| You could easily mistake Antonio Saviano for a model | | | | the nation today", said John Flirreni, Italian Premier |
| instead of a soccer coach. With devilishly good looks | | | | Division Team's Manager, I have personally seen him |
| and a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Antonio could | | | | work with players and coaches, his coaching |
| more likely be every Italian mother's number one son. | | | | development ideas are easy to understand, he |
| Born in the United States, Antonio's family moved | | | | transmits what he believes to players on the field |
| back to Italy at a very early age. He grew up in the | | | | and to coaches in the classroom so they can take |
| town of Pomigliano D'Arco in the province of Napoli. | | | | the information and become better in all areas of |
| He started playing soccer about the time he could | | | | their soccer career". |
| walk and began playing organized soccer at age 8. At | | | | "The results and success of Scuola Calcio speaks for |
| the age of 16, Antonio signed a professional contract | | | | itself", said Dana Siervertson, a long time friend. "This |
| with Castel Cisterna where he played as a keeper. | | | | is a soccer service company that is moving forward |
| Fast forward to 1996 to Wilmington North Carolina | | | | with their many different soccer programs". |
| and Antonio has founded Soccerkix and Soccerkix | | | | Programs such as: All-Year Soccer Boarding School, |
| Academy, a clearing house for the Italian experience. | | | | Three weeks Soccer Camps in USA and Italy, Soccer |
| Antonio offered teams a chance to travel to Italy | | | | Coaching Symposium, International Soccer Team |
| for tournament play and to participate in local camps, | | | | Tour Travel, Monthly Professional Soccer Training, |
| training as many as 500 players per camp. In Italy, | | | | and much more are all offered to serious soccer |
| professional soccer clubs run their own development | | | | players and coaches. Perhaps the greatest qualities |
| systems or schools. They also establish "affiliate" | | | | and commitment is to develop and improve the |
| schools throughout Italy with regional clubs. While the | | | | players and coaches. |
| "affiliated school" concept is common in Europe, it | | | | About Scuola Calcio |
| was Antonio's initiative that brought the concept to | | | | The Italian Scuola Calcio (Soccer School) has |
| North America. Working with a Serie A club, Antonio | | | | consolidated the experience developed from its |
| put together a program that saw teams travel to | | | | technical staff and the experience acquired within the |
| Italy, Italian coaches travel to the US and Canada and | | | | last few years from Ascoli Soccer Academy, A. C. |
| US and Canadian coaches travel to Italy. Antonio | | | | Perugia Soccer School and A.C. Parma Soccer School |
| soon became the North American coordinator of the | | | | program's technical staff. The Italian Scuola Calcio has |
| program with his duties encompassing overseeing the | | | | included in the search, its own formation and |
| affiliates program and scouting new talent. He has | | | | exploitation of the youth soccer players, the mission |
| been the North America Director for many Italian | | | | is characterized to adopt an innovative politics and |
| professional soccer clubs, including Ascoli Soccer | | | | dynamics in the development of the actual activities. |
| Academy, AC Parma Scuola Calcio and AC Perugia | | | | The Italian Scuola Calcio has built a network of more |
| Scuola Calcio. In that capacity he has been helping, | | | | then 100 affiliated soccer schools, some of which in |
| leading and developing coaching and player | | | | Italy and other abroad (North America) and other |
| development programs for over 100 affiliated soccer | | | | foreign countries such as Ghana and Brazil, and an |
| schools across North America and Europe. | | | | organization of 80 professional scouts-observers, 20 |
| "I know of no one who can coordinate soccer | | | | regional coordinators and 5 International coordinators. |
| events and has a vision for soccer talent and player | | | | These are people in charge of different areas, all of |
| development like Antonio Saviano", said Gianni Borano | | | | them coming from an extensive carrier in the |
| an Italian Professional Scout expert and also an | | | | professional youth soccer sectors. Each sportive |
| expert in the youth soccer player development field. | | | | season the Italian Scuola Calcio technical staff |
| "He is masterful in creating vision with such high value | | | | conducts over 400 technical visits to the affiliated |
| for each individual player that brings out commitment | | | | soccer schools and organizes over 50 yearly |
| and passion from them until they see their | | | | selections (try-outs) for young soccer players |
| accomplishments". Mr. Borano went on to say, "his | | | | between the age of 12 to 16, monitoring over 13000 |
| willingness to take responsibility for each club he | | | | players. The result of this complex and organized |
| works with is limitless and he is the most knowledge | | | | activity allows the technical staff to individualize the |
| coach you ever get to meet and talk to". "This is a | | | | better players from each affiliated soccer schools |
| coach who finishes what he starts and leads players | | | | therefore introduce them to the professional clubs |
| and coaches with the same level of commitment and | | | | such of Serie A, B and C (Italian Premier, First and |
| determination he has". | | | | Second Division). At the conclusion of each sportive |
| Antonio is an extraordinary coach. His knowledge, | | | | season, young soccer players chosen from the Italian |
| love and passion for the game are so infectious that | | | | Scuola Calcio are introduced in the professional youth |
| you cannot help but be drawn in. "Young players | | | | sector areas of the professional soccer clubs. |
| must learn through fun and games. They have to | | | | The Italian Scuola Calcio is a consortium of football |
| have fun and the reinforcement must always be | | | | organizations located on National and International |
| positive or they will not come back. The game | | | | territory that proposes to put its network and |
| format keeps them interested while they are | | | | experience of scouting and its skills in making the |
| developing essential soccer skills", says Saviano. "Drills | | | | most of young players at the availability of those |
| need to be progressive. They need to be presented | | | | professional clubs which request this service. Italian |
| at a base, fundamental level and slowly have | | | | Scuola Calcio's technical structure specializes in |
| elements added, making sure that the students | | | | scouting, supporting the 'Youth Sector', and teaching |
| comprehend each addition. If the student doesn't | | | | basic activities, paying particular attention to youth |
| understand what is expected of them, they cannot | | | | soccer players between the ages of 6 to 16. Italian |
| effectively participate or make informed decisions for | | | | Scuola Calcio's structure represents all the |
| themselves". | | | | non-professional organizations that develop new |
| Antonio has written several books on youth | | | | talent. Its activities are aimed to promote the |
| development, among them, "U-6 - U-12 Development | | | | technical growth of soccer schools, as well as |
| Theory", "U-8 - U-10 Soccer School Development | | | | increasing the value for their 'youth sector'. Italian |
| Manual". He co-authored "Playing to Learn to Play, | | | | Scuola Calcio's activities maintain a permanent focus |
| Didactic Progression for the Development of the | | | | on scouting and monitoring the National and |
| Technical-Tactical Fundamentals in the Soccer | | | | International territory. The network of affiliated |
| Schools" and has produced a training video. | | | | soccer schools guarantees that the both territories |
| "Antonio Saviano is one of the top ranked coaches in | | | | are fully monitored. |