Today we’d like to introduce you to Diego Ordaz.
Diego, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2016, I moved to Atlanta after 14 years of playing professional football (soccer) in Mexico. I needed new challenges after retiring. Thinking already in my future, when I retired, I also had just graduated as professional soccer manager/coach because I knew that was the next step in my life. Coming to the States, I knew soccer was growing so much and more in this city with the brand new MLS team, the Atlanta United.
So, while I was training – just for fun – with the Silverbacks, I decided to look for a job in a soccer academy, I had the chance to watch a few youth training and with my background, as someone who all he has done in his life is playing and training soccer, I knew there was something that was missing… something that needed to be done differently.
That’s when I decided that, instead of working in an academy and trying to explain to everyone what changes should be made… I started my own academy: Ordaz Soccer Academy (O.S.A).
In less than 2 years, we have open already 3 locations (Norcross our principal one, and then Smyrna and now Forest Park).
Our mission is to reinforce the habit in youths for practicing a sport, specifically soccer. But, providing to every category – no matter the level or age – a professional and high quality training.
What make us different? We don’t use parents or voluntaries as trainers at any level… not even at the “recreational” (the name of the category in all academies with kids that are starting, all academies use parents as coaches).
Kids that are starting with soccer are the ones that need the most! They need someone who knows how to teach the basics of soccer, the fundamentals. We want to develop players, to really teach them how to play better soccer. Because, we know that if they reach a good level of soccer in their life, that’s going to be an opportunity in the future for scholarships at colleges or even they could think in soccer as a profession.
In my years as a player, I had coaches who taught me to understand soccer, not only to play it, but to think on the field.
With the same objective I founded this academy, so that the children and young players that train with us, improve their technique but also learn how to make the best decisions in the field.
My philosophy is that a player with a good technique and who’s intelligent in the game decisions is the one that stands out in the field. That’s why each training I design for this academy, no mater the level or category, is designed to train and work the technique but with a tactical purpose.
All this without forgetting that the sport go hand in hand with a number of values that are learned when being part of a soccer team. Those values that I learned as a child, I want to instill in each player that is part of our academy; values such as fellowship, teamwork, discipline and respect. This is something that every player is going to serve well beyond the field.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. But, I guess it happens to everyone when they start a new project. If someone asks what has been the most difficult thing, I would say… having a field to train! Having the field space to train each afternoon with our kids. There are more than 80 soccer academies each with tens and tens of different locations in Atlanta and its metropolitan area. And almost all the parks are already occupied by these academies that actually have contracts with the different cities so that they can’t rent to other clubs.
At the beginning, we sent tons of emails and made tons of calls to different schools, counties, cities… and it was almost impossible to rent a field.
Finally, in the road we have found people that believe in our mentality and share our philosophy and important people in Norcross, Forest Park and Smyrna that have open the doors to us and have given their support to our program.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ordaz Soccer Academy (O.S.A) – what should we know?
Basically, our academy is known for being the only youth soccer academy affiliated to Georgia Soccer directed by a former professional player.
Why this is important? Because I care about soccer… I really do. My motivation is not money, it’s soccer itself… I do it because this is my life… this is what I have done for all my life and all I want is to transform my experience as a player, in a legacy for the young and new talents.
For us, not using parents or volunteers as coaches, are a way to respect the desire of young and new players to learn. Every coach that works with me knows how to teach, they know about soccer, they have played also professionally or have studied to teach it.
Our trainings are focused on developing technical skills and tactical comprehension, and our objective is that the children and young players that train with us, play with excellent technique and know how to make the best decisions in the field, and for that we need the best coaches.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First, the parents… each family that believes in our philosophy, that register their kids season after season and at every summer or winter camp we organize.
Of course, Smyrna, Norcross and Forest Park. In Norcros, Parks and Recreation where Jonathan King has become more like a mentor for us. He has guided us with his knowledge and experience in soccer programs, he was the first person in believing in our program and in opening the doors to our academy so that we could have a field to train in. Also, the department of Parks and Recreation of Forest Park, where we will start this season with a new and exciting program, begin the only soccer academy affiliated to Georgia soccer in Forest Park. And Cobb county, who opened to us the field in Campbell Middle school to have our location in Smyrna.
And of course, our trainers, Wilmer Lozano, Pierre Kaisin and Gerardo Morales, great professionals of soccer, that have understand our philosophy and without them this just could not be possible.
Contact Info:
- Address: Norcross > West Gwinnett Park and Aquatic Center
4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071Smyrna > Campbell Middle School (Stadium)
3295 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
Forest Park > Starr Park (Kiwanis Field)
5031 Park Ave, Forest Park, GA 30297 - Website: www.osacademy.org
- Phone: 4049810972 or 4703789612 for Spanish information
- Email: adriana@osacademy.org / diego@osacademy.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osacademy_atl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrdazSoccerAcademy
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/OrdazSoccerAcademy/videos/950039825159085/
Image Credit:
Photos by Ordaz Soccer Academy
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