SCHSSCA Winter Clinic & CESA/Adidas Player Exposure Combine
Kickoff Prep Soccer Season

Relentless.

There are very few words that aptly encompass the efforts of soccer enthusiasts in the Palmetto state over the past decade. Faces and names have changed, clubs have merged, dynasties have faded, but from every void a new voice has come barreling into the scene with fresh ideas and inspiration. Through the drive of South Carolina soccer’s contemporaries, upon a foundation hammered out by the sports trailblazers, each year, each month, each week equals a step closer to the cutting edge.

Perhaps no time in the calendar year is this fact more evident than the window between the crowning of club soccer’s champions and the conclusion of preseason prep soccer conditioning. For one group January is the culmination of rigorous training and travel, while the other awaits the very same fate with anxious anticipation. Despite their divergent timelines both groups take these precious few days as an opportunity to reflect.

For the South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association (SCHSSCA) January 25-26 marked the 12^th annual Winter Clinic held at both the Clarion Town House Hotel and Plex Indoor Sports complex in Columbia, S.C. The Winter Clinic covers a variety of prep soccer issues ranging from high school league rule changes to league sponsorship opportunities and much more. Arguably the most beneficial aspects of the event are the training sessions facilitated by college coaches from across the state. This year’s clinicians included former South Carolina prep standouts Chris Ayer (Dutch Fork), head women’s soccer coach at Lander University, and assistant men’s soccer coach at the College of Charleston, Troy Lesesne (Brookland-Cayce) – in addition to Ralph Lundy, head men’s coach at the College of Charleston.

After breakfast was provided by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, under the direction of Twig Gray and Charles Gee and Columbia attorney and long-time friend of South Carolina prep soccer J.R. Murphy, the more than 85 coaches that registered for the clinic were privy to tutorials on “Developing Better Comfort on the Ball” and “Creating Numbers Up in the Attack.”

Coach Troy Lesesne (center) and members of the Congaree Rapid U-17s participate in a 3v1 header activity

Coach Ralph Lundy directs Rapid players in a dribbling weave

Coach Lundy not only shared insight as to his technical training, but also his opinion that player development on a national scale needs to create more “play makers.” Gearing technical work towards a more expressionistic mantra will create players that have an edge over a direct or systematic style of play.

Coach Ralph Lundy addresses SCHSSCA members

Sessions served as not only an opportunity for high school coaches to witness the next level of training, but also reaffirm their dedication and commitment, said Kevin Heise (Brookland-Cayce), who serves as the Assistant State Soccer Chairman for the SCHSSCA. "The quality of the keynote presenters is top-notch on a national level, not just the South Carolina scene. You simply cannot attend one of Coach Ralph Lundy's sessions and not come away re-energized, pumped up and excited to get back on the pitch and start working with young folks. He's a master motivator of not only players, but coaches as well.”

Though the Winter Clinic is largely an informative and clinical atmosphere there are various opportunities for coaches to socialize and share their love of the game. Before the wins and losses are tallied, coaches share their insight and experience, Coach Michael Young (South Aiken girls) said, “It's a chance for the old guard to take a look at the up and comers, while the middle men like myself and Cesar Robles sit back and take it all in. We love hearing stories of the good old days when we didn't have classifications from the guys with 30 plus years. It's an experience that every coach should have at least once, just be weary of the guys that want to show you around downtown.” Heise added, “The cool thing about the clinic is that the soccer coaches are a ‘fraternity’ in many ways. The soccer community is so small that we all are essentially effecting to do the same thing -- produce quality players, coach our teams, and have fun in the game we all love."

In addition to the SCHSSCA Winter Clinic in Columbia , yet another event took place January 26^th at the MESA Complex in Greenville , S.C. The inaugural CESA/Adidas Player Exposure Combine, facilitated by Carolina Elite Soccer Academy featured goalkeeper sessions and full-side matches in front of more than 30 colleges from across the southeast, as well as a Question & Answer session and presentations from Trevor Adair (Clemson), Tatum Clowney (Alabama), Justin Maullin (UNC-Greensboro), Juan Pablo Favero (Newberry), Heather Henson (East Tennessee State), Bert Molinary (South Carolina), and Hershey Strosberg (Clemson).

Goalkeepers participate in a variety of position specific activities

Nearly half of the 180 participants represented 25 non-CESA clubs. Registered participants hailed from as far away as Florida (1), Georgia (36), and Tennessee (10) signifying an event that truly appeared to transcend club allegiances in the better interest of exposure for youth players.

CESA staff address participants before 11v11 matches

When asked to describe the difference between a top player in South Carolina and a top player in Georgia, Florida, or Texas, Coach Adair stated, “Their ability to play at the speed of the college game and overall experience of playing at a high level week in and week out is probably the biggest difference,” but added that the level of the Palmetto State’s play is getting better.

Co-Executive Director of CESA and member of the 1987 Clemson National Championship team, Coach Pearse Tormey offers a different explanation, “if you look at the sheer numbers, cities like Atlanta and Dallas simply outnumber us. Our players are every bit as good.” However, Tormey also recognized that, “Kids have to be realistic about their talent. Perhaps it’s better to go to a smaller school to get more playing time, rather than go to a bigger school that might not be a good fit.

Regardless, Coach Adair admitted that there were several players he had his eye on at the combine and that Clemson, “tries to find the best players in the country, for the best conference in the country. If a kid is capable, we will recruit him.”

Collegiate coaches from (L to R) South Carolina, Furman, Davidson, and Erskine watch 11v11 matches

Coach Andrew Hyslop, Co-Executive Director of CESA, recognizes the skeptics who might question the motives of the combine, “It’s clearly not a fundraiser, the kids pay $35 and leave with more gear than they paid for. It’s about exposure for players to college expectations, not recruiting for CESA.” Coach Hyslop also expressed the intent to make the event a bi-annual occasion and not only increase the player participation, but the coaches as well, “we want to do everything we’re doing now and then find out how to do it better.”

When asked about the sometimes negative perception of CESA, the largest and most winning club since its inception, Hyslop spoke candidly, “I’ve been in South Carolina since high school. We want to develop relationships to get college coaches to come take a look at our players. It’s not the image of the staff other people have that matters, but the image of CESA in the player’s mind that we’re concerned with.”

Regardless of affiliation, the continuation and expansion of events like the CESA/Adidas Player Exposure Combine can only bode well for the future of native players as they get the long overdue face time with college coaches. 

As the focus shifts from club to prep ball, let us reflect on our success and prepare ourselves to confront the various challenges that lay ahead. As a soccer community we must remain diligent and relentless in our efforts to support, encourage, and develop the common interest that binds us all together. The game we love.