Bo Nielsen, Jen Lalor-Nielsen and Johnson Asiedu

San Diego Soccer News: The San Diego Football Academy Launches 

A new soccer academy premiers in San Diego this month and it is focused on training today's soccer youth who want to become professional soccer players.  I interviewed Johnson Asiedu and Bo Nielsen on the new academy.

Johnson Asiedu is the founder of the San Diego Football Academy and the Director of Coaching for Boys.  U.S. Women’s National team and Women’s World Cup soccer star Jen Lalor-Nielsen is Director of Coaching for Girls. Bo Nielsen is Director of Speed and Conditioning.  The club will practice in the Santaluz / Camino Del Sur area.

SN:  Congratulations on launching a new youth soccer academy. 

Johnson: “Thank you.  We are really excited about opening the San Diego Football Academy.  I have always dreamed about doing this.”

SN: What do you think about U.S. youth soccer?

Johnson: “I believe U.S. Soccer needs to make some changes, to develop the technical ability we saw in the last World Cup.  What is missing in our game are ‘Play Makers’.   One cannot get through the big tournaments without a Play Maker, it is not possible.  America is close. It seems like we are almost there.  But we have more to do." 

Pro Soccer Players trained by Johnson Asiedu last week on Friday, January 14, 2011. Left to Right: Rhett Berstein (leaving to Norway, Mjodalen), Adrain Avilla,  Nick Perera - San Diego Sockers, Blake Wagner - Vancouver Whitecaps, Connor Chinn - NY Red Bulls, Eric Avilla - FC Dallas, Coach Johnson Asiedu and Jamal Wallas - Seattle Sounders.

Johnson Asiedu has successfully trained several youth soccer players who became MLS pros. His players think he has the answers, and this is why, whenever they are in town, these pros call him and try to get a training session with him.  Do we need another youth soccer option?   Yes, say the pros, “if it with Johnson.”

SN:  Why are you opening a new soccer club?

Johnson: “I want to create a youth soccer program that develops players who are technically great. The Academy will focus on developing the required technical skills to become a great play maker."

Bo: “Johnson Asiedu is focused on developing players with a comprehensive tactical and technical understanding of soccer.  My wife Jen and I share the vision.  We agree these are the required foundations that create a soccer player who will win.”

SN: How will your soccer academy be different than the youth soccer clubs in Southern California?

Johnson Asiedu provides step-by-step guidance on how to improve a pro player's soccer skills.

"Many soccer clubs have to please parents who are just looking for a great season or two. Soccer is a business in Southern California and many boards and DOCs do not really have the philosophy in place from the beginning and then are pressured to continually adjust their programs. One of the big differences with SDFA; the board will not have any influence on the day-to-day operations. This will set us apart from the competition."

SN: Bo, how did you get involved?

Bo: "Johnson Aseidu, who has just left his position as Director of Coaching for the San Diego Sharks Soccer Club simply said that it would be nice if we would join him in this new Academy."

SN: Why you?

Bo: "Johnson approached Jen and I because of what we do; we do individual player development with a serious emphasis on tactical and technical aspects of soccer. Johnson's vision aligns perfectly with what I believe in as a coach and how I was developed as a player. The academy is offering me the freedom to really teach skills, which is my passion."

Johnson: "Yes, that's right. Bo one of the best trainers I have met and if you talk to anyone who is familiar with the U.S. Women's National team, Jen is recognized as one of the most technically advanced players and trainers in the country. Jen and Bo have been working with youth soccer players privately and have a great connection with their clients. Jen is wonderful, personable, and outgoing and Bo was one of Jen's trainers years ago and helped improve her game. The players at our academy are going to be very fortunate to work with them."

SN: Johnson, why did you leave Sharks?

Johnson: "That is a whole different story – we wanted to go in different directions. For me, the game always comes first."

SN: What could a parent expect at the San Diego Football Academy?

Johnson: "Practice three times a week – all structured. The San Diego Football Academy will develop soccer players who have the skills to succeed at the pro level."

"So often, the DOC (Director of Coaching) hires a soccer coach and gives him a team, and no one really knows how the coach is coaching and what he does in his practice session. The San Diego Football Academy is different. We have a blueprint for technical coaching."

Bo: "Coaches come to a club, and bring their teams with them all the time. Because players, teams and coaches come and go and switch clubs and new board members join, there is an ever changing vision. This can be very hard for our youth players who experience a different coaching style and approach to player development every year or two."

"I have had players tell me that 'My first coach focused on technical skills and then my next coach focused on long balls and running. The following year, the coach was so focused on winning that he told us what to do every moment we were on the field.' This does not exist in Europe. This confuses players more than it helps their development."

