By Dennis Miller
The Ballistic United Soccer Club Abroad program is another option that allows the club to develop its players, not just on the field, but broaden their lives off the field.
The annual pilgrimage to England takes a mix of players overseas, with the focus on soccer, but also allowing for the players to absorb the culture of another country.
The nine-day trip was held over the course of spring for the Pleasanton Unified School District to minimize the amount of school the players incur.
Andrew Troncoso, an 8th grader at Harvest Park Middle School, was a member of the Ballistic travel party this year.
He enjoyed the cultural parts of the trip but make no mistake about what his favorite part of the trip involved – and it makes perfect sense.
“It was a very cool experience,” said Troncoso. “I got to play soccer overseas. I scored a goal in Europe – that was awesome!”
The players got to train on some club fields and play a few games against local youth teams but the chance to see and walk on English professional fields was next level.
There were visits to Stamford Bridge, the home stadium for Chelsea, as well as the iconic Anfield, the home stadium for Liverpool F.C.
“Anfield was pretty cool,” said Troncoso.
There were must-see sightseeing parts of the trip such as a river cruise around London Bridge, time in London, Stratford, Richmond, Chester, and Liverpool. They also got to check out some of the sites for the hit TV show Ted Lasso.
One instance of how cool something was, was the chance to go up in the London Eye, one of London’s best-known landmarks. What looks like a huge Ferris wheel, the Eye is the world’s largest cantilever observation wheel, standing 135-meters tall and has a different to see Londan.
“Those were some incredible views,” said Troncoso of the Eye. “It was pretty cool just to be able to see so much.”
They had a few matches against local youth teams and had some training on different club fields. But the trip always has been more than just time on the pitch. It’s cultural event as well, giving the young athletes a chance to experience some time halfway around the world.
All the transportation was by motorcoach with a tour guide making for a great bonding experience for the players, as well as a mobile classroom!
“You get to see part of the world you normally don’t get to,” said Troncoso. “And you’re with a group that share the same interest – you love soccer. I loved making friends and getting to people on the bus.”
For more information on the BUSC Abroad program, go to www.busc.org.
