VISITING AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE NOVEMBER 2008 2008 CLEVELAND SOCCER By
Hans Kopp Wolfgang Urban inducted into
the Ohio Youth Soccer Hall of Fame Wolfgang
began his soccer-playing career with the S.C. Donauschwaben-Concordia Youth
Program in 1966. Under Coaches Hans
Kopp and later Herb Haller Sr., Wolf developed into the role of playmaker,
combining strong technical skills with intelligent tactical ability. From the
center midfield position, he had the ability to control the tempo of the game,
effectively directing the transition from defense to offense.
He became one of the vital links in the many indoor and outdoor
championships of his youth club and high school (West Tech) soccer teams. His
interest in youth coaching started in 1973 at age 15, becoming the youngest
coach in Ohio, the Midwest, and perhaps even in the U.S. A. developing a U10
boy’s championship team. Wolf
obtained his National “C” license in 1978 under the direction of the late
Walt Chyzowych. He has served on the Board of Concordia as Director of Youth
Program, and most recently with NOSO as Director of Travel, Soccer Advisor, and
Youth Coach (for girls). Wolfgang
was selected to represent OYSAN in 1975 at the regional state tournament in
Oakbrook, Illinois and was a selected for the first Regional Select Team of the
Midwest. At the national tournament
in Dallas, Texas, he was one of two players from OYSAN to earn the privilege to
be selected to play on the first National Youth Team (U19) of the USYSA in
Germany in October 1975 under the guidance of Angus McAlpine. Excerpts from the Hall of Fame
presentation by Hans Kopp During
those pioneer days of Ohio Youth Soccer, there were no tryouts! In fact, we were
happy to take any boy as long as they were willing to work hard and had the
desire and motivation to play soccer. We
were committed to teach them our game and develop them into useful soccer
players who would have fun playing our game. As
one of the founders of the Olympic Soccer Development program and director of
the Midwest Region, I had the opportunity to work with many outstanding coaches,
including Angus McAlpine, Bob Gansler and many others.
Over the years, I had the opportunity to evaluate hundreds of youth
soccer players at the Ohio, the Midwest and on the national level. What
were we looking for in a player as we evaluated players and separated them from
each other? First, we looked at
their skills on the ball. Then we assessed their speed, their physical fitness
and endurance. After that we assessed their ability to read the game, their
ability to play off the ball, how they play in support of their teammates and
their overview of the game. If
all those qualities were equal at this point, we looked to see if a player
brought a desire to win to the field and if still equal at that point, we
assessed their mental tenacity; how they could control the tempo of the game,
impose their own will upon their opponents, and use their wit, creativity, and
mental toughness to achieve success. Wolf
brought all those qualities to the field of play. He became a team leader of his
Concordia youth team, his high school team at West-Tech, his college team at
Case Western Reserve, on the OYSAN Select Team, and the Midwest Regional team.
As
a result of those exceptional qualities and accomplishments, he was selected to
become a member of the First U19 national youth soccer team assembled by the
USYSA to play in Europe in October of 1975
under national team coach Angus McAlpine, a team, which also included
Hall of Famer, Walter Schlothauer. They toured Northern Germany where the team
successfully represented U.S. soccer against regional select teams, as well as
against high-level youth teams from Concordia Hamburg, Werder Bremen and Hanover
96. Wolf is the sixth in succession of Sport Club Donauschwaben-Concordia men inducted into the Ohio Youth Soccer Hall of Fame on November 15th 2008. Wolf is preceded by Walter Schlothauer, Phil Seil (both 2007) Franz Schönberger(2006), Herbert Haller Sr. (2004) and Hans Kopp (2003) first President of the OYSAN. 2008 Wolf Urban OYSAN Hall of Fame
2008 Hans Kopp, Ron Gedrich, President and Wolf Urban
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