the pitch to behind the scenes, telling the story of our club.
Pitch to Pro
Stoppage Time Special: From College Soccer to USL, Navigating the Pro Path
Ever wondered what it takes to leap from college soccer to the professional arena? Join us for a special Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast, where we sit down with a player who has navigated that very path, from college soccer to the USL Championship. Our guest shares invaluable insights into the world of professional soccer, shedding light on the differences in skill level and player mentality that set college athletes apart from their professional counterparts. They recount their memorable experiences with New Mexico United, including an exhilarating face-off against Minnesota United in the Open Cup, and discuss the remarkable bond between the team and its supportive community.
We also explore the strategic intricacies that distinguish various leagues, from the Premier League's flair to the USL Championship's organizational prowess. Our guest offers a unique perspective from their coaching stint at John Brown University, emphasizing the attributes that define elite players — impeccable execution and a high football IQ. Whether you're a soccer aficionado or an aspiring pro, this episode is filled with captivating stories and practical lessons that are sure to spark your passion for the game. Tune in and discover what truly elevates a player from good to great in the world of soccer.
Welcome to the Stoppage Time edition of the Pitch to Pro podcast. This is a highlight reel of some of the best moments from the show so far, and every other week we will be bringing you a special 5-7 minute segment featuring the best stories, tales and moments of the podcast.
Speaker 2:Every player studying in college has just as many awards as you. They've been around the block even, as you have right, and it is a humbling experience. But it's also like for me. I enjoyed the level of play that I had with Mexico United. College was a high level for me but even going like the organization level that the usl championship brings, um it, it was like it was really good for me and I really enjoyed being there. Um, it is eye-opening too, like the levels, like you go from college into the championship, the jumps, it's. It's eye-opening how sophisticated the levels are and the organization is right, and even more so when you're playing against, like in the Open Cup. You know I got to, we have. We had a decent run the Open Cup and I got to hop into a game against Minnesota United and white. Yeah, man, like playing against guys in the last I I watch on TV and I'm like, oh wow, this is next level. It's interesting too, Ivo, this is kind of different.
Speaker 2:But with Mexico United they were so involved in their community, kind of like what we're intending to do. That's the goal, it's tangible, right. I remember walking into. I never saw myself as a popular player, I mean, I didn't play as many minutes. I got some good minutes as a rookie and I got good minutes as my second year, but I never really saw myself as like I'm popular, you know, and you'd walk into Target and then all of a sudden people are calling your name and I'm like me, like you're talking to me, you know, but it was such a cool thing to go around and how a community takes on the team, you know, and players walk around the community and are engaging, right. Um, it was very that experience was really cool.
Speaker 2:Um so, that's awesome, yeah any other questions there, like yeah, I wanted.
Speaker 1:I wanted to build on on something you talked about, the the difference between college and and professional right in terms of skill level. But I think and what I've heard I don't know because I've not played on both levels like you have but a lot of times what you will hear is that the difference between a good player and an elite player that makes that jump is someone that has it up here but then also they execute the little things flawlessly every time. Is that yeah, like well, it's similar in your experience?
Speaker 2:or what would you describe?
Speaker 1:that difference.
Speaker 2:I would. It's kind of spot-on for me. So I I watch for me. I've coached at John Brown University. I was an assistant coach there In my time as a coach. The amount of games I've watched, the amount of leagues I've watched, it's been crazy. My wife probably doesn't like it, because I watch games all the time. I watch championship, I watch League One, I watch MLS, I've been watching the Prem, but for what I do, the Prem is next level. It's so sophisticated and those players are just one of a kind. They're one of a kind players, world class.
Speaker 2:All gathered in one league and what I've seen is and I want to say it this way before I go into my experience and the whole college professional thing Each level is kind of marked. It looks like it's marked in different ways. In the prem you have guys who can change a game at any second, any second they can change a game. And those guys are crazy athletes. They're crazy with the ball, high, high IQ. Mls is kind of in that same boat, you know, maybe lower but um, it's very much similar. I mean you can look at the guys coming in um and champion in the championship. You do see a player every now and then that changes the game and they're crazy dynamic, they're're crazy athletic. Oftentimes those players, if they have successful seasons, they get moved up. But what you see more in the championship is the organization of each team. They're so organized the details are Because that's where the game is won and lost.
Speaker 2:The team who makes it almost looks like the team who makes the least mistakes is probably the team going to win the game, because there's not a guy who's going to dribble four players. You know. There's not a guy who's going to like take on the team and give me the ball. Let me do the dribbling. You know there's not a guy who's necessarily going to smash it. Smash a goal from 35 yards out every every several games. You know, um, right, so it's coming, coming to your, your point, like from what I've seen. You know, um, so it's coming, coming to your, your point, like from what I've seen. You know, there are players in college who have crazy ability. Their feet is really really good and maybe even sometimes better than some players in the championship thank you for joining us for this stoppage time special of the pitch to pro podcast.
Speaker 1:If you've enjoyed the conversation, you can click watch the full episode here. Be sure to tune in next Thursday for a new episode of the Pitch to Pro podcast, the official podcast of Ozark United FC, Available on YouTube, Instagram and everywhere you get your podcasts.