Coach Camilo Benitez played for the Real Madrid Academy in Spain, played a stint at the AC Milan Academy, and then played for Sporting Kansas City Academy for 4 years and concluded his career with 2 years professional.

Coach Camilo is currently the head coach of all Academy youth boys at Sporting Blue Valley and the technical director for their MLS NEXT teams. His passion for playing turned to coaching, and each summer for the last five years he's focused 100% of his effort into helping players grow over the off-season through his ALL-IN program.

Coach Benitez is an extremely sought-after coach in the Midwest, and has the ear of all the top directors in youth soccer. He knows the game as both a player and as a coach.

WHY THIS MATTERS (A STORY FROM COACH CAMILO BENITEZ)

At a young age, my life revolved entirely around soccer. I trained more than 7-8 times weekly—soccer was my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The pitch was my second home, and the ball, my constant companion. I poured every ounce of energy into developing my technical skills and game awareness, dreaming of professional success. However, there was a critical gap in my development: I never focused on recovery, stretching, or mobility work. Like many young players, I believed passion and technical skill alone would carry me to the top.

It wasn't until I joined more professional academies at age 13 that I began to understand the importance of these complementary aspects of athletic development. I watched older players meticulously preparing their bodies before training and diligently working on recovery afterward. Coaches emphasized the connection between physical maintenance and longevity in the sport. Unfortunately, this realization came too late—my body had already established patterns that would prove difficult to correct.

By 18, when I proudly signed my professional contract—fulfilling my childhood dream—my body was already compromised. What should have been the beginning of a promising career instead became a frustrating cycle of injury and rehabilitation. I spent roughly 70% of my time in the rehabilitation room, dealing with recurring groin injuries and hamstring pulls that kept me off the field when I desperately wanted to prove myself.

At 19, I faced my first major setback—a labral tear requiring surgery and nine months of grueling rehabilitation. The mental toll of being sidelined was almost as painful as the physical recovery. Just as I was returning to play, my other side developed similar issues, necessitating another surgery and nine more months of recovery. Each day away from the game tested my resilience and love for soccer. When I was finally preparing to resume my career, an MCL tear became the final blow that ended my professional playing days permanently.

While I can't know with certainty if early mobility training and strength conditioning would have prevented these injuries, I'm not willing to take that risk with the young athletes I now coach. This experience transformed my relationship with the sport—shifting my focus from personal achievement to ensuring others don't face the same preventable obstacles.

Given the competitive level we're playing at and the ambitious goals these players have, I believe comprehensive physical development isn't optional—it's essential. By incorporating these elements now, we're not just building better soccer players—we're protecting their future in the sport I love. My story serves as both a warning and an opportunity: through proper training at an early age, these young athletes can potentially achieve what injuries prevented me from accomplishing.