FirstPoint USA has today announced a partnership with Celtic FC which will allow our worldwide network of Coaches the opportunity to get access to future Celtic FC coaching conventions and training seminars.
The first of these will be in early 2012 and you can reserve your place through quoting the reference “FIRSTPOINTUSA” for a great rate. Please view or download the Celtic Convention document for more information.
We are delighted to announce that Sports Consultant, Nicola Pitticas has been offered and has accepted the new post as Head of Scouting for FirstPoint USA.
Congratulations to Nicola in taking this new challenging position. This new role will commence in early 2012.
Best of luck to you Nicola!
More news to follow, see our blog for forthcoming details!
On behalf of all of us here at FirstPoint USA, we would like to thank everyone who participated in, and contributed to our 2011 Soccer Showcase event at the London Soccerdome last week.
We are delighted that the event was such a success and that everyone enjoyed it. Over the three days, we had over 100 US coaches visiting to scout the talent…and we have received a great deal of positive feedback from them about the excellent standard of player with FirstPoint USA.
The media team are now uploading and editing the hours of footage we have captured from the games and hope to get it online as soon as possible to be viewed by over 2000 coaches across the USA. The footage will start going online in January, after a well deserved break!
We are very pleased at the attitude of our clients, and all of our staff were impressed at how much effort was put into delivering a good performance across the board. We realize and appreciate that it has been a huge effort for everyone to attend, with getting time off school/college/work, making the trip to London and the cost involved. Thank you to all the clients, their parents, visiting coaches, and staff who made it possible.
We will be posting interviews and photos from clients,parents, coaches, and staff which will be online this week, so keep an eye on our You Tube and Facebook for more!
Check out some of the tweets from our participating clients!
We would like to thank all of our the coaches from all over the USA who visited. The colleges/universities that were represented included:
Montana State University Billings
University of Wisconsin – Madison
University of the District of Columbia
Florida Institute of Technology
University of the Incarnate Word
CW Post – Long Island University
California State University - Bakersfield
Roll on 2012!!!
Congratulations to former FirstPoint USA client and current Cincinnati State Men’s Soccer player, Colin Murray.
Murray has committed to Northern Kentucky University who has had one of the top Division II soccer programs in NCAA. Next sesson, NKU will be transitioning to Division I NCAA.
Best of luck Colin!
Please be aware that the registration for out Women’s Soccer Showcase has been changed from 10.15am to 11am, Friday 16th December at the London Soccerdome.
Please make sure you are on time for registration as we cannot guarantee your place otherwise….
Games are 90 minutes long and strips will be provided.
Please bring: soccer boots suitable for 3G astro grass (no metal studs), any personal medication you may require, shinguards, sock-tape if required, and clothing suitable for cold weather.
Please leave all valuables either at home or with a parent, do not take onto the the pitch or into the changing rooms! FirstPoint USA and the London Soccerdome will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to any personal belongings!
Please see below for updated teamsheets:
WOMEN’S TEAMS:
UCLA (Blue)
1. Emily Wragg
2. Jasmine Hearnshaw
3. Hailey Robinson
4. Sharna Giordani
5. Gemma McElhinney
7. Laura Stone
8. Amber Pullen
9. Charlotte Barnes
10. Samaira Khan
11. Jemma White
12. Isabel Kulinski
14. Ani Radountcheva
Stanford (Red)
1. Leoni Devoy
2. Lucy Cunningham
3. Danielle Page
4. Keisha Graham-Benjamin
5. Sofia Aragosa
6. Lavinia Nkomo
7. Brooklyn Kerlin
8. Georgia Walters
9. Jane Haddow
10. Priya Bhatti
11. Rianon Patterson
14. Jade Sailsman
15. Hollie Diedonne
USC (White)
2. Chanelle O’Dwyer
3. Grace Henry
4. Chelsea Bishop
5. Holly Jacob
6. Grete Wilson
7. Natalie Aird
8. Ayat El-Zein
9. Andrew Farber
10. Emily Hannaford
11. Rebecca Harper
12. Eustacia Gaston-Monerville
A college soccer coach can discover a potential recruit by receiving their game footage, getting a phone call from FirstPoint USA’s staff or by scouting the player in person.
