It is a safe assumption that Greenwich resident Tyler Shaver knows a thing or two when it comes to hard work and dedication.
The former Brunswick School standout and Beachside Soccer star is determined to compete in next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in India and is doing everything possible to make his dream come true, even if that means moving over 1,200 miles away from home.
“Nothing comes free and you really want to obtain your goals, you have to make sacrifices,” Shaver said. “This is just one of them. I was a bit apprehensive at first, but now I am really excited and happy that I went down. I think it’s a great program and a great experience. I got to know a lot of guys here. We really bonded as a team from just practicing and living together. Our team chemistry has definitely developed far past what it was in U-14 and U-15.”
Shaver, who was a student at Brunswick School, knew that residency program with USA Soccer was a no-brainer. After being a part of the U-14 and U-15 programs, Shaver was picked as one of 32 players to participate in this program.
For USA Soccer, it helps them put out the best team that they possibly can for the World Cup.
“When you live and practice with your teammates, you really get to know them and work more cohesively as a team,” Shaver said. “All that hard work and dedication pays off when you see us succeed.”
So in January it was off to the Sunshine State to live on campus at the IMG Academy in Bradenton for training with coaches from the U-17 men’s national team. When not training for the 2017 World Cup, Shaver attends classes at IMG Academy.
“The most important thing for me was consistently playing to the best of my ability and to make sure the coaches knew about my soccer abilities and my personality,” Shaver said. “I’m a center back. So I’m a very technical player and I read the game and the play very well.”
And Shaver is certainly no stranger to sleeping in different beds other than the one in Greenwich.
Working in USA Soccer’s national program started at the U-14 age group and Shaver has been playing for USA Soccer since then. In late 2015, the organization started making the final evaluations for who they thought would be a good fit for the U-17 team.
For each trip that the team goes on, they draw rosters of 20 players. This winter is the World Cup qualifying. USA Soccer takes around 25 athletes for the World Cup and Shaver is hopeful to be one of the soccer stars that gets to represent his country.
In U-15, Shaver traveled to Argentina and England and for U-17 Shaver has been to Turkey, France and India. While playing soccer worldwide has been a thrill, it’s been learning how teams from all over play such a different style of soccer that has been quite an interesting experience for Shaver.
“The one thing that stands out is the different cultures and how that affects the way teams play,” Shaver said. “In South America it’s more all-out hard tackles and some fancy footwork. Their players vary so much. It’s very interesting to see how cultures impact the style of play and how the countries play.”
One of the highlights for Shaver this past semester was when his team traveled to France and captured the Montaigu tournament.
“It was very exciting to play countries who are so dominant in soccer, namely Brazil, England and Russia and then beating France in France in the final, especially since I had the special honor of wearing the captain’s band against France,” Shaver said. “It was also interesting to form my own opinions of the various national teams. For instance, Russia was the dirtiest team I’ve played. One of the Russian players even bit me on the back.”
While it’s a huge honor for Shaver to put on the Team USA jersey and represent his country, it’s obvious that getting to do that with his team at the U-17 World Cup is a massive goal.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to represent your country,” Shaver said. “It’s something that’s a unique experience and not a lot of people get to do it. I’m just really appreciative that I have been granted this great opportunity.”
And Shaver knows that he has plenty of help to get him to where he is now. Whether it was his US National Team coaches John Hackworth, Shaun Tsakiris and Marcelo Serrano, to Beachside coaches Mickey Kydes and Pete Doneit, to NY Soccer Club coaches Shahaab Langroudi, Paul Brooks and Christian Gonzalez, to Old Greenwich Riverside Community Center coaches Jorge Acosta and Roger Chavez, the Greenwich standout knows all have come up big for him.
“Each has been instrumental to my development, and I would not be where I am today without their guidance, support, and training,” Shaver said. “I can’t thank them enough.”
And while it’s getting close to crunch time for Shaver to achieve his World Cup dream, he still knows that no matter where he travels, Greenwich is his still home.
“I miss my family and friends, but mostly I miss my bed,” Shaver said. “Once the U-17 World Cup is over, I hope I’m going to come back to Brunswick.
