avatar

Congratulations to Jack Martin!

Congratulations to Jack Martin, who recently secured a soccer scholarship to Lenoir Rhyne University, North Carolina. We caught up with Jack to reflect on his time with FirstPoint USA and his hopes for the future…

tres

 

1. Can you tell us a little bit about your sporting background?
I have played football all my life and have represented various teams throughout my childhood and also had a keen interest in swimming, athletics and rugby. Once I turned 16 and started sixth form at my school i signed for Burnham FC youth team in my first year of under 18′s football and then in my second year signed with Maidenhead United youth team where we had a very succesful youth team who did very well, in this season I was chosen to represent Berkshire & Buckinghamshire under 18′s and we won the south and west counties championship, I also captained my school’s first XI in this season. I then Left school and started university, whilst there I  began playing men’s football for Uxbridge FC and Chalfont St. Peter FC, I was part of two succesful teams at these clubs winning a league with Uxbridge whilst playing for the reserves. In my second year at university started playing for the University Team and in my last year was chosen to captain a team, whilst at University I was also chosen to represent Middlesex FA men’s representative side and have played against the army and London Amateur FA among other teams.

2. What made you choose FirstPoint USA and are you glad you did?
I was a bit lost for what i wanted to once i graduated university and I knew a few ex team-mates were out in the USA on scholarships and were really enjoying so decided to look into it, after a quick google search Firstpoint came up and I signed up for a trial day. They have been very helpful throughout quite a complicated process and I am very glad i chose them.

 

3. Were you happy with the FirstPoint process?
The first trial day was fairly hectic but everything was explained thoroughly and gave me a good idea of what to expect, flying up to Glasgow was a fairly daunting experience but John Crawley was very helpful with offering an insight into what would be happening over the coming months as things got sorted. Client games were difficult in that you are playing with lads you don’t know but the standard is quite competitive and provides a good opportunity for footage. The highlight has to have been the showcase in London however which our side went on to win and was a lot better level than I was expecting as everyone tried to impress the visiting coaches. I also had the opportunity to play against a US college side which was a very good eye opener as to what to expect.

 

4. Were you happy with the offers you received? And what made you choose Lenoir Rhyne?
I initially had my heart set on a division 1 school as I had a few former team mates out there playing for schools in this division and felt I was capable but after many conversations with John Paul (who has been very patient!) was informed that because I would only be eligible for 2 years as i studied my masters it might be difficult to get an offer that worked out as a financially good offer from a school in this division. I received contact from schools in New York, Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Tennessee  But after conversations with Lenoir Rhyne I was impressed by what the coach hopes to achieve this year and the facilities look fantastic and am very happy with the offer I have accepted.

 

5. What are you looking forward to the most about heading out to the USA?
Training full time and competing in another country, I am looking forward to the opportunity to really take my football seriously alongside studying for my MBA and to hopefully come back a better player and play at the highest level of football I can.

 

6. What do you think you’ll miss the most while out there?
Roast Dinners, Nando’s and going to Loftus road!

 

7. What advice would you have for anyone considering a sports scholarship to the USA?
Do it! The facilities are out of this world compared to what you could expect in this country and I cant wait to get out there.

 

8. Would you recommend FirstPoint?
Yes, I have played with two lads who have also gone through the company and they, along with myself. Are very happy with where they are studying. The company have been very helpful throughout the process and If it is something you are serious about pursuing Firstpoint can help you do that.

 

FirstPoint USA would like to thank Jack for taking the time to answer these questions, and wish him the best of luck in his future with soccer!

Do you think you have what it takes to secure a scholarship to study & play in the USA, just like Jack? Apply now for your assessment!

register

Share
avatar

Athlete Of the Month – Mitch Conning

mitch portland 1

Congratulations to Mitchell Conning who has been nominated by our staff to be “First Point USA Athlete of the Month” for May 2013!  Mitchell has been on the programme since the start of last year as a soccer student-athlete and has recently accepted an offer to go to Iowa Central and is very much looking forward to his new adventure where he gets to play the sport he loves which will add to his sporting career.
Mitchell has enjoyed being on the programme and our staff have thoroughly enjoyed working with him.

