J.R. Balzarini, Technical Director at SUSA FC, has helped establish the club as one of the most respected soccer programs in the country. Core to SUSA's success is a simple and direct philosophy, something he calls the SUSA way.
"When you step on the field, you've got to have a mentality that you want to compete. You're here to work. You're here to grind. You're here to try to be the best version of yourself."
The technical and tactical development comes after that foundation is in place. And increasingly, so does the data.
How PlayerData Entered the Conversation
The introduction to PlayerData didn't come from a sales pitch. It came from SUSA's own players who had gone on to Power Four programs and come back with a recommendation. The club ran their first trial at an ECNL showcase and the reaction was immediate.
When they actually got the data on their phones, the response shifted. "This makes sense to us."
For Balzarini, reliability sealed it.
"This has been reliable as the sun rising."
Putting a Number on Positional Profiles
SUSA know uses PlayerData across over 300 players. The workflow is so seamless, that the staff is able to easily utilize the units across a large pool of players every day. Charging, transporting, assigning units is all a breeze. No more label makers or cumbersome carrying cases.
And already, PlayerData has unlocked something SUSA's coaching staff had been building toward conceptually but could never quantify. Positional profiles.
"We now have positional profiles: what positions are supposed to do from a technical and tactical standpoint," Balzarini says. "Now we're able to put a physical component into that. A center midfielder should try to cover this amount of ground on a match day. A striker should probably do this amount on a game day. It's allowed us to put a quantitative number on some of these profiles we're trying to build by position."
The specificity helps coaches give impactful feedback, allows players to understand their role, and shifts how development conversations happen across the entire club.
What the Players Are Saying
Finnley is a defensive center mid who came to SUSA to become a more confident and more technical player. She has found both, and the data has been part of that journey.
"Every season's a new opportunity to grow and I think that was definitely shown throughout our season. I've definitely seen PlayerData as a helpful tool in my development as a soccer player."
For a technology that looks complex from the outside, she says the experience is anything but.
"For looking like a complex technology, it's actually really simple to use. All the statistics and data is available on an app on each player's phones. The app is very simple and it kind of walks you through how to use it and how to best evaluate the data. It's very comfortable, it's very efficient. I would recommend PlayerData to anyone because it helps not only the individual but helps the team improve and reach their goals."
Maya is a forward who came to SUSA two years ago because she wanted the best shot at playing at the highest level she could in college. The data has given her something she did not expect: a mirror.
"My teammates and I all have the PlayerData app on our phone. It's super easy to navigate, click in, and all our statistics are at our fingertips."
One metric stood out immediately.
"The top speed measure really stood out to me. After trainings I'll check my top speed, how much distance I covered, and compare that with past training sessions to see, could I put more volume in, could I have been increasing my speed here and there?"
She sums it up simply: "PlayerData is really helpful for improving your technical abilities. It's kind of me versus me, what you can do to improve your own game."
The SUSA Way. Now With Data.
SUSA FC has always been about developing players the right way. The mentality comes first. The technical work follows. And now the data gives the whole process something it never had before: numbers on the work. Coaches and players are no longer guessing.
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