Ohio Extreme SC is very proud of our players and coaches. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight several of them. Please continue to check back for new players and coaches who we would like to highlight.
Coach Chris Matejka
u15 Boys North
1.What is your playing experience?
I have played and been around the game for the past 20 years, growing up in the Cleveland, OH area, and played for premier clubs such as Pennine United and Everest SC. I was an All-County, All-Conference, and All-Ohio award winner as a high school player and was recruited by Ohio Northern University where I continued my career as a four-year varsity letterwinner, All-Conference, All-Ohio, All-Region, and All-America award winner. Senior year, I was a captain of the team that reached the 2012 NCAA DIII National Championship Final.
2. What is your soccer coaching experience?
I am currently an assistant coach for Ohio Northern University men’s soccer, and have been at ONU for four years. I have coached youth soccer for eight years, and have coached with Ohio Extreme SC for the last four years. I also help with Polar Bear Soccer Camps as a camp director, working with boys and girls ages 4-18, and have been a part of that for the past eight years.
3. How long have you been with Ohio Extreme SC?
I have coached with Ohio Extreme SC for four years. I have primarily coached U12-U15 boys teams during that time.
4. What is your favorite memory with Ohio Extreme?
It would have to be when I took my boys team from 8v8 to 11v11 a few years ago, and seeing them adapt and take what they’ve already learned and apply it to a larger field. Seeing them mature and compete at that moment, where they felt older, more responsible – it clicked, wow, I’m not a little kid anymore. This was definitely a highlighted memory for me, where all of the player development, attitude, and enjoyment for the game, all came together in one moment for those young men.
5. What do you think sets Ohio Extreme a part from other competitive soccer clubs?
Communication is definitely something that sets Ohio Extreme apart – from weekly updates, to Team Administrators helping out, to the players communicating on the field, the coaches and entire club family are dedicated to making sure everyone is on the same page.
6. What advice do you have for parents of youth soccer players?
Let your son or daughter have fun playing soccer and allow the coaches to do their job. Please realize that your son or daughter are among some of the best coaches in the region, and have been around the game of soccer for many years! They know what it takes to make sure each and every player develops and reaches their potential. Also, motivate your kids to play on their own, but don’t push them over the edge. We don’t want youth soccer players getting burned out when they are 14 years old. As they get a little older, have them set realistic goals for themselves – maybe it’s making high school varsity as a freshman, maybe it’s making All-Ohio as a high school player, maybe it’s being recruited and going on to play college soccer. And understand that Ohio Extreme will do everything that it can to help him/her reach their goals.