Marble Falls’ Marcum travels to Germany for week of soccer, learning
CAPTION: Marble Falls freshman Jett Marcum’s Spring Break trip to Germany helps him improve his soccer skills, discover more about another country. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
Marble Falls High School freshman goalie Jett Marcum spent his Spring Break combining what many wish they could — traveling to Europe and playing soccer.
Marcum traveled to Germany with his club team, ODP, and visited Munich, Salzburg, Ausburg, Bavaria, Bloomberg and Zurich.
“It was amazing,” he said. “We got a lot of free time to check out the lifestyle there. It is completely different. There’s a lot of abstract buildings and stuff you wouldn’t see in Texas. It was a wonderful trip. I made a lot of German friends.”
On day one, after eating lunch, the team participated in a training session and ended the day by watching the Bayern Munich II team against DJK Vilzing.
The next day started with another training session and a trip to Augsburg where the players saw the sights and attended the match between FC Augsburg and FC Heidenheim.
On the third day, ODP faced SV Heimstetten E.V. and lost 6-0. But when Marcum was playing, he allowed only two goals.
They visited the Bavarian Prealps or the Blomberg and rode Blomberg’s roller coaster.
The sixth day had ODP touring Bayern Munich Stadium that included the seating, press club and a walk through the dressing rooms and the player’s tunnel. The players also participated in a Munich walking tour that included churches, “stately boulevards” and the Aldstadt (Old Quarter) and Marienplatz, which is the “heart of Munich.”
That evening ODP lost to VFR Garching 4-0. But Marcum allowed one goal.
The next day, ODP participated in a pro coaching clinic before departing for the Dachau Concentration Camp. That night ODP lost to FC Ismaning 4-2. When Marcum was protecting the goal, he allowed two.
On the final day, the team visited the city of Salzburg and enjoyed a walking tour with plenty of German history from the 1700s.
The history of the country is what Marcum enjoyed the most. They toured the Schloss Linderhof castles, the BMW Museum and Olympia Park, site of the 1972 Olympics that includes the facilities, lakes, bicycle paths, concert venues, restaurants, a football stadium and the landmark “tent style” roofs.
The team meals were consumed in restaurants that specialized in German cuisine.
Though Marcum would have liked for the results of each ODP match to be different, he believes the benefits far outweigh the scoreboard.
“It really helped me get more confident,” he said. “I’m a freshman on varsity playing goalie while I played in Germany. Yes they were still big. I still have that same pressure. I felt more confident. I felt super calm the whole time. I can bring that back here and have that confidence and intensity and calmness while I play.”
The goalie noted ODP leaders wanted their players “to see how different it is to play in Europe and how other players play throughout the world.”
“A lot of the teams we played against were pressing,” he said. “They love to press and keep us under pressure. It helped me to focus at the end of the game. If I get the ball now, how can I switch the field? I understood how to do this during this trip. It was super amazing seeing how other people play in different parts of the world and making other friends.”
