Texas Rush Soccer player Koby Carr shares European experience

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Texas Rush Soccer Club player Koby Carr (U-18 DA Boys) recently returned from his international trip to Europe after representing the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team, April 24-28 in Trnava, Slovakia.

“This was definitely an experience of a lifetime that I could not have obtained without the help of Texas Rush and its staff," Carr said. "Texas Rush has not only built me as a player, but as a person as well. Rush has taught me how to deal with difficulties in life and how to handle them. The club has also taught me how to face challenges and adversities in which I needed for this call up. If I did not have this soccer club in my life, I don’t know where I would be.”

The club asked Koby a few questions in regards to his experience.

Q. What was the most enjoyable part of the trip?

A. I think the most enjoyable part of the trip was not only representing my country, but also being around players who have the same aspirations in the game of soccer as I do.

Q: What were the three main things that you took away from this trip?

A. Three main things I took away from this trip were: you can always work harder even if you are the hardest worker, I must improve my technical ability to get to the next level and I need to study and understand all of the positions I play in order to become a complete player.

Q. What were the main challenges that you faced throughout the trip?

A. The main challenges I faced when playing in this camp was the speed of play and knowing where the next pass should go when the ball came to me. The pace of the game was much higher than I was used to and I had to adapt to it when I started my first game against Hungary. In cooperation with the speed of play, my understanding of where the ball needed to go next when it came to my feet was a whole other challenge.

Q. If there was one thing that stood out that you will never forget from your experience, what was it?

A. The one thing that stood out to me during this international call up was that although I may think I am a good player, there are other players out there who have better aspects in their game in which I need to match. Whether it be from my country or another, there will always be a player better than me, which means I need to train harder and harder everyday in order to catch that player.

Q. How can the things you have learned on the trip now translate or help you move forward positively as an individual player or for your club team?

A. With the things I have learned from this camp, I feel that I can help my club by pushing my teammates to the level that this camp pushed me. Now that I have an understanding in what it takes to become a national team player, I can now help my teammates reach the level that it takes to become one.

Q. What’s your personal goal for the next 12 months?

A. My personal goal for the next 12 months is to be called back into the national team and to lead this year’s and next year’s team to the playoffs. In order for me to take this initiative, I must work harder than anybody on and off the field. Whether it be from putting the right nutrients in my body, or to scoring goals, I will lead my team to success.

Q. If you have any advice to a younger player in the club, what would it be?

A. If I had to give any advice to a younger player, I would say that you have to work harder than all of the teammates around you and you have to give up things in life in order to become successful. I have had to give up a great amount of things in my life, but all of the sacrifices I have made have allowed me to become the player and person I am today.

Game results:

• USA vs. Hungary 1-1 (Tied)
• USA vs. Belarus 2-1 (Won)
• USA vs. Slovakia 1-1 (Won 4-3 PK’s)
• USA Winner of Group B
• USA vs. Russia 1-3 Final (Lost)