“Mitch has been first class to work with. Throughout the process he completed all the required steps quickly and efficiently. He has a promising future ahead of him.”

- Simone Enrici

58

We caught up with Mitchell and asked him how he has found being on the programme and also a bit more about his sport and why he loves it.

1. Can you tell us a bit about your sporting background?
Ever since I can remember I have always been a playing sport, and not only football. Anything I could challenge myself at I would give a go, and this has lead to success across sports such as swimming, football and gymnastics. With regards to football I joined my first team aged 6 as Chickerell United started up their youth team and for me my earliest memory was my first competitive game where I managed to score 6 goals. I played for Chickerell for many years growing up playing with most of my school friends before leaving and joining Weymouth FC youth at the age of 12. After being at Weymouth FC youth for three seasons, me and a few of my teammates decided to go and play in the hampshire league for Broadway Academy and play a year up to challenge ourselves and help our development. I then reverted to playing as a striker again and at 15 I replicated my first memory of football by scoring 6 in one game. Following a few games for the under 18 side and some good performances I was asked if I would like to go for trials with Yeovil Town FC and ended up signing schoolboy forms with the league 1 club. Between the ages of 16 and 18 I played for Yeovil Town FC but also Portland United FC on dual registration forms and in the season of 2009-2010 I had scored 9 goals from 18 appearances in the Dorset Premier League for Portland United, also at this time I was playing for Dorset Under 18′s and in the following two years finally became South of England Champions in 2011. After some personal circumstances I decided to leave Yeovil Town and rejoin Weymouth FC but this time for their reserve side. In which that season we won the league cup and finished second in the league, during that season I had some outstanding games and had managed to catch the eye of the first team manager, and towards the end of that season aged 17 I made my first appearance for Weymouth FC in the Evo-Stick Southern Premier league playing in games against Bashley and featuring against champions that year on the final day of the season Truro FC . After a change of management at Weymouth FC and a frustrating following season made up of substitute appearances, cup games and a loan spell at Bridport Town FC I decided to again rejoin Portland United FC in the 2012-2013 season. This season we sit top by a point with a game in hand and although playing the majority of games out on the wings I have managed to score 11 goals in the league and cup and my aim for this season is to go on and win the league title before I leave for the states in July.

2. How did you find out about First Point USA and what made you want to join the programme?
I found out about Firstpoint USA when I was 16 through FirstPoint ‘Hall of Famer’, Sam Charles. I knew that he was either playing in the states on a scholarship with MSU Billings or had just completed his scholarship. But after a school game in which his younger brother played in the same team as me, his dad and mine got talking about how Sam had gone about his scholarship to the states, and that is where I initially heard of Firstpoint USA. After getting home and my dad relaying the story to me I only had eyes set on doing the same thing as Sam and ever since it was my goal to go to the states one day and play Soccer. After my initial assessment and acceptance to the program in January 2012 I was really impressed with everybody at Firstpoint USA. My interview at Stamford Bridge with Simone Enrici couldn’t have gone any better, in my eyes, and if my mind wasn’t already sure that I wanted to go to the USA it certainly was once I had left the interview.

mitch conning (action portland, left)


3. You have just accepted an offer. Tell us how you managed to make that decision? Tell us a bit about the University.
I have just accepted a scholarship offer to join Iowa Central in the coming summer and my decision eventually came easy to me. Although gaining a lot of attention from a lot of colleges and universities my final decision was one which stood out from all the others. Once I understood my eligibility it was clear I was going to have to attend a Junior college for my first two years before transferring to a four year school for my final two years. After my eventual coach contacted me and speaking to him on numerous times over the phone Iowa Central soon became a stand out for me. The soccer program which is ranked in the top 20 nationally and the school really impressed me with the range of academic programs it offered. The facilities look second to none and I really hope to make the best of the opportunity I have been given at Iowa Central.

