Santa Cruz FC is not just a club; it is an elite development program focused on transforming high-level athletes in Massachusetts into future professional soccer players. Our methodology is the backbone of this process, ensuring that every player is prepared not only technically, but also tactically, physically, and mentally for the challenges of collegiate and professional soccer.
The soul of Santa Cruz FC resides in the unparalleled passion of its CEO and founder, Igor Monteiro. As a former professional coach, Igor brought to the club an intimate knowledge of what it takes to compete at the highest level. His vision was clear: to create an elite opportunity, accessible to all.
Our training philosophy is summarized in the principle “TRAIN HOW WE PLAY!”. We understand that training is the reproduction of real game situations and specific concepts. The more often the athlete participates in a situation and the more concepts they have about it, the more they learn different ways to solve, avoid, or nullify it.
The player must understand that the effort applied in trained situations makes them more difficult to resolve, which, paradoxically, prepares them better to:
The improvement of the team depends directly on the individual improvement of each athlete. Therefore, we require team members to understand and reproduce the importance of individual efficiency more work in less time.
The athlete must be constantly aware of the effects of their actions on the opponent, covering the aspects:
The coach’s role is crucial in our methodology. Instead of merely dictating drills, the coach must reproduce situations where game concepts can be presented, taught, practiced, and perfected.
The focus is on keeping the athlete aware of what and why to do, and what the effects caused on the opponent are. When clear and specifically trained concepts are in place, the resolution of offensive and defensive situations becomes a common problem, with resolutions already lived, relived, and solved in training.
The development of a healthy competitive environment in training is fundamental. We encourage everyone to bring new soccer solutions to the created situations, understanding that all new knowledge generates a better understanding of the game’s concepts. This is crucial for the development of a competitive, committed, and professional group.
Understanding the game is essential to accept and use one’s own mistakes for evolution. Understanding the game and enjoying the training process develops important values in the sports environment, such as respect for the opponent’s effort and honesty in fighting to the end. The club must be represented by demonstrating the values it defends.
Santa Cruz FC deserves a technical team capable of making the most of its physical and human structure, valuing the investment made by the institution and narrowing the path from youth to professional.
