In the 11 with Brendan Griffiths

#football #inthe11pod #inthe11

Stay tuned for another exciting episode of the In The Eleven Podcast! From her early days as a college soccer star in high-level Division 1 programs like Richmond and Iowa to her experiences as a professional player in Europe and the NWSL, our guest Alyssa Walker is here to share the behind-the-scenes action. Strap in as she takes you and our host Brendan Griffiths through the highs, lows, and everything in between on this incredible soccer journey. Learn the difference between college and professional soccer, where you have more control over your career path.

Get ready to dive into the unique and exhilarating path of becoming a professional soccer player. Let's not be distracted; the goal is our focus!

Timestamps:

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:14 Soccer career, recruitment process, and moving to Denmark.

0:09:14 College athletics as a full-time job.

0:12:54 College soccer experiences and fitness testing.

0:19:25 The importance of fitness tests in soccer pre-season.

0:22:54 College soccer career, injury, and perseverance.

0:30:10 Overcoming fear and finding support in the football journey.

0:40:08 The importance of highlight tapes for female soccer players.

0:48:28 Playing soccer in Europe, financial challenges, and team dynamics.

0:54:42 Moving to a new country and joining a new soccer team.

0:57:31 Football career, leagues, and team dynamics.

1:04:05 Soccer leagues, player experience, and team dynamics.

1:07:05 Loan spell in Norway and potential future in NWSL.

1:13:44 Career goals and personal growth with a professional soccer player.

Key Highlights:

- Transitions from college soccer to the professional world can be challenging but also rewarding.

- Knowing someone in the industry can open doors and lead to contract opportunities.

- Having a strong support network that includes mentors, trainers, coaches, and teammates is crucial for athletes.

- Professional soccer requires high levels of physical fitness, and athletes need to be mentally prepared to handle the demands of the game, including injuries and setbacks.

- As professional players, individuals have the opportunity to negotiate contract terms and conditions, which is a contrast to the more structured college system.

- The paths to success in professional soccer are not always linear, and athletes often face uncertainties and unpredictability in their careers.

- Managing time effectively and maintaining a strong work ethic is crucial for college athletes.

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This week it is me myself and I on the mic as my season in Australia has come to a conclusion. I break down the season, battling relegation, injuries, personal issues and how everything shook out. I give my thoughts on my time in Australia and what the future could hold for what is next. Tune in !

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This weeks guest is my great friend, and former teammate/roommate in Darmstadt Germany Leang Valenzuela. He was last on the pod all the way back in episode 20 back in 2020. We dive into what has been going on in his career the past three years as a footballer, his return to Germany, his time in Spain, returning to America and rehabbing from knee surgery. Leang shares how he has maintained his focus on his goals even through the tough times abroad or injury setbacks that require surgery.

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This weeks guest is the assistant Men's Soccer Coach at powerhouse Division 1 school St. John's University, John Ciano steps into the 11. He shares his journey in the game on the touchline which has taken him to all levels of collegiate coaching. From being a grad assistant at a small Division 3 school to a Head Coach at St. Rose and now one of the biggest college soccer programs in the country in one of the biggest cities in the world. One thing has always remained the same, leave the program better than you found it.

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This weeks guest Turkish Women's Super League Player Rashida Beal steps into the 11. A player who has never backed down from the challenge of pursuing a professional career Rashida has tackled everything from injuries, false contract promises and family emergencies in order to chase her dream of being a professional footballer. Entering her third season in Turkey she lays out what it took to get there and how she has managed to stay a high level pro.

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This weeks guest Rwandan international and recent Nordvarmlands FF in Sweden signing JP Rutabayiro steps into the 11. We discuss his journey in football but really so much more than that as JP is far from just your average footballer. With a purpose and intention that he brings to his life JP discusses how his footballing career can inspire his community, can enact change in the youth and allow himself to grow. Listen in to a conversation you won't want to miss.

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This week my teammate Max steps into the 11, to share the journey that started in France and brought him to the Athletic Bilbao Academy. Faced with hardship and adversity Max went on to play professionally in France, face corruption in Greece, realize his dream of playing in a first division in Australia only to be met with a knee injury. Listen to his story of rehabbing his knee multiple times over just to get back out and do what he loves; play football on the pitch.

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Live from down under my Mom makes her third appearance and my sister makes her debut in the 11. We discuss them coming down to watch me play, the insane travel experience they had to arrive in Perth and all things leading up to the big move from New York to Australia. Tune in!

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This week the Doxa Katokopias FC Defender steps into the 11 to share how an American found his way into the Cypriot leagues. Following a College career where seeking new challenges was met with a Covid year and an Ivy league opportunity that didn't merit everything he was hoping for Mac Naggar set out on the path to become a pro in Europe. Listen in to hear how he's gotten here and where his career will take him next.

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This week's episode features a special guest, Coach Zach Ssebatindira, a Pharmaceutical industry professional with a strong interest in cancer therapies, diagnostics, and interventions. He was my former collegiate coach at Chestnut Hill College, and I even served as his assistant for another year. This episode is one of my favorites as we reconnect and reminisce.

This episode might not be your typical story about a pro player like we've had before. It's more about the unique bond between a former player and coach. We get into all sorts of topics, from life conversations to friendly chit-chat. We talk about the value of relationships in the football world too. My hope is that listening to our chat will remind you of your own coach-player connections or bring back some great memories. If I can do that for you, then I consider this episode a success. So come join us as we celebrate this milestone and relish in the joy of reconnecting with old pals.

Timestamps:

0:00  Intro

3:17 Episode 100 with a very special guest

6:03 Being the voice of the people

12:37 What a coach is supposed to do

16:23 The importance of being curious about people

20:10 Coaching philosophy, bringing the full version of the player

32:36 Making time to talk to someone he cares about

34:36 How life outside of football impacts the game

40:42 Finding the right people around you

1:10:16 Do difficult things and embrace them

1:25:31 The importance of having a mental health expert on every team

Key Highlights:

• Embrace difficult tasks, challenges, and personal growth, recognizing them as opportunities for development and progress.
• Stay curious about people, valuing their perspectives, and using one's voice to advocate for others.
• Relationships in the football world are important as they contribute to personal growth, team dynamics, and overall success.
• Personal lives and experiences outside of football can influence and shape one's performance on the field.

Follow Zack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackss/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/inthe11pod

Subscribe to the show: https://in-the-11.captivate.fm/

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIKaXh28XlDY-NaJEuCPJw?sub_confirmation=1

Follow The show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthe11pod/

Follow the show on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inthe11pod?lang=en