As the head men’s soccer coach at the University of California, Los Angeles, Sigi Schmid made it an annual tradition to pair seniors with incoming freshmen as a way to pass down the values of the program.
Upperclassmen forwards would partner with underclassmen forwards and wingbacks with wingbacks, imparting not just mentorship but the occasional on-field skill.
“I think that’s also been a tradition in soccer,” Schmid explained. “Every player, if you talk to him, I’m sure there’s a player who really helped him and influenced him.”
It’s an idea Schmid has carried over to the pros, from the Galaxy to the Crew to the Sounders.