It is a joy to watch those that have been born with a gift, especially in the case of soccer or football or futbol! We think of Messi, Mbappe, Neymar, DiMaria, the list goes on...

Young, developing soccer players need support and guidance to hone their gift. To support their natural instinct and hold them to high personal standards.

I was lucky enough to get a behind the scenes look into how River Plate, one of the world's most prolific factories of professional footballers, guides and supports these young players. And I was fortunate enough to see this at the youngest ages - the 6, 7, and 8 year olds who are small in stature but carry a power and confidence on the field that is a delight to watch.

I was able to meet with their coaches, learn about their football development methods, and learn the secrets that most people never get the opportunity to hear.

Culture is so deeply intertwined with football in Argentina that I couldn't touch this topic without paying it proper respect, and I was told about these topics - sport parent behavior, pressure and expectations, professionalism and respect - directly by the coaches responsible for creating the next Claudio Echeverri (River Plate's most recent superstar recently purchased by Manchester City), Pablo Aimar, Alexis Sanchez, or Gonzalo Higuain.

Sure, there is no denying that the road to becoming a professional footballer is long, difficult, and full of challenges. Talent alone is not enough to make it to the top. The youth soccer coaches at River Plate understand this and they work very hard to keep the boys level headed. They also guide the parents to act in a supportive way without putting too much pressure on their child.

The whole day - from the pizza barbecue to the road trip to the ballers on the pitch - was an absolute treat and I'm so excited to share it with you!

I am so grateful for this opportunity and the people of Argentine football have continually opened their doors to us here!

There’s so much more to come, so don’t forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you can see the next one!

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