SABR’s multiple pathways for players to higher level success

By Gary Curreri

There are many options for SABR recreational players looking to find a pathway to the next level.

For those playing at Spanish River Athletic Complex, the girls can travel to the other side of I-95 where SABR’s Team Boca girls teams train on the Glades Fields at the main entrance to Florida Atlantic University. The Team Boca boys program is based at Spanish River Athletic Complex.https://www.teamboca.com/

“We try and develop each player to the best of their ability,” said Art Turpel, one of the founders of SABR in 1977 and who currently serves as the SABR Director of Player Development.

“Even as young as 5 and 6 year-olds, who may end up playing in college, on a National Team or playing in Europe,” Turpel continued, “it’s great. It’s something that kids think about and it’s nice to see them be able to realize their dream thanks to the hard work they put in.”

Players looking to play in college or at an even higher level have gone through the SABR program at one point or another, whether it was starting at the recreational level or with the Team Boca travel program.

“We are fortunate enough to have a great feeder system in SABR,” said Mario Rincon, Team Boca Girls Director of Coaching. “We have a great partnership with them, and they have had players who wanted to take their game to the next level. We have been able to attract some unbelievable players, and we have some great coaches at the younger age groups.

“The coaches really focus on skills and development and with them we have had a system and a history of developing kids,” Rincon added. “We have Adriana Gonzalez, who just played in the U17 World Cup for Mexico, and we have Mary Hartofilis who is playing for Ireland in the U17 Euro Qualifiers. Both joined Team Boca as 7-year-olds and that for me is a true indicator and the definition of development. They started at 5, 6, 7 in SABR’s Youth Rec program, went through the Team Boca process and both got college scholarships and will continue to do great things.”

The ”secret sauce” for the Team Boca success lies with the coaching staff, Rincon said.

“I think the coaches have been patient,” he said. “They understand what has to be worked on as far as individual ball skill – juggling, passing, receiving. At the young ages, we really focus on developing the proper cues in regard to receiving with their high foot and things like that in the small-sided games and just build on that when we go from 9v9 to 11v11.

 “We really focus on their development and having a player become comfortable with the ball and then we just expand on it,” Rincon said. “We go from individual development and then that progresses into a team development when we go to 9v9 and 11v11.”

Both pointed to the efforts of SABR Director of Coaching Carrie Barker, who has implemented several activities in Player Development. She will work with both the coaches and the soccer players in small-sided and appropriate ag group training.

“Having Carrie with her expertise and what she has been able to do not only working with the players but actually teaching the coaches to coach and what to look for and to really focus on development,” Rincon said. “We are very grateful for Carrie and what she has been able to do with SABR.

“You can’t put a price on it. There is a good fundamental base so when the kids come to our travel program when they are 7, 8 and 9-years-old they are more advanced,” Rincon added. “The kids in SABR start when they are 4 and 5 years-old and she has been so instrumental in that. Really, it’s a bridge. It’s a partnership between the both of us and their success is our success.”

Turpel said he would be remiss in talking about player development without mentioning Futsal, which is a type of soccer that is played indoors on a much smaller court. The smaller field size ensures a game that is fast-paced and more intense, with more opportunity for goal scoring.

It was introduced to the club two years ago and is headed up by Daniel Cavalcante, a nationally recognized coach.

“We believe it is a training device for our kids, and it is another way of getting an extra night of practice and also (works) on foot skills in small spaces,” Turpel said. “We want to continue to do those types of things, and we also want to find places for our players to play that best allows them to expand.

“’Player Development’ are the two key words, and we are going to continue to try and do whatever opportunities come up to do that,” Turpel said. “We have a great history of having kids play at the highest level in college, internationally and professionally.”

Rincon believes the Futsal program is only one offered in the state of Florida. He also called Cavalcante, the best in the country.

“It focuses on individual development and the progress that we have seen our players as soon as they get with Daniel to now has been unbelievable,” Rincon said.

“The other thing that has been amazing is that some of our former players have come back and now their kids are playing,” Rincon concluded. “We have second and third generation kids. It speaks volumes of our club. They feel comfortable. They have great pride in our club, and they want their kids to play in the club.”

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