Young soccer player trains at Olympic development camp

Xander Burger could reach his goal of playing soccer for 10,000 hours sooner than he thinks.

The soccer obsessed 13-year-old rarely is found without a ball at his feet. Whether its playing games in the middle of winter or juggling the ball around at night alone in his backyard — Burger is always looking to improve his game.

He follows the philosophy that if a person commits to practicing their skill for at least 10,000 hours, they will eventually rise to the top.

Burger’s dedication seems to be paying off.

The Whitefish Middle School student was recently invited to an Olympic Development Program regional camp for top soccer players his age from 12 Western states. The elite camp is run by the U.S. Soccer Association and is a first step the long path to playing collegiate or professional soccer. He was one of only five Montana kids to be invited.

“I was nervous at first because I knew it would be the toughest competition I’ve ever played against,” Burger said.

But a few days into the week-long camp, he realized that he could hang with the best of the best 13-year-olds.

“I learned a lot from playing with other players at that level,” he said. “It’s going to make me a lot better.”

Burger began playing soccer around 4 or 5 years old, but just recently matured into a standout striker with a knack for finding the back of the net.

He plays locally for the Flathead Rapids U14 soccer team, despite only recently turning 13, and has been training with the U.S. Soccer/Montana Olympic Development team this year.

While the sky is the limit for Burger, he remains incredibly modest about his potential.

“I just want to play soccer,” he said. “I just like playing.”