4. What are you most excited about going to the University you have chosen in the states?
There are many things that excite me about my future move to the USA, mainly looking forward to what I have to experience over the next 4 years. The whole life experience, living away from home, making new friends, being surrounded by new people in a different place all excite me. And now I often find myself counting the days, weeks and shifts at work that I have left until the day I fly to the US and start what will be an experience I will never forget.

5. What are your future goals and what do you want to gain most from going out to America on a Scholarship?
Obviously knowing that I’m going out to the US on a soccer scholarship, it’s obvious that I’m going to set certain goals for myself and have certain things I wish to achieve  on a personal level and no doubt I will do all I can to make those ambitions come true. During my time in the US I hope to gain all american status and help my team in both regional and hopefully national competitions. Gaining my degree alongside my sporting success is also a massive thing for me and transferring after my initial two years at Iowa Central to another successful college are things I really wish to achieve during my time in the USA.

6. How have you found being on the programme? What would your advice be to others?
Since being on the programme with firstpoint USA I can’t offer anything but positive feedback about everything associated with the company. Everybody that I have either spoken too or had contact with has been absolutely brilliant, nothing has ever been too much to ask. There are so many people I’d like to thank starting with Simone Enrici and Andrew Kean for helping me all the way through the process, always offering their advice and a honest opinion on what would be best for me. The guys at the media team for getting my footage sorted and everybody else that has had an input into my scholarship process I can’t thank you enough for making my dreams become a reality. There is no doubt in my mind that I would recommend the service that Firstpoint USA offer. Anybody that is confident in their ability and believes that they have what it takes to be a student athlete, Firstpoint USA are the guys to go too.

We want to thank Mitchell for his kind words and hard effort and wish him the best for the future!

 Do you think you have what it takes to secure a scholarship to be on your way to the USA, like Mitchell? Apply now for your assessment!

register

 

Share
avatar

A Day in the Life: NCAA vs NAIA Soccer

Guest blogger, and FirstPoint USA soccer athlete, Damian O’Hare is currently in Georgia at Brewton-Parker College on a soccer scholarship.

Damian has been writing about his first experiences in the US on his blog, which you can check out here.

This week, Damian has been comparing his academic and athletic schedule with that of his friend, Michael Tuohy, who is also in the U.S on a soccer scholarship secured through FirstPoint USA:

I’ve had many people ask me over my time here so far of what exactly a day in the life of a student athlete entails, particularly soccer.  A lot of my friends think it’s all fun and games, just chilling in the sun, kicking a ball about then attending some crazy Frat party before waking up the next morning to do it all again…unfortunately it’s not (the truth mum, honestly!)

In action @ Southern Wesleyan, South Carolina.

I received an e-mail from First Point USA, my former agency, asking me to do a guest blog for future students on what exactly a typical day would be for a student athlete.  I will include my own schedule during season in the NAIA, along with my good friend Michael Tuohy’s, himself a former FPUSA client, to show a comparison between the two levels.  Michael plays for the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania in the NCAA.

My day would be pretty full on during season. This is how my Monday would typically be;

7:30am; Wake up, breakfast
8:00am; Work study
9:30am; Class
11:30am; Lunch
12:30pm; Class
2pm; Class
3:30pm; Practice
5pm; Treatment, back to dorm rooms, shower
6pm; Dinner
7pm; Gym
9pm; Library to study, complete assignments and homework
11pm; Back to dorm, shower, sleep.

It really was a full on day and this was a day without a 7 hour bus trip to an away game!

 

Michael’s schedule at NCAA DI Pittsburgh on a typical day:

Michael in action for Pittsburgh.

7:30am; Wake up, breakfast
10-11am; Study Hall
11am; Head to the stadium, ready for practice
12:3pm; Training, followed by treatment on any injuries
4-5pm; Classes depending on the day
6pm-; Homework, dinner, take care of errands, speak to family back home, sleep.

