Dane Becker

My Story

What are you doing currently?

I am about 6 months into the beginning of my career as a Structural Engineer. I work in Seattle, Washington, structurally designing residential construction in the area. I still play soccer for a men's league team/USPL locally.

How did Strikers shape you as a person?

The main takeaway from my time at Strikers was leadership, and worth ethic. Strikers has a unique way of letting players develop themselves, while having great mentors in the form of coaches. Through playing club and high school soccer, I learned to go above and beyond in all fields that I was interested in. Using the skills I was taught through the coaches, and putting in excess work outside of organized training, I was able to maximize my skills. This is something I try to continue to this day.

How is high school/club soccer different than college soccer?

The biggest difference between the level of soccer is the speed of play, and speed of decision making. I know many people say it, but the pace of play is astronomically faster in college. The other difference is the comradery. You are surrounded by your teammates (often living with them) constantly. This brings out a new level of brotherhood/competitive spirit.

What were the key factors you considered when evaluating potential colleges?

A big factor for me was education. I knew that college soccer was the stepping stone from high school to my career, so it was very important for me to find a balance between soccer programs, as well as having the academic field I wanted to pursue.

What was the most challenging part of the recruiting process?

Time and time again you see fantastic athletes from Montana go under the radar. The hardest part in my head, without a doubt, is being seen, and in some cases respected by college coaches, based purely off geography.  

What advice would you give to younger athletes going through the recruiting process?

Get yourself out there as much as possible, send emails, and attend ID camps. Also keep in mind that when playing in front of a coach, the coach is likely recruiting you about 25% off of your skill level (not that it isn't important to be technically sound). A lot of coaches look largely into work ethic, and fitness. Running is a huge part of the next level, and if you are not one of, if not the, fittest player on the pitch, you will often be overlooked. 

What do high school athletes not understand about college sports?

The coach gets paid to win. They do not get paid to 'develop' players or have 'decent' seasons. The coach has one goal in mind, and that is to win soccer games.

What was/is the best part of playing college sports? What was/is the hardest part?

For me, the best part was the brotherhood. I made countless lifelong friends in my journey, and we continue to talk/travel together to this day. The biggest challenge was injuries. I seemed to be constantly injured, which affects anyone’s mental state. Realizing that injuries are a part of the journey helps you cope, however, maintaining fitness proved difficult.

Is there anything else you would like to share with high school athletes about playing college soccer, college in general, or life after high school?

I moved to Seattle in July of this year without knowing anybody. The first week I moved here, I joined a men's league team, and have made countless friends that way. Soccer has a large community, and just being involved in the community can lead to very strong relationships.