| A Case Study: A Selection Process toward Soccer Professionalism in Mexico (Part 1) |
By Phil Vigil
This is Part I of a two-part series of a case study of a youth soccer club in Mazatlán, México. These observations are made by NSCAA member Phil Vigil after a recent visit to Mazatlán in May 2008. Vigil is the coach of the girls U-17 Colorado Ice Club of Golden, Colo. This article originally appeared in the November-December 2008 issue of Soccer Journal.
Centro de Formación Club de Fútbol Pachuca, Mazatlán, México
The real religion of Mexico is the game of soccer. It is a passion that consumes all ages and both genders. It is displayed throughout the country in rural areas, cities and villages—down to the street level. Fans, especially younger players, strongly identify with their chosen First Division professional team, and usually with some of the star players on that team. Family unity is a cultural tradition in Mexico—except when it comes to picking a professional soccer team, proving that blood is not thicker than passion. Come game time, brothers, sisters, cousins, fathers and mothers alike all will be rooting for their favorite team and strutting around with their team memorabilia, all of which is part of the excitement.
It is interesting to learn that most professional soccer clubs sponsor soccer academies for talented young athletes at various age levels. These players generally are chosen by their geographical proximity to the academy, and they are trained at these academies as prospects for their professional soccer club.
A few regions of Mexico favor baseball over soccer. One example is Mazatlán, a Pacific coast city with more than 500,000 people that hosts more than 1 million tourists each year. There are numerous baseball diamonds throughout the city, but the only grass soccer field is at a private high school/college, the prestigious Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mazatlán Campus. The surface of all the other fields are fine powdered dirt, with the playing boundaries lined with white lime dispensed out of a coffee-type can with holes punched in the bottom. During the game, the soccer ball travels from one end of the field to the other, kicking up a trail of dust as it bounces, a minor nuisance to the aficionados playing the game.
On a recent trip to Mazatlán, I visited an acquaintance of mine, Profesor Modesto Efraín Lizárraga Lizárraga, known as “Mode” or “Profe.” He is proud of his title of Director Técnico Profesional de Fútbol from the Mexican Soccer Federation. His primary responsibility is to train young players at his school for the Centro de Formación Club de Fútbol Pachuca (Mazatlán), which is affiliated with the Fútbol Club de Pachuca in the city of Pachuca and the state of Hidalgo. His intense daily instruction given to approximately 120 players prepares them to compete at a high level of play tactically, strategically and physically. His players, proudly known as “tuzos” in the soccer community, also play scheduled league games every weekend.
The mascot of the Club Pachuca of Hidalgo, adopted by its fans, is a “tuzo,” which is a synonym for the word “topo,” a burrowing mole with pencil-point sized eyes, concealed ears and a furry skin. Their soccer team, the oldest in Mexico, was founded in 1901 by Hidalgo miners. They wanted a mascot that best represented their livelihood of working underground. According to Mexicans, a tuzo is a person from Hidalgo and, primarily, a soccer enthusiast of their club. Their players fight to defend their team colors of blue and white.
According to the Pachuca Club de Fútbol, it has the largest soccer network in Mexico, teaching more than 30,000 youth players in 122 schools, and they are supported by 74 of 84 state governments. Five of the participating schools are within the United States. The club’s main mission is to find and develop the most talented young players, commonly known as “fuerzas básicas,” to become members of their academy in Hidalgo. The Club Pachuca is unique in that it trains players on specific methods, philosophy and style of playing soccer. The club is committed to teaching and training players in accordance with the four elements of soccer: technique, tactics, physical conditioning and the psychological dimension. Annual tryouts are conducted by a recruiter in cities throughout the country.
Players who attend the tryouts must commit beforehand to the Club de Pachuca’s approach to soccer before performing or being selected. This is a huge decision to be made by players. It requires players to experience a lengthy separation from families, friends and a secure environment, and move to new, unknown public schools in Hidalgo and a rigorous training program at the Club de Pachuca Academy. The players are allowed to visit their families, at their own expense, during national and religious holidays. On the other hand, the club provides their schooling, room and board, tuition and sophisticated instruction on how to become a complete soccer player. The players train intensively and compete at a high level, enabling the coaches to select the most able athletes to play for the Club Pachuca, an honor for all and a financial opportunity for many.
During my visit with Mode, Club Pachuca was conducting tryouts in Mazatlán at the Toledo Corro soccer field. Profesor Rogelio Rodríguez, a Club Pachuca recruiter known as the “visor” (or observant), viewed about 400 players in boys categories born in 1996-97, 1994-95, 1992-93 and 1991, respectively. Full field games of 11 v. 11 were scheduled for 60 minutes throughout each day, with the temperatures approaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoons.
Some players arrived at the fields on bicycle, some came by bus, and others were brought by parents. Players appeared for the same reason: to show their skills and ability to play soccer. After a brief warm-up and a few stretches, the players then were ready to compete. Different colored vests were used to distinguish teams; however, no referees were present and the games continued without incident with the players calling their own game.
Many games and days later, about 20 soccer players were invited to advance to the next level of tryouts, at their own expense. This new round of competition was scheduled to take place in Guamúchil, a small city about 235 miles north of Mazatlán. There the players from the Mazatlán trial were joined by players from other cities identified through the same selection process. Rodríguez, after much consideration, would pick the best 25 players in each age category to convene in Hidalgo for one final review and selection to the elite academy club team.
Players and parents alike always are grateful for the honor of being chosen, for receiving a fully paid scholarship to a prestigious academy and for a chance to fulfill the reality of youthful dreams: becoming a professional soccer player and receiving a salary in a sport they love.
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