June 26, 2020
Player Insider: Carter Schmitz
I began playing soccer when I was 3 years old. My mom and dad put me on rec teams just to get exercise and build relationships with other kids. Even at an early age, I was very passionate about the game. I tried a variety of other sports, but I always only wanted to play soccer.
By the age of 8, I started playing on local club teams. The pace of the game was great in the beginning, but I always wanted more. Eventually the level of play and training just didn’t seem to be enough for me. I wanted to be around players that took the game as serious as I did, and I knew I needed a change. After my 8th grade Junior High School year, I looked for other options.
I had heard about the Barça Residency Academy from one of my club coaches. Thankfully, the academy was close enough for me to drive to for a tryout. After receiving an offer to play at Barça, my parents and I decided that the commuter option was a perfect fit for me. It allowed me to still stay at home but be a part of this great academy. It was exactly what I was looking for and more. I have been able to really push myself and learn and grow from the players and coaching staff for the past 2 years.
Even though I commute, I wanted to be a part of the day to day life of the other players. I decided to attend ASU Prep Academy for high school like all the other players living on campus. Each day I commute to school with a few other local commuters. We usually meet at the carpool spot at 7:15 AM and arrive at school by 8:00 AM. I attend school with all my teammates and have a very similar schedule to the other players for the rest of the day. After school, I usually hang out in the performance center playing ping pong, pool, and video games with some of the boys. By 3:30 PM, I head to the trainers to stretch and roll out before training. Training is from 5:30 to 8:00, and I conclude my day with a healthy dinner and commute home.
I feel like I get the best of both worlds by having a very similar experience as the resident players, but I also get the comfort and security of my own family. If you live in the area and are passionate about soccer, there is no better option than the Barça Residency Academy.