SN: What do you recommend?

Johnson: "Consistency. For example, all soccer practices start with an hour of technical training. This is very important. Our soccer training focuses on the development of our individual players."

Bo: "Team practices will all start with the ball; learning how to handle the ball. The focus will be on improving technique. Collecting, dribbling, and kicking the ball. This is needed for real individual player development."

"We are committed to training soccer players who want to play soccer."

Johnson: "This is an academy; our goal is to develop the total soccer player. In the future, the San Diego Football Academy will also offer tutors to help with school work before and/or after practice so the player's academics are focused on as well. Great players need to also have good grades to take advantage of a scholarship at a Division 1 college."

SN: What do you think of the American college soccer system?

Johnson: "The U.S. system is the best in the world in many ways. Here, every kid can find a level to play soccer at and a scholarship if they have good grades. Maybe not at a college or university in California or on a Division 1 team, but players in the U.S. have opportunities that do not exist in Europe."

SN: How can you help your players get into the pro circuit and obtain scholarships? This is important to many parents.

Johnson: "We have the contacts and connections at the best colleges and at the professional level. We can absolutely help our players reach their goals."

Bo: "All of us have players go pro and join the MLS or play in Europe. We have helped players reach their dreams before and will again in the future. "

CoCo Goodson, UCI NCAA All American 2010 says  "I have trained with Bo since I was 13 years old. As a coach, Bo is truly amazing. His role in my development as a youth player has been essential. Bo made me faster, increased my skill level, and worked hard to enhance my free kicks. Looking back I think Bo also did a fantastic job understanding me as a person, sometimes you need someone that is not your club coach or family member to talk to. Coach Bo helped me put life into perspective and focus on the things I could control. I highly recommend Coach Bo to anyone who wants to be the best they can possibly be and make it to the next level."

"Players need a strong foundation. Developing a soccer player is a progression. The continuity of the development of a youth soccer player is new in America."

"Players need to develop the ability to solve situations on the field by themselves. This is what we will do. Johnson's players know what to do – as they are educate."

"The San Diego Football Academy is different, we welcome coaches, teams and players but here we all have to agree that technical training is the foundation and our coaches have to share the same philosophy."

Johnson: "It is easier abroad, where everyone is on the same page and works towards the same goal."

SN: What is the goal in Europe?

Bo: "To create players who are technically strong, physically strong, and mentally strong and have been through a progression, over time, that has provided a strong foundation for success."

Johnson: "I know we can develop soccer players that can compete internationally and make the difference playing professionally in the MLS or in Europe."

SN: Why is teaching skills so important?

Bo: "It is the foundation of everything."

SN: Do most youth soccer clubs focus on skills?

Bo: "Not really, most focus on size and speed; they want big and fast players. Dominating the air does not automatically mean controlling the ball."

SN: What is your preferred style of play? Your favorite European team?

Bo: "A great example of good soccer is Barcelona. An example of good soccer is the Barcelona-style of play. Nothing excites me more than watching them play, that is my team."

SN: How are you going to protect yourself from the politics of the soccer clubs?

Bo: "If you do your job at practice, parents and players will understand the difference and they can choose from there. This is parent education time. The mentality of parents living through their kids, it is not the player's egos but the parents that are so consumed with the desire to win the game they are watching instead of keeping their eye on the big picture and the reason they are paying thousands of dollars a year and driving to endless soccer practices. The big picture, the finish line to cross is to provide players with a real chance of going pro."

SN: What do you think the response is going to be?

Bo: "Huge, I think people are really tired of running from one club one team to another."

SN: What does it take to be a good coach?

Bo: "Being a good professional soccer player does not mean you would automatically become a talented or good coach nor that you can recognize soccer talent. Being a good communicator is very important as a coach."

SN: When are tryouts?

Johnson: "Tryouts are on 31st of January and we look forward to seeing players there. Tryout Info."

SN: What ages will the San Diego Football Academy train?

Johnson: "From U7 to U18 and eventually U23 who can play on the semi pro level."

SN: Who should show up at your Tryouts?

Bo: "Whoever is ready to learn and develop with time. Top players who realize this is a marathon and not a sprint, who seriously want to explore becoming a professional and become the best they can be.  As our website says EXISTO OPTIMUS UT VOS CAN EXSISTO."

Related articles:  Tips for Success at Soccer Tryouts and Coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen

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Johnson Asiedu is the founder and the Director of Coaching for Boys.  U.S. Women’s National team and Women’s World Cup soccer star Jen Lalor-Nielsen is Director of Coaching for Girls.  Bo Nielsen is Director of Speed and Conditioning.  San Diego Football Academy website