Keith Tabatznik joins GoPlay Sports Tours as a Soccer Consultant
GoPlay are honored to announce that legendary former Georgetown coach Keith Tabatznik has joined the business as a soccer consultant.
Inducted into three Hall of Fames - Maryland State Legends (2018), Virginia/DC (2011) and Baltimore Friends School Athletic (2011), Keith is a coach with soccer in his blood.
His 22-year record at Georgetown (220-187-23) makes him their all-time winningest soccer coach. He led his teams to the Big East conference tournament 12 straight seasons at one point.
His 1997 squad saw the Hoyas win heir first ever NCAA tournament victory with a 2–1 victory over Virginia Commonwealth University. He was named Big East conference coach of the year that season.
What speaks volumes is that there was also a near perfect graduation rate in his 22 years at Georgetown. And a near perfect retention rate (only two transfers – and one came back to GU after transferring).
Tabatznik also saw 12 former players enter the professional ranks including seven drafted into MLS.
An experienced coach, director, scout and analyst, GoPlay are delighted to be working with Keith.
Can you give us a quick explanation of your current role?
I am currently a Talent ID Scout for US Soccer, tracking boys from U14 through to Olympic Age.
I also Instruct the Coaching Licensing Courses for US Soccer and I serve as Co-Director for the Elite 300 Soccer Academy - a summer High School College ID Camp.
I was previously Head Soccer Coach at Georgetown University for 22 years. I was Assistant Coach for the Bermuda National Team and Director of the Olympic Development Program. I was also East Coast and Director of Soccer at McLean Youth Soccer Club. And I occasionally I am a pundit for soccer programs (both college and Pro).
You have obviously developed a love of the game, where did that originate?
From my dad who grew up in South Africa. His family got out of Poland shortly before WW2 and headed to South Africa, where I was born. My first memories are kicking a ball with my dad in the back yard after we moved to Baltimore.
Keith Tabatznik with Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish
As an experienced coach and director, what would be your top tip for a young coach starting out today?
Firstly, focus on the process of improving yourself and your players – as opposed to outcomes. Outcome goals are great, but they also get in the way of development.
Also, try and surround yourself or get to know experienced coaches. Have a couple mentors who can guide you. I was so lucky as a young coach starting out to have been around some amazing coaches in this country. It was better than any course I ever took – although those are also extremely important.
If you could change one thing in the US Soccer landscape, what would it be?
If I had a magic wand or billions of dollars, I would get rid of pay to play, but still employ quality coaches on a livable salary. Without that wand it would be nice to see the things that get in the way of the process of developing be done away with, e.g. rankings of youth teams is just ridiculous. Totally takes the focus off the process of development.
Same goes for these “points” teams get for participation in different tournaments and all. I could see the benefit after perhaps age 16 maybe, but not before.
Keith Tabatnik with former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers on a Coach Education trip in 2017
You have also traveled extensively and so a link-up with GoPlay seems a perfect match.
I honesty never looked at being associated with a specific travel company as there a lot of decent people running various companies. But there are also others that may not be as good.
GoPlay has really impressed me, and it comes down to the people who run it. They are genuine and while they are a business, they are in it for the players first. That is obvious and never would I get involved or recommend any organization who would make things more important on the transactional side of things than the transformational side of things.
And my love for travel with teams has everything to do with that transformational part. I guess my first international travel was emigrating to the States from South Africa when I was a baby. So perhaps it is in my blood for real. However, I have been so fortunate to have been able to go to so many places through soccer. And when it is soccer travel it opens doors like nothing else.
Keith Tabatznik visiting Liverpool’s Anfield home
I love interacting with the ‘locals’ and other travelers on trips. Traveling opens your eyes to the different ways people live.
For soccer I have found myself in so many unreal atmospheres and places. I have been able to go to every World Cup but one since 1990 and plan to be in Qatar to support the US next November/December.
I have taken teams overseas since I was a young coach at age 22 taking a U19 team to Wales and London! Imagine that now. My friend Tim Lewis in Wales set it up on that end and I did the logistics from here. No email, texts etc. No liability forms or any red tape. Just a lot of fun and excitement. Then I was hooked!
What do you think are the major benefits for young players who travel?
It is a soccer, a social and a cultural bonanza of experiences that simply cannot be matched by anything we can do domestically.
Soccer: Playing against teams from other ‘local”’ clubs to professional youth teams is simply fun, developmental, and takes us (players and coaches) out of our normal comfort zone. And that is the place where the greatest development can happen.
Also seeing professional games and then really understanding what passion for soccer is all about cannot be matched.
Keith Tabatnik with Pele at the Youth World Cup in Scotland in 1989
Social: Form a special bond between team-mates and club members whom you travel with. You interact with kids and adults who have a completely different background to yours. Depending on what country you visit, you maybe working on your Spanish or French or Scottish speaking skills as well – figuring out how to ask, ‘where is the bathroom?’ and saying ‘thank you’ or ‘please’ in other languages.
Cultural: Traveling includes seeing the sights and getting an in depth understanding of the places you are visiting. You see all the places you read about in school (or see on the internet).
I have been traveling with teams since 1982 and one of the best feelings I ever get are the many times I run into former players who went on one of the trips in years past. And they always tell me it was the highlight of their experiences as a youth soccer player. I took Georgetown University on two trips and the same comments come to me from them.
I look forward to helping to open these opportunities through GoPlay for other clubs, schools, or groups. It’s important that more people can get, what I thought were experiences of a lifetime. For me it has become a lifetime of experiences all over the planet, via the world’s game of soccer.