Sammy Giraldo (the mule).
Director of Coaching/Lead trainer
Sammy is the driving engine for GEF, one of the most disciplined guys you will ever meet, over-preparation is his motto. He is intense and takes what he does very seriously. Sammy went to graduate school to study forensic anthropology but after finishing his degree realized that he enjoyed working with living humans much more than a pile of bones. Sammy is a passionate, focused leader and his nickname (the mule) comes from his willingness to go the extra mile in anything he sets out to do. His biggest satisfaction comes from creating opportunities for youth players to realize their dreams of having soccer careers while also focusing on developing individuals who will be leaders and innovators in our society. Sammy will invest in your development more than you can imagine.
Style of play: pass first mentality, always looking to get teammates involved, technical player that is effective without being flashy.
Areas of Expertise: possession and attacking tactics, specializes in identifying and correcting technical errors, focus on player decision making and nurtures creativity through sometimes unorthodox methods
Sebastian Giraldo (la mente)
Technical/Player Development Coordinator/Lead Trainer
With Seb comes assertiveness and passion, he is fast and decisive. He is a straight shooter with a direct approach, never one for small talk or ambiguous explanations. What you see is what you get with Seb. The most interesting asset that Seb possesses is his brain . His record in both academia and athletics is to brag for including several high caliber international job offers. In his late 20s, he is currently a PhD candidate in one of the top sport management programs in the nation at the University or Texas-Austin. His nickname (the mind) comes from his ability to grasp complex ideas much faster than average person which leaves people often wondering what his trick is. Seb loves to have a laugh and challenge his players, and by the way 'sarcasm' is his middle name? you've been warned!
Style of Play: creative and quick decision maker, technical but unorthodox at times in dribbling and taking players on, prefers a possession game with a Latin flare, excellent vision and anticipation.
Areas of Expertise: dribbling and ball control, defensive tactics and principles, teaching a possession game but with an aggressive attacking mentality, cognitive components of player development.
Dr. Jose Giraldo (el maestro)
Youth Development/Trainer
The experience and knowledge of El Maestro makes him very analytical about the game. Jose is constantly generating innovative ideas to improve player training. El Maestro is an "outside of the box" thinker and is known for his creative approaches to teaching the game. He has an unbelievable connection with youth players and is a role model for all GEF staff. El Maestro is like a magician and has breakthroughs with players when no one else can. Jose believes that each person is different in all aspects including the learning component and prides himself on being able to help any individual. El Maestro holds a Ph.D in Mathematics and brings to the soccer field the learning theories he uses in the college classroom. Soccer and teaching are his true passions. In the classroom, he presents himself as the Math Coach, not as the Math Professor.
Style of Play: old school defender, effective but likes to spend little time with the ball at his feet, aggressive and strong, has moments of trickery, defensive leader
Areas of Expertise: 1 v 1 defending, team defending, development and learning of youth players, expert in teaching and instruction
Adam Ramos (youngun)
Trainer
Not only is Adam known by most coaches in the area from his playing days, but he is now a rising young star for GEF. Adam played at the highest competitive level during his youth years and continues to play whenever he gets a chance. Being the youngest in his family, Adam watched his older siblings play a lot of soccer and began to teach himself the game at an early age through imitation and trial and error. This comes into his style of training/teaching where Adam forces players to think and react without being given instruction all the time. During his development as a player, Adam never received the proper instruction that would have probably propelled a player of his talents to the next level. Unfortunately Adam is a prime example of a highly skilled, talented player who had all the chances to make it into an elite system but due to the lack of a development program in the area was not equipped with the necessary tools to breakthrough. Adam has made it his mission to make sure this does not happen with the new generation of players in the area.
Style of Play: Quick counter attacks, prefers to play on the wing, fast and aggressive dribbling sequences, likes to cross and create opportunities
Areas of Expertise: Shooting and finishing, 1 v 1 dribbling, technical passing and receiving.
PHILOSOPHY
Our training philosophy and development program is based on a combination of academic research, training education/coaching materials from all over the world, trainer experiences and knowledge, and an enthusiastic commitment to developing players that are able to transition and succeed in elite soccer systems.