The IFX program helped me get my foot in the door when nobody else could and has utterly…read moretransformed the trajectory of my life. I enrolled in the 30-day IFX-Pro and was placed in Nurnberg, Germany. Mike and Ronni made the process of getting over there and getting situated very easy. Once I was there, just like any football trial, the rest was up to me. I showed what I was capable of and they arranged trials for me that were commiserate with my playing level. They helped me with all the paperwork when I signed and I couldn't be more appreciative of all the assistance they gave me in helping get my life situated over there.
During my year and a half there, I got to watch a lot of American's come to trial and I helped a lot of them get settled in. Most believed that they belonged in the second or third division and thought Ronni was a fake for having them train with a sixth division team. I played in the fifth and sixth divisions and my teammates would laugh at the Americans who turned over every ball and would run all over the place like chickens with their heads cut-off as they did way too much in an effort to impress the coaches. Most of my teammates had played Youth Bundesliga and had a good grasp on what it took to make it in the professional ranks. What I learned from countless conversations with Ronni, Mike, owners of clubs, youth directors, coaches, players from all levels, and the wise old men who have been there every weekend since long before I was born, is that technical skill is a small piece of the pie (which everyone has) and athleticism is an even smaller piece. What separates players is thinking and moving in the right ways at the right times, foreign concepts to most American players.
IFX does not promise anyone a professional contract, that would be absurd and THAT would be a scam. What they promise is that they will place you in an environment where you will be challenged and where you can prove yourself. For some people who have been told they are "the greatest" their whole life but have never been challenged to adjust their ideas or be tactically aware, the 8th division in Germany can be tremendously challenging. For others who have had a very solid soccer education, IFX can provide an opportunity to play with other intelligent, capable players and further expand their understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels.
For anyone who wants to enroll in this program, ask yourself two things: 1) Am I ready to go to a place where the language and culture are foreign, where the structure of football is of the highest caliber and am I ready to compete and play my best everyday or am I just going to enjoy a little vacation and a kickabout? And 2) Can I handle being told I'm not good enough, observe what makes others elite, judge myself realistically (without the bias of "I was the best player where I'm from"), and put in the work to improve if necessary?
In a country that consistently finds itself in the semi-finals of major tournaments, wouldn't you think they're looking for the best talent at all times? So if you show that you're good enough to be in the higher divisions, one of the experienced coaches the program has assessing you will certainly make a recommendation. Mike and Ronni are not responsible for how good you are. They are not responsible for what you chose to eat, when you go to bed, whether you're homesick or spend all your money the first week. They put you in front of coaches who have shaped countless professionals and they expect you play your best. Remember, these coaches' own reputation is at stake when recommending players and any American must be better than what they can find in their own country... That's not IFX, that's how it is done in Europe.
Some of you may be reading this thinking, "He got a contract, of course he has good things to say." The fact is, IFX help me realize that I wasn't good enough to reach the serious professional ranks. The opportunity they gave me helped me understand what it was I lacked and how late I was in the developmental process. I worked tirelessly while I was there to ensure I did not waste the opportunities I had and thanks to IFX, Mike and Ronni, I seriously expanded my knowledge of football, Germany's youth, professional and amateur structure, as well as where American players and coaches fall short. So please, don't blame the program if you aren't ready to put in the work and expand your horizons. Use this program as an opportunity to grow as a player and as a person, whatever level you sign-up for.
