Chapter 3: The First Session “Escribe Tu Historia”

Returning to our first athlete, who started with us at the age of 9 and is now 14, his journey serves as an essential chapter in the story of AB Futbol Training (ABFT). Time has flown by, but recounting their progress is important because every athlete has a unique narrative, and this one set the foundation for ABFT.

When we first embarked on this journey, our slogan was "Escribe Tu Historia" (Write Your Story) because our first athlete was achieving remarkable milestones in what seemed like a short period and writing his own story in soccer. While not diminishing the significant role parents and coaches play in their development, I'll focus on my perspective.

Our first athlete arrived with a strong heart and passion for the game, but there was room for improvement in terms of technical skills and self-confidence on the field. That first training session made a strong impression on me. While the 9 year old kid had a long way to go in terms of development, I saw the potential for improvement. I couldn't bear the thought of not doing anything to help him progress. So, I agreed to another training session. The surprise came during the second session. Everything we had worked on during the first day, which had been a challenge for the young athlete, was executed flawlessly on the second day. I was genuinely astonished by the transformation I witnessed. It was at that moment I realized the power I held in my hands, the ability to help shape young soccer players into something more.

At the time, he played for Tuzos B, which was the second team in their category. After a few weeks of training with Coach AB, their father shared that his son’s game was improving, and they would begin promoting him to Team A.

While he didn't get much playing time initially, he was now part of a more competitive group. Months later, he became a regular starter, and that's when the father began receiving inquiries from other parents. They wanted to know what his son was doing and where he was getting his training. His father shared our contact information, and that's when more young athletes started coming our way.

To accommodate the growing demand, we began recruiting additional coaches.

This approach has been our way of promoting ABFT. When the young athletes perform well on the field, it reflects positively on their team, and that, in turn, attracts more parents and players. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. If they do well, we do well. I see it as a mutual benefit, where the athletes' success is a testament to the quality of our training, and their progress helps us expand our community. It's a story of growth, driven by the dedication and accomplishments of our athletes, that has made AB Futbol Training what it is today.

With this realization, I made the decision to continue coaching this young athlete. This experience ignited a passion within me to work with aspiring soccer players, and from there, AB Futbol Training was born. The journey that began with a simple request from a persistent father had set me on a new path as a coach and mentor, one that would ultimately lead me to share my knowledge, experiences, and love for the game with countless others.