Another soccer: without million-dollar fees, with burning eyes and plans for the future

For the second year in a row, Moscow hosts the Student Champions Cup soccer tournament among teams from Moscow universities.

A total of 120 teams from various Moscow universities, including 9 women’s teams, registered for the tournament. The best teams of last year’s “Student Cup” immediately got into the 1/16 playoffs. The rest were divided into groups of three teams each. Only one team came out of the group.

Not long ago, the final of the tournament was held, where teams from MIREA and MPGU played against each other. The winner of the SCCH-2018 was the team from MIREA.

“Championship” talked to the winner of the tournament “Student Champions Cup”, as well as the coach of the team of MIREA Alexei Menshenin and found out how the composition of the national team of the university is formed, what are the restrictions in student soccer, who appoints the coach of the team, as well as how often the students-football players have training. Alexey is only 23 years old, but he has been coaching the national team of his university for four years already, so he knows firsthand about the most important aspects of university soccer.

University team and professional club

First of all, it is important to note that in student soccer, as in professional soccer, a player can play for the national team of his university and club. However, unlike professional soccer, where national team and club matches do not take place on the same day, in college soccer they can coincide. Therefore, some players who already play in a professional club may not often play for their university’s national team.

Alexei Menshenin: “When I was in my 2-3rd year, I played in the third division and trained there. Now we have several players who also have professional contracts. One is even captain of the Lokomotiv youth squad. Another student plays in the third division. We also have a player from the Russian youth national team. Of course, they can’t play often for the university team, but when it’s an important game, they can come to support us.”

How is the roster for the season formed?

The roster for the season is chosen by the coach of the team. In addition to him, the team captain and some of the experienced players on the main roster may also be involved in the selection.

“I am 23 years old now, and it so happens that I have been the coach of the MIREA team for four years now. Our coach was fired, and slowly everything was handed over to me. That’s why I am the one who conducts trainings and selects players for the team. I also invite experienced guys from the team who can share their opinions. Together with them we select people until we have a squad at the end.”

Player selection for the team is held in September, at the beginning of the school year.
“Each time more people come to the tryouts, last time 180 people came to the tryouts.”

How do you get on the team?

Of course, an important aspect of selecting a player for the team is the level of play.

“First of all we select guys who fit the level, then on additional aspects. For example, who came from the sports school, we find out his position. There are also internal tournaments at the university. There we watch the guys and if someone did not pass the first time, he can try to qualify again.”

In college soccer, it’s important to choose the optimal roster for the entire season. You have to take into account that players have to attend classes in addition to practicing. Also, some college tournaments are held during the session, which makes it difficult for the coach. Therefore, for some important match they simply can’t attend.

“Not many guys can attend all the games in the season: some because of studies, some because of work. Of course, we have players who can come to all the games and those who 2-3 times when it will be necessary to help the team. For example, we have five goalkeepers in the national team. There have been times when there were not enough players and we let some of them out as a field player. Therefore, the specifics of college soccer is to choose the optimal lineup for the whole season, because many people have credits, work. It’s more difficult than in professional soccer.”

Limitations of college soccer

The roster changes once a year, as it is necessary to find replacements for students who have graduated. Also, students can only play for the team until they are 25 years old.

“If a person is let in, he or she is no longer allowed to play according to the regulations. Of course, everything depends on the regulations, but mostly full-time students play. Bachelors and masters students can also play, but until the age of 25. In basketball, for example, you can’t play if you haven’t passed the session.”

How many people can be selected for the season?

Here it is important to take into account the regulations of the tournament itself, in which the national team will participate, because each competition has its own regulations, which specify the maximum number of players.

“For example, for the Moscow University Sports Games you can apply for 50 people, but this rarely happens. We get about 30-40 people.”

Who appoints the national team coach?

The appointment of the head coach is different at each university. It all depends on how interested the administration and students are in the development of soccer at their institution. In universities where the structure works properly, the coach is appointed by the administration. The head of the department of physical education can appoint the coach of the national team. Some universities invite a professional coach. Sometimes they just appoint a faculty member who understands soccer.

“I, for example, was appointed by our former captain. I was first given administrative functions (applications, documentation, communication with the university administration), and then I became a coach.”
The team captain, as in professional soccer, is appointed by the coach.
“Selecting a captain is the job of the team coach. Usually captains are appointed by a general vote. With us, I appointed him, I chose the most experienced one.”

Practices: how often do they take place?

Each team practices differently. However, on average, each team practices at least 1-2 times a week.

“We have, for example, two practices a week for soccer in the summer. In the spring and fall we play a lot of soccer outside. In the winter, we also try to practice once or twice a week.”

Student teams fall into two categories: those who have their own fields and those who have to rent them.

“We have a base that was built two years ago, and for games we rent a field from CSKA. Almost 80 percent of universities do that because they don’t have their own fields. Our university also has the most accessible gymnasium and swimming pool.”

However, there may be problems with training, because many players play at sports schools. After graduation, such players usually move on to the Moscow championship (third or fourth division). In professional clubs, of course, the load is greater and training every day. Because of this, many players do not have time, in addition, the whole team turns out to be of different levels.

“With some we have an agreement. If they have training at the club and at us on the same day, they can go to the club. But when they have training there and we have a game, they go to us. In other countries, for example, university sport is already considered a lower division, from there a player can immediately become a professional footballer. In our country, unfortunately, you have to combine it”.

How do universities help soccer students?

The university should provide students with the necessary equipment for games, balls. Also, some universities have a system of encouraging student-athletes. For example, if a student who plays for the university team has closed the session without any threes, he can get an increased scholarship.

“At us, for example, the social work department is interested in the development of student sports. We cooperate with them closely. Every year they buy us uniforms, balls. The student sports club also helps, it represents the interests of the national team.”

In addition to players, university teams also have their own managers who help the team: organizing events, running the official pages of the national team in social networks. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be run by the players themselves, it’s often students who just love the sport.

Tournaments in student soccer

During the season there are competitions in mini-soccer and big soccer. That is, players play a full season: big soccer, 13 games; indoor soccer, about 19.

“Basically, of course, two tournaments, but other tournaments can occur in parallel. It turns out that the workload is 1-2 matches per week. There are also traditional student competitions. For example, the Student Champions Cup, which is organized by Nike for the second year. This year we just won it. Then there are a few competitions close to student competitions, they are organized by clubs.”

The challenges of college sports:

• Adaptation. “When you come to the team, you have to realize that soccer is an adult sport here. You may have people on the team with you who are five or six years older than you, they will be more experienced. It’s important to readjust.
• Organization. “A game can be scheduled for three o’clock in the afternoon, and some people have classes until 6pm. Plus, at many universities, attendance is strictly regulated.”
• Practices. “It’s easier for teams that have a one-year lease or their own field, because they don’t have to think about where to practice. If you don’t have your own field, you have to rent it. There are various overlaps, for example, if training is at six o’clock, many have to travel from the other end of Moscow after a couple”.