Interview

Here is an interview I did that was just posted on Pro Soccer Weekly:

PSW: Kyle, tell us a little bit about yourself, specifically how you got interested in playing soccer.
KK: I grew up around guys who loved the game. Every time I would see them we would play. Everyday, day or night, this is how we spent our time. That is how it all started for me.

PSW: What are your strengths are as a player and what position do you typically play?
KK: I take great pride in my technical, tactical, and organizational abilities. I enjoy putting in the extra time to work on things that I can improve. My desire to improve and my love for the game has allowed me to pursue the opportunities I'm exploring now.

I studied Mechanical Engineering at university and I think these skills apply well in both areas of my life. Also, I am fortunate to come from an athletic family - my father threw the javelin after college, my mother played softball professionally, and my sister played and coached volleyball in college.

My coach at UC-Santa Barbara, Tim Vom Steeg, taught me to love playing centerback. An intelligent centerback can be the quarterback of a team: starting the attack, controlling the pace of the game, organizing his teammates, and being the leader on the field.

PSW: How did you find yourself in Europe?
KK: I found some people that believe in me, one of them being my agent Marc Rohrer, and we have been working towards a common goal ever since.

But had I never met Marc, I would have simply bought a ticket over here and improvised along the way. Knocking on the doors of clubs with my shoes in hand and asking to play. If you want something bad enough, then go for it. This is something my parents instilled in me.

PSW: Can you talk about living in Europe and any culture shocks you've experienced?
KK: I have grown immensely from living in Europe for the past several months. Being over here forces an individual to be much more responsible for his actions. You have to keep asking yourself questions to keep yourself in check. For example: does the train ticket you just bought need to be validated? If not, that's a $60 fine and the German authorities don't accept the excuses "I forgot" or "the machine is broken" (I know from experience). It's sort of like that scene from The Last Crusade where Indiana Jones throws the German guy out of the blimp and then says to the other passengers "No ticket."

No culture shocks yet, but lately I have been craving some good Mexican food.

PSW: Can you mention some of your experiences while on trial in Europe?
KK: One of the very first things I noticed here, after coming from the college game and PDL, was the speed of play. Every player here, even down to the fifth division, is technically sound, understands tactics, and tackles well. There is a big emphasis on winning your individual "sweikampf" or 50/50 battle. So much so that it's a stat used for game and player analysis.

To talk a little about the places I've been, I was first evaluated at FC Lucerne in Switzerland, by former Swiss national coach, Rolf Fringer. I remember his office was very humble and the floor was lined with artificial grass. Mr. Fringer told me that I possess all the tools to be a great centerback and that he expected to see me in the top division within the next 1-2 years. Hearing this from him helped me to believe what Marc had already been telling me.

One of the more interesting experiences came when I was with FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt. On my first day they did lactic acid threshold test training. Blood samples were drawn from our ears and our heart rates were measured at different stages of difficulty in a run. Coming from the States, that was a first for me.

PSW: You have had a lot of success going back to the Santa Clara Sporting Ruckus (US Club Soccer National Champions in 2003), the University of California – Santa Barbara (NCAA National Champions in 2006), and the Ventura County Fusion (PDL National Champions 2009). What have you learned from all of this early success?
KK: That it comes at the most unexpected hours; and sometimes not at all. I have learned to find my enjoyment in the process, but I understand results are what a professional plays for.

PSW: What was it like playing for the Ventura County Fusion in the USL PDL last season?
KK: The Ventura County Fusion was the most professional team I had been with up to that point. Our uniforms were clean and laid out before training, our sessions were very sharp and organized, everyone from the general manager down to the equipment manager was very professional. Also, the team was composed of many guys who had experience in the MLS, A-League (USL 1), and even international level and were looking to return - Brennan Tennelle, Ivan Becerra, Alfonso Motagalvan, Bryan Byrne, Adam Smarte, Henry Brauner, Anthony Hamilton, and Andrew Villalobos just to name a few.

UC-Santa Barbara was a big step forward from club soccer, and yet the Fusion were another level with the team and club structure in place.

PSW: What do you think it will take for soccer to become more popular within the world of American sports?
KK: I did a report on this for a class my freshman year at uni. What I believe it ultimately comes down to is that the sport needs more heroes, a soccer equivalent of a LeBron James that kids can grow up watching and say to themselves: why not me?

PSW: What do you feel is the best way for the U.S. to develop its young talent?
KK: Create a culture in which a love of the game is instilled in players. I got my love of the game from playing with my friends. What good is a young superstar if he doesn't enjoy playing and improving on his ability?

PSW: Do you feel that top young players should play college soccer even if it doesn’t allow them to begin their professional career at the same age as players in other countries typically start theirs?
KK: It depends on what that player wants to do in life. If all he has ever dreamed about was being a professional then who are we to stop him? However, if the player realizes that the average career does not go much past the age of 30 (unless maybe he is a keeper) and wants to have something to fall back on, then he or she should pursue a degree while playing in college.

PSW: What are your feelings about this quote from a recent interview that I conducted with Hugo Perez “college soccer has to play year-round, or at least have two seasons. The current system pushes the players back four years in their development in soccer because they only play for four months. Everyone else in the world is already ahead four years.”?
KK: Interesting statement. I am all in favor of extending the college season, but every college program is unique to the players and staff that make it. Yes, the college season may only last for four months, but do the players not play outside of those four months? Does the staff not continue to teach the team in pre and post season? I believe that if players and coaches stop working to improve because the four month college season has ended, then that is a completely different problem.

PSW: Given your experiences in Europe, what do you think about so many of the top young U.S. players going to European clubs and how do you think this affects their development?
KK: Again, it completely depends on the individual. If the player can derive all of his enjoyment from playing and developing his game, then great. But one of the biggest obstacles with going oversees is how a player reacts to the culture. If a player is not comfortable, his game will suffer. It's been said, that if you bring a Brazilian player to Germany you will have to bring three additional Brazilians just so the first will play well.

PSW: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment thus far in soccer?
KK: That I am still able to play and pursue my childhood dream of playing soccer professionally. In the first five minutes of my senior year at UC-Santa Barbara, I got stuck in an awkward challenge and came out with a broken fibula. Sitting back for 3 months and watching your senior year pass by without you does something to an individual. I feel very fortunate every time I am able to step on the pitch.

PSW: Going forward, what would you like to achieve in soccer?
KK: The same things that every other kid wants to do: play for my country, play for Barcelona, and play pick-up with Zizou. Really though, I hope to play at the highest level possible for as long as my career allows.

I have enjoyed every minute of this journey. Although I am happy, I'm not satisfied. There's a quotation from John Wooden that I like: "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." I think that's what it's all about -- constantly striving to reach your highest potential.