Noah Couch '19 Recruiting Profile

Schooling and Education:

My name is Noah Couch and I’m in the graduating class of 2019 at Ronald W. Reagan High School in Pfafftown North Carolina. Currently my overall weighted GPA is 4.1. I feel that an education is a great gift and is why I continue to challenge myself academically by taking both Honors and Advanced Placement classes. I would like to eventually pursue my degree in the Engineering field, possible Mechatronic or Mechanical as I have always enjoyed problem solving and applying it to real world applications.

Where it all Started:

When I was only five years old I started playing soccer at the local YMCA and instantly fell in love with the game. I feel that to be the best player possible it begins with practice, not just during your team’s scheduled times but more importantly on your own. I have a very strong work ethic and I am always willing to put in the extra time it takes to better my technical abilities. I arrive at practice early in order to be ready both mentally and physically by getting time with the ball. As I have grown I realized how mental the game really is and the importance of seeing things first in your mind then making them happen on the field. On off days I practice at home in the yard, in my room, or whenever I can to improve my technical ball handling skills. Over time I have seen a lot of positive results of this hard work. I did not start playing Club Soccer until I was thirteen years of age but in only my second season I was able to make and start on the highest level team for our club. I also participate in North Carolina’s Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). My first year with ODP I received the honor of being selected as a member of the North Carolina Team for Region III camp in Alabama. Last year, (my second year of ODP) I was named to the North Carolina First Team and played for them at Region III camp in Alabama. I have played and started in every game for my High School JV Team and broke the School scoring record last year while leading our team to a conference championship. With all of this I have never lost sight of the big picture, knowing that I am just a small part of one team and that I can always improve my game for betterment of the team as a whole.

What Type of Player am I:

I would describe myself as a self-motivated, disciplined, and versatile player willing to be put into any position that would most benefit the team. Primarily I play the number nine position but I also spent time at both the seven and eleven slots with occasional play at ten in high school. I feel I am at my most affective as one of the forwards due to both my vision of the field and ability to take players on 1v1 via change of pace and feints, two things I have concentrated on. I have also seen much success dropping back into the midfield receiving the ball and holding up play to gain numbers in the final third. I love to press the ball high and has led to many opportunities for me and my team.

Other Sports/Activities:

I have and continue to compete in other sports such as Basketball, Track, and especially Tae Kwon Do. By doing this I am able to always keep myself in top fit condition and utilize skills which relate well to soccer like speed from track or the strategic nature of basketball. I have devoted eleven years of my life to Tae Kwon Do and competed at the highest levels both State side and internationally: United States Open, United States Nationals, and Junior Olympics. By competing at these levels it has helped me cope with pressure situations, knowing how to stay calm and focused in circumstances that would otherwise cause one to panic, such as the dying minutes of a closely contested soccer match. I think it is important to be well rounded in all aspects of life and this has proven to help eliminate the burnout syndrome a lot of players go through.

Life Goals:

I am looking for a school which will allow me to be challenged both academically and athletically. I would love the opportunity to be able to both grow my skills as a player and a person while helping my team and program succeed. My ultimate goal is to play soccer at the highest level, and I have dedicated myself to putting in whatever work is necessary to do so. I know that in college the game is much more physical and is why I started on a weight lifting regiment last year. I also understand that you have to be a student of the game which is why I have as many of my games taped as possible so I can later watch them and understand my mistakes or what I could have done differently in a given situation. Additionally I pick out professional players whose game I best resemble to study their tendencies and how they best utilizes their skills. This all allows me to better my level of play so hopefully one day I am able to reach my dreams.

Thank you for taking the time to read my personal statement and view my profile. I have tried to represent the true person I am but if you have any questions please feel free to let me know.