As you can see, the schedules are both pretty intense but if you take both your training and academics seriously rather than prioritise one over the other, then they are both very manageable. We both keep in contact with one another, and even ended up on the same flight home for Christmas, totally coincidental!

It is a once in a life-time experience being a student athlete and even though you are burned out after most days, it will be one of the best things you could possibly take on.  We both highly recommend the USA college experience to everyone, as no matter what level you have played to back home it really is such a great opportunity to come here; both academically for your future and for your own sporting career.

Follow michael’s journey @tuohy_michael on twitter, and myself @theboyohare

Contact: damianohare12@gmail.com

We’d like to thank Damian & Michael for taking the time to write such a great blog post!

For more information, or to register for a soccer assessment , apply online today

register

Share
avatar

Can Sports Save Mankind?

 

Can Sports Save Mankind?

 

Do you think you have what it takes to secure a scholarship to study in the USA while playing your favourite sport? Apply now for your assessment!

register

 

Share
avatar

Food For Thought

pineapple-watermelon

Nutrition is the biggest factor in leading a healthy lifestyle. But it is also the biggest factor that many people neglect, overlook and look for quick fixes instead of making lifestyle changes. As athletes, nutrition becomes even more important as you will be burning many more calories and expending great amounts of energy through day to day training, and in match situations. Also having active daily schedules, involving studying and work that tax the brain and body. So you must eat the right foods.

What is 80-20?

Fitness is about 20% of the training you do and 80% nutrition, (what you fuel your body with). Think about it like this: as a collegiate athlete you might complete up to 10 training sessions a week. Giving you plenty of opportunities to improve you game and skills. But by doing this you will also be eating, I am presuming, up to 5 meals/snacks a day – so that’s up to 35 meal a week. So that speaks for itself really, you eat more than you will ever train so why not pay a greater deal of attention (80%) to your food intake.

Before I start to talk about some nutritional ideas I want to state that there is not, and never will be, a one size fits all approach. No two people are the same or have the same needs so your nutritional choices will not be exactly the same as a friend or family member. However the food choices in general may be very similar.

paleo diet

PALEO/PRIMAL

This might be something you have heard of or it might be completely new. If it is new to you stick with me. It might just go against everything you have heard about nutrition before but before you write anything off you must try new things. That is what I did 3 years ago and have never looked back.

Here is how I choose to eat

I base my nutritional choices on: meats, fowl, game, fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds. Ensuring that most if not all of these are in season and local. Get down to the farm shop/butcher to find the best quality and ask questions about where things come from. Once the best produce you can afford is acquired get in the kitchen a cook. This is one skill I believe that everyone should have. If you cannot cook, you cannot eat correctly, plus, once you cook, you become creative and find recipes you like and enjoy, and fuel your lifestyle to the best effect.

So that is how I choose to eat and it works perfectly for me, and I would advise you to try it before dishing it off. Then the best part of it is that it is so versatile, and can and should be made to suit YOUR needs, because remember you are unique and know your body and lifestyle better than anyone else.

For more information about this lifestyle and Paleo/Primal food I would highly recommend reading the following books:
• Primal Bluepint
• Everyday Paleo
• It Starts With Food

All these guys offer a great insight into leading a Primal/Paleo lifestyle.

Remember as athletes that you need the correct fuel in order perform at your best. Also eating the correct food will have a positive impact on your brain and how your body functions and reacts to food, which will, in turn, help your studies and education. It’s win win all round.

We would love to hear your thoughts and how you fuel your body for your sport and lifestyle!

TRAIN HARD. EAT RIGHT. LIVE WELL.

Share
avatar

Interview With Former LA Galaxy Player: Daniel Keat

Recently, we’ve been joined at FirstPoint USA HQ by former LA Galaxy player, Daniel Keat. We caught up with Daniel to discuss his time as an international student in the USA, playing soccer at Dartmouth College, and his experiences playing professional soccer since graduating.

 

Do you have what it takes to play your sport and study in the USA? Register today for a UK assessment with FirstPoint USA and find out!

register

Share