A soccer showcase facilitates the scouting process. College coaches will attend a week-long series of games and skill drills at showcases held year-round. Players come from all over and are assigned to teams for the week. A strong performance can clinch a scholarship or put the player on a coach’s radar. The higher-profile showcases may also include the presence of scouts from professional soccer sides.
1. First and foremost, it is important to realize that playing in a soccer showcase will not ‘make or break’ your chances of securing a scholarship. There could be coaches present that have no need for a player in your position, or they could be from colleges that have academic standards above (or below) what is a good fit for you academically. Either way, the majority of coaches will watch the footage of the event from the comfort of their offices, and therefore establish contact with prospects at a later date.
2. Understanding and knowing your eligibility to compete in the NCAA DI, DII, DIII, NAIA or NJCAA is important knowledge to have. Coaches may see you as a great fit for their soccer program, but if your eligibility to attend their college is not known then it can be a very long and frustrating process for all involved. Know exactly what divisions and colleges you could be eligible for – and if you don’t know, speak to a member of FirstPoint’s compliance staff who will advise accordingly. It’s not all about soccer ability; your academics will have a major impact on what level of university & soccer program you will be able to commit to.
3. Playing your own game and keeping things as simple as possible is probably the best piece of advice you will hear from coaches at a Showcase event. You will not impress a coach if you are a defender that does tricks and step-overs with the ball at the edge of your own box. Leave that stuff to the attacking players! Be calm, composed and make the easy passes. This will help you settle into the game and quickly grow in confidence.
4. Coaches are judging a player’s character and work ethic, as well as your soccer talent. Address the coaches as “Sir” or “Coach” when in conversation with them. Show good manners and try not to use foul language. US college soccer is a very different environment from what you may be used to in your native country, and it will be your responsibility to adapt – not the coach’s. During games, give 100% effort on every opportunity possible.
5. Know the showcase’s requirements. Don’t assume it provides shorts and has extra shin guards to play with. If you’re running as part of a fitness test, take your running shoes. It shows a lack of detail if you don’t have the basic requirements required of the Showcase event itself.
6. Research the schools who are attending. Usually, the showcase provides a list of coaches planning to come. Have questions ready for coaches about their programs. This helps you in the process, and it impresses coaches that you came prepared. FirstPoint staff can help you prepare some questions to ask college coaches.
7. Contact the coaches beforehand to let them know you’re coming. There can be hundreds of players at a showcase. You don’t want to go under the radar because a coach didn’t realize you were attending.
8. Follow up with a coach after the showcase. Write a note thanking him for taking the time to chat and telling him how you hope to be in touch soon.
9. You may not be able to talk with a college coach, depending on when the showcase takes place. The NCAA has rules that restrict when a college coach is allowed to talk to a recruit. So a player shouldn’t feel snubbed if a coach refuses to talk at the time. Interested coaches will either contact you at a later date or go through the FirstPoint USA staff instead.
10. Enjoy the experience! What is the point in playing the game at all if you are not prepared to enjoy yourself? Playing with smile will come through on the field and will help you relax and be more confident in your control and touch with the ball.
Good luck!
Andrew Kean
Chief Executive, FirstPoint USA
Congratulations to former FirstPoint USA Golf Client, Callum Macauley, who has reached the final stage of qualifying school for the European Tour in Spain this week after performing brilliantly in stage 2 last week!
Best of luck Callum!
Congratulations to former FirstPoint USA client, and current Cincinnati State Men’s Soccer Player – Carl Peers!
Carl has committed to continue his education and to play college soccer at Urbana University (Division II) next fall season.
While at Cincinnati State, Carl was a major player that guided the SURGE soccer program to 2 OCCAC Championships and a 2010 trip to the National Championship game. In Carl’s 2 seasons at Cincinnati State, the Surge soccer program earned an overall record of 39-8-0. This past season, Carl was awarded 1st Team All-OCCAC.
Congratulations to Carol Peers and we wish him continued success at Urbana University!
