soccer today
January 2018
South Florida’s Elite Soccer Magazine
WIN
a training session with
La GALAXy
Rodrigo Bonilla ALL STAR
ATHLETE of the month
TOP 10
Florida Tournamnets to enter
stregthen your body
workouts to improve your performance on the field $2.99 US
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Contents soccer today Jan. 2018
Features 62
All-Star Athlete Rodrigo Bonilla’s Story and Success
January’s exceptional soccer star, Rodrigo Bonilla, interview and him and his team’s journey to now.
Health
8 Warming Up
Tricks and precautions recommended to use before going on the field
35 Injuries on the Field
List of the most recurring, but avoidable, injuries on the field for all ages
53 Diet for Soccer Players The must-follow diet that will keep you fit, healthy, and ready for the game.
56 Effective Workouts 28 Winners of the South
Florida Soccer Classic
The last and biggest tournament of 2017. Read about the winners and the tough competition that took place.
Workouts to increase stamina, strengthen legs, and overall help you more on the field.
Tournaments & Leagues 21 FYSA 2018 Approved
Tournaments
70 Once in a lifetime
experience!
Win a chance to fly out to Los Angeles, tour the iconic city, and meet and train with the players from LA Galaxy!
A list of tournaments that are so far approved and their starting dates and location.
42 New rules from the
Florida Youth Soccer Association
Rules that have been enforced this month that parents, players, coaches, club need to be aware of.
76 Apply Now!
Deadlines and additional information on upcoming leagues and where to apply.
4 Soccer Today Jan. 2018
Rodirgo Bonilla Soccer Today’s all star athlete of the month shares his inspirational and motivating story.
R
By Mariana Castelblanco odrigo Bonilla is in his third year at Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton, Florida, he is also the starting striker for FC Boca Predators U17 group. This month, we have recognized Bonilla as the player of the month and caught an interview with him at the YMCA in Boca Raton before his practice. Bonilla is, in our opinion, an example of hard work and dedication. Only 16 years old and Bonilla expresses to us how joining the beautiful game of soccer has changed his life drastically in 4 years. As a kid, Bonilla struggled with feeling lonely, but then he met someone that potentially changed his life for the better. When Bonilla was in 7th grade attending Omni Middle School he met Yovani Castillon, who plays for FC Boca Predators with Bonilla, who invited Bonilla to play soccer with him for fun. Bonilla stated that Castillon “opened a new world for me and made me realize what I was missing out on because the only thing I would do is play video games.” After realizing how much he enjoyed playing soccer, Bonilla joined Sabr, a recreational league, with Castillon. After a year in Sabr he joined his middle school soccer team and got bullied by his teammates for not playing as good as the player Bonilla
replaced, he ended up scoring only 1 goal that year. Going into the summer after being in his school soccer team, his mother hired a personal trainer and he trained non-stop and started to see results from it. During his time in Sabr he was recognized and chosen by a coach in the league, who was leaving to create a new travel team in Boca Raton, to join him and a few other players to play for a new team called FC Boca Predators. There were only 15 players in the team when they first started, and most players left, until they moved their location and managed to acquire sponsors and the YMCA in Boca Raton to agree to support and let them use their field. Now the team is still growing and improving with the help of 3 amazing coaches. Bonilla stated that his mom motivates him the most because he wants to be able to give back to her in the future for being the most supportive of him pursuing his dream to be a professional soccer player. Four years later, Bonilla now has three sponsors and is heading to Argentina in February with his team, who have become his family, to play in the Neuquen Cup. For Bonilla, joining soccer has given him a new family and we can’t wait to see what the Coral Springs born soccer player will accomplish in the future. Left picture: Rodrigo Bonilla (left) heads ball to his teammate against Weston FC. Right picture: Rodrigo Bonilla dribbling down field to get into open space to cross it to his teammate.
62 Soccer Today Jan. 2018
Rodrigo Bonilla (white) challenging the ball on his attacking behalf against defense player (blue) from Coral Springs FC .
Jan. 2018 Soccer Today 63