Podcast: Scorpions’ Evan Burokas, Andre Reis on ECNL Florida, club’s progression

Scorpions SC goalkeeper Maddie Parrott sends the ball downfield. (Courtesy photo)

The latest guests on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast are Scorpions SC co-director Evan Burokas and ECNL Girls National coach Andre Reis.

Burokas, Reis and their Scorpions teams competed at the ECNL Girls Florida national showcase earlier this month and are now bracing for the remainder of the 2022-23 club season, which will resume in full force in early-March.

They joined host Matt Langone to discuss the experience at ECNL Florida and playing in front of hundreds of college coaches, and also how the Massachusetts-based club has progressed over the years.

The full podcast can be accessed below and is available on all major platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review.

Here are some highlights from our discussion with Burokas and Reis:

On playing in Florida against the nation’s top ECNL teams:

Burokas: “Florida has always been a great event for us. Not only just for our players, in terms of their exposure, but just in terms of their performances. They’re coming off of their high school seasons, so some of the kids are kind of beat-up after long high school seasons. We get them at a good time. They’re in good shape, and it’s just kind of helping them mold themselves back into a club soccer format. It’s always been a great event for us and the kids always cherish the opportunity to travel down south and play on good fields and in good weather, so they love it.”

On preparing the players to play in front of hundreds of college coaches:

Reis: “I think one of the bigger things is getting them to simplify their game to start. I think not going too crazy from the beginning, playing two-touch, maybe connecting a simple pass and just building your confidence. Then, allowing them to kind of flourish and be themselves, as long as their work rate doesn’t falter. I think everybody is going to make mistakes and people are expecting that. So, if they go make up for it with their work rate, I think they always showcase themselves well.”

On the progression of Scorpions since it started as a club in 1998:

Burokas: “Scorpions started back in 1998 under Fred Marks. He started out in Braintree (Mass.). It started as a small club, and it was for the benefit of high school kids playing club soccer in his local area, and then it just flourished from there. (Marks) was one of the first, one of first of two clubs to really start here in Massachusetts, especially on the girls side. Fast-forward to now — I started working for the club back in 2014. I’m very thankful for (Marks) in terms of what he not only provided me, but the other two directors, Nick (Rugnetta) and Darren (Burke), in terms of our start and working full-time in youth soccer. Then, from there we started getting a little bit more ingrained in the club.”

On the club’s philosophy:

Burokas: “We are a club that believes in multi-sport athletes. We believe that cross-training is very healthy for progression for a kid and to an athlete’s life, and to a kid’s social life. From our end, if a kid is in love with the game, we just want to offer another outlet for them to develop and have maybe better coaching and better competition to do so. We speak with a lot of these town programs and we have great affiliations with them. It’s never to say, ‘hey, we want to take your players.’ It’s never our motto. Our goal is, ‘hey, how can we supplement this kid’s playing time and training environment, so that way when we do pass them off to their middle school and high school teams, they’re representing that high school program as best as they possibly can.'”

On the club’s outlook for the spring:

Burokas: “I don’t think we have been in a better position than we are now. In terms of elite programs in our East, Metrowest programs, especially on the boys side as well. They’re all gearing up for that start of the spring. I think we got a great league structure as well, and I think they’re ready to kind of take that next step, in terms of, ‘hey, can we maybe go win this bracket of the league?’ I think our regional directors and our staff, and our coaches have done a great job in terms of preparing our players for that.”

The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the New England Revolution and Soccerheads New England.

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