Assistant Coach Chad Ashton gave the first of four Chalk-Talks to thirty local coaches prior to D.C. United’s home match against the New York Red Bulls on Thursday, April 21. The event was part of a series of talks the club is conducting for local youth coaches during the 2011 MLS Season.
Ashton fielded a wide range of questions from the group, covering topics such as player nutrition (the team employees a nutritionist, but liquids are the most important part of a pregame diet) and how many days per week he works (according to Ashton he is lucky to even get one day off). United's Assistant Coach walked the coaches through his week-long preparation for the night’s game and described the Red Bulls as a “very, very dangerous team.” He also discussed his routine of pouring over video to prepare for an opponent and alerted participants that Red Bull's star forward Thierry Henry “loves to swing out to the left side.” (The point that proved prescient on third goal.) Ashton also praised Juan Agudelo as, “a great young player in this country.”
Following the twenty-five minute session, coaches were escorted to field level where they were permitted to watch D.C. United’s pregame warm-up from behind the field boards.
The next Coaches “Chalk-Talk” will be held prior to the club's home match on May 4 against Seattle Sounders FC. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from one of the First Team coaches and watch the team’s pregame warm-ups from the field. Learn more.
