How Does Upper School Boys’ Soccer Work? Coach Szabo Shares Some Insights

This season, the Lakeside High School Varsity Boys Soccer team has been on a roll. Coach Mark Szabo leads the team. They currently have a district record of 13 wins and 7 losses. This puts them in 3rd place in the district. If they keep this up they are on track for making the Class 3A district playoffs and hopefully winning! On Tuesday May 1, I talked to Coach Szabo about his advice for us Middle School players and the experience of being on the Upper School team.

Milan: Hello Coach Szabo, how are you doing today?

Coach Szabo: I’m doing good today, thanks for asking.

Milan: Firstly, how do tryouts and team selection work? How many teams are there? How many practices are there in a week?

Coach Szabo: Well, first off, tryouts take about 3-4 days depending on the personnel. We get out there and have the boys play 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, and larger and larger until we narrow down to the kids that we want to look at for the team. Around 50 players try out each year, so we are getting to the point where some players don't make the team because there are only two teams: Varsity and Junior Varsity. We try our best to practice every day, and our games are usually on the weekdays. So we take the weekend off to relax and recover for the next week.

Milan: What are the skills that you like to see and build upon in your players?

Coach Szabo: Well, in our team we need players that have different strengths in different places so that when they work together, they will be even better. 

Milan: What are your predictions for the Varsity Boys Soccer Team this season?

Coach Szabo: We are already getting to the end of our season, pretty much. But it is important that going into this season for any season really [to keep] the team healthy and [have] the boys enjoy themselves. We do a lot of bonding, so the boys will get to know each other more and play better together. We do a lot of things that will put us in a good spot when we end the season. At different parts of the season, we were like 5th or 6th, all the way down there. But now we won like 4 or 5 games in a row, and that puts us 2nd place.

Milan: Finally, what are some tips that you would give to some young emerging soccer players?

Coach Szabo: Study hard. Study hard in school and get good grades because before playing soccer you need to not have much stress at school so you can focus on soccer. Secondly, get out, spend a lot of time on the field and spend a lot of time with the ball. Become friends with the ball. When I was young, I used to spend time with just me, the ball and a wall. Another thing is just to not be afraid to make mistakes on the pitch and be ready to give it your all. Also, remember to have lots of fun on the field.

Milan: Wow, thank you so much for your answers and thank you so much for your time.

Coach Szabo: Of course! And please tell the Middle schoolers to try to come to Lakeside games and support the team!

I hope you can take away at least one thing from this interview. I also hope that this inspires you to join the soccer team, or any sports team, in high school! (At the Upper School, girls’ soccer plays in the fall.) Remember to wish the best of luck to the Lakeside Boys High School varsity soccer team. The team would appreciate it if you guys could come support them at their games!