Adlard, Bruin spend summer relaxing, playing club ball

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first installment of a series on how student-athletes spend their summers, be it on the field, in the classroom or relaxing back at home. This week, the IDS spoke with two members of the men’s soccer team.

Will Bruin

During the school year, junior soccer player Will Bruin spends countless hours practicing and conditioning for the team’s many competitive games. But he also spends his summer taking classes, relaxing and just trying to have a good time.

“I am currently taking Physics P201, and then after that I am going to play with my club team back home for some games and just make sure to get in good shape come preseason,” Bruin said.

Men’s soccer coach Todd Yeagley met with each player individually to determine what he needs to do in order to stay active and improve over the offseason.

“We have meetings to evaluate what experience they need to continue to grow,” Yeagley said.

The soccer team as a whole has to determine where its priorities fall for the summer months while away from Bloomington.

The players’ report date to be back in town for the 2010 soccer season is Aug. 17.
“I do play, but not as much as some other people, because this time off is crucial for me so I am 100 percent fresh for fall season,” Bruin said.

A vital part of any student-athletes’ life is being able to take a break and just relax sometimes. With the heavy workload the players carry on and off the field, being able to spend time with friends and family is important.

“My favorite part of summer is being able to go home for a little bit and being able to hang out with my old high school friends,” Bruin said.
 
 
Andy Adlard

Adlard, a senior from Wisconsin, devotes part of his summer to focusing on soccer by playing in the Premier Development League to help keep him in shape.

The PDL consists of eight divisions and more than 65 teams across the country. It has games throughout the summer for players who want to be able to spend the summer competing and getting better.

“The PDL league is very competitive and keeps you busy for most of all the summer,” Adlard said. “It has great competition and some very good players, including many of the players we play against during our fall season during college.”

Adlard also spends time working on exercises from the team’s strength coach, following manuals so he can come back from the offseason prepared.

“We certainly want the players to be around the ball as much as possible, but we also know each player is uniquely different,” Yeagley said.

For some of the players, participation in the PDL is just a part-time deal so they don’t burn themselves out in the summer.

“There are days for downtime so you can get your rest and recover for the upcoming college season,” Adlard said.