Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Hood.
Hi Alexander, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a soccer coach, I have had multiple players stop and ask me, “What is it?” – only for me to catch myself shaking my head and smiling as I watch them progress through a newly taught skill.
FIND THE 90 is the product of trials, errors, progress, setbacks, aspirations, disappointments, accomplishments, and a realization that I had become what I had long been searching for. My love for coaching soccer was not something that suddenly blossomed within me. This passion was planted early in my life, a seedling that slowly demanded more and more of my attention as the light that nurtured it gave way to shade.
As a young player, I was nothing like some of the natural talents you see. Even for my local team, I began as the player who would do one half in the goal and the other half in whatever position needed filling. An opportunity to try out for an elite club in the region further highlighted just how wide this gap was between myself and the best players. However, where I did stand out was in my athleticism and a severe allergy to losing. Placed on the B team halfway through their season, I was told by the soccer coach that A wouldn’t even be a possibility until I could do at least 100 juggles. With clear communication on what I needed to do to progress, my determination to win made me and the ball best friends. Months later, I was once again meeting new players – this time as a core member of the A team.
This was the start of my obsession to be the best every time I stepped on the field. As a self-motivated kid, my greatest hurdle to improving was access to high-level coaching and the guidance it provided. To get this, my parents would pile me, my brothers, and the rest of our carpool crew into the minivan and make the 1-1.5 hour trek around the D.C. beltway 4-6 times/ week. I would train before practice, do my practice, hop in my older brother’s practice, and then come home and do push-ups and sit-ups.
When I couldn’t get to club training, I became a coach for myself and my friends (all of whom would go on to play Division I and professional soccer). I would scour the internet for articles and videos of ways to improve different aspects of the game like dribbling, passing, and shooting. If I couldn’t find the ideal drill, I would devise something on my own. Hours, days, even weeks would be spent combing through a skill until I finally had it straight. While this trial-and-error method was not the most efficient, it was what I had.
Because neither of my parents came from a soccer background, we rarely knew what the best course of action was until the results were seen – Should we change clubs? What areas of my game need improving? How do I get recruited by a college team? – At each stage in my career, I continued to think that there had to be a better way to navigate the soccer landscape.
Looking back, the light alone would not have been enough to cause that seedling to grow into the mature evergreen it is today. My success as a soccer coach has resulted from the many missteps I made as a player. These shortcomings highlighted just how much was missing in the world of player development and have motivated me to make the journeys of my players as fun and rewarding as possible. While no longer pursuing my dreams of reaching soccer’s biggest stages as a player, I still cannot help but smile and shake my head as I think of how jealous my younger self would be to have this resource.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
• Access to high-level coaching
• Mentorship – The game is 95% mental, but, in my experience, most coaching tends to focus on the actions of the game and overlooks the thoughts behind them
• Multiple injuries as a player
• A non-linear recruiting path to a collegiate soccer team
• The pressure I placed upon succeeding blinding me to fun
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
FIND THE 90 is a professional soccer training service focused on providing aspiring players with the tools and insight needed to reach the next level. We believe every athlete’s potential should only be limited by their own resolve to succeed. Through personalized training that’s tailored to meet the needs of each individual, players will not only see physical weaknesses become strengths but also fine-tune the frequently neglected mental and technical aspects of the game. We have trained soccer players ranging from the recreational level to the professional level.
For us, developing a great player means developing great people.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Duolingo – I speak decent Spanish and am looking to refine my abilities. I am also learning French and Mandarin Chinese
Unexplainable (Vox) – I love learning, so this exposes me to a motley of ideas and fields
Healthy Living (EWG) – I try to be intentional when it comes to the food I buy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://findthe90.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findthe90/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FINDTHE90/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FINDTHE90
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@findthe90
