For the second consecutive year, Beachside’s U15 Academy and Premier teams traveled to Buenos Aires during their Spring Break to immerse themselves in the soccer-crazed culture of Argentina and to test themselves against teams from the youth academies of some of the country’s greatest professional clubs.
After spectating at the fierce Argentine derby of San Lorenzo versus Huracán, during the week, the Beachside teams played teams from San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors and Estudiantes. The visits to the youth campuses and facilities of the Argentine clubs were eye-opening as each club featured a different environment – from the relaxed country club vibe of Estudiantes to the hyper-intense professional atmosphere of Boca Juniors. Playing teams of such high quality with lineups likely featuring several future professionals was a great learning experience for the boys.
In addition to the games, the Beachside teams participated in a technical session with the coaches from Estudiantes emphasizing speed of play and transition through various 2v1, 2v2 and 3v2 drills. Beachside Director of Coaching, Mickey Kydes, and coaches, Shane Recklet and Javier Miraballes, took in the session and exchanged coaching philosophies on fitness and playing style with their Argentine counterparts.
In their free time between games, the players had the chance to visit the great stadiums such as River Plate’s Monumental and Boca Juniors La Bombonero and come to better understand the history and love of the sport in Argentina.
Both teams returned home looking forwarding to implementing what they learned in Argentina into their upcoming games and showcases.
Beachside would like to THANK Sergio Neveleff and his organization for making this experience a trip of a lifetime.
“Argentina is #1 in the world at producing top young players. Having the opportunity to play against these top teams and youth players is something our players will benefit from and never forget. The hospitality and openness from these clubs to share information was priceless. We look forward to building on these relationships moving forward.”
Mickey Kydes (Beachside Technical Director)
“It was a wonderful trip and the perfect mix of soccer and Argentine culture. It was especially amazing to witness the passion of the fans in San Lorenzo for the game we all love.”
Michael Ryan (Parent)
“The Club’s initiative to send its Academy and Premier players to train and play abroad is a fantastic step forward. The trip tightened the bonds between teammates, improved their technical skills and tactical awareness, and exposed our coaches to new ways of preparing our players that are already being implemented.”
– Jay Radecki (Parent)
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