Imagine hearing your name called at the MLS SuperDraft. You shake hands, snap photos, hug your parents, and within a week you are packing up and making your way to a new city. You get the entrance physicals and testing out of the way and, boom, you are on the field with teammates you’ve never met before at your first professional preseason training camp.
That about describes the recent experience of five young players hoping to earn a roster spot with Columbus Crew SC. The 2016 MLS SuperDraft picks just completed their first week of preseason camp, taking their first steps in pursuing their dream of becoming professional soccer players.
“It’s tough as a rookie. You’re drafted, then a few days later you’re flying out to wherever you are, you don’t have a contract yet, you’ve got a few things to worry about as far as integrating with the team, learning the system, fitness, playing a different style, playing with guys you’ve never played before. So it’s a really difficult process for them,” Crew SC Captain Michael Parkhurst says. “The most important thing is that they block out everything they can and focus on playing soccer and earning a contract.”
Fortunately for Crew SC's SuperDraft selections, the Black & Gold are stacked with veteran leaders like Parkhurst, Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Steve Clark, Federico Higuaín, Kei Kamara and Tyson Wahl, who are eager to share their experience with the young players to ease the transition.
“My biggest thing for them is just to work hard, to try to gain as much from the veterans as possible,” Ashe says. “When I was a rookie there were a couple guys that I leaned on when I had questions. As a veteran, having been in that situation, you know what it’s like and you know how difficult it can be for them, so you just try to talk to them and you try to tell them to have fun, enjoy it, work hard.”
Crew SC's Third Round selection Vincent Cicciarelli says he has received simple advice from the veterans to keep things things lighthearted and have fun: don’t dwell on mistakes.
“Honestly, all the guys have been really great about taking me under their wing," he says. "Conor Casey, Corey Ashe, Steve even, have all given me advice of not to take everything so seriously. They know it’s a big transition for us rookies. They’ve been a big help in just telling us to let things go and move on to the next drill.”
Chase Minter, selected 21st overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, testifies to the veterans' guidance. The Cal Poly grad says he has been told to focus on playing the way he knows he is capable.
“Michael, Corey, Steve, they’ve all pretty much said to just stay calm, try to play your game and just try to learn as much as you can as quick as you can,” he says.
Crew SC’s first selection and 19th overall pick this year, Rodrigo Saravia, says he is learning Crew SC's system with the help of tenured players. The defensive midfielder is connecting in particular with Clark and Higuaín.
“They have been telling me what movements I should do or should not, how to keep count in the middle," he says, "and to be honest, everyone has been really comfortable and really nice with us.”
Second round pick Marshall Hollingsworth, who was drafted from D-III school Wheaton College, also says the veterans have been key in boosting his confidence.
“Most of the guys have done a pretty good job of making us feel comfortable, allowing us to settle in,” he says. “I’d say Steve Clark has spoken to me the most and helped me stay relaxed. He’s been through a lot of trials and he recognizes that I may be coming from a lower level and he’s really helped me stay confident and really find myself out on the field.”
Clark, the only player on Crew SC’s current roster to have started every match the past two seasons is providing guidance to every single SuperDraft pick during preseason camp. Striker and 31st overall selection Kyle Parker also attests to the ‘keeper’s support.
“Steve definitely has kind of taken in the younger guys and he tries to teach you on and off the field, tries to show you pointers about where to move, or your passing, or where to be and stuff like that,” he says. “I think he’s the one guy who’s definitely taken us all in and helped us out.”
