As the 2016-17 school year begins this week, we take a look at the different Vancouver Whitecaps FC players who are continuing their studies while living their pro soccer dream.
You don’t need to spend much time with Marco Carducci to see that he’s mature beyond his years.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper is well-spoken, respectful, and pretty wise, too. It’s no surprise, therefore, that Carducci is continuing his education at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
“I think it’s cool to learn new things and continue to challenge yourself, and it’s something I hope to be able to use in the future,” Carducci told whitecapsfc.com. “You never know. It’s better to be prepared for that and have something to fall back on, but also beyond the scope of your professional career. You can’t play soccer forever.”
Told you he was wise.
Carducci, a native of Calgary, Alberta, is taking some business courses through TRU’s “Open Learning” program. It’s a perfect set-up for a professional athlete. In essence, the program allows students to take online courses and complete them at their own pace – no semesters, no deadlines.
“The best part about it is that flexibility,” said Carducci, who graduated from Burnaby Central Secondary – the home base of Whitecaps FC Residency players. “If I’m away on a trip and we have a lot of free time, that’s when it’s ideal to get some work done. Sometimes I’ll be busy for a couple of days, or have family in town, then I’ll put it aside and catch up later.”
This is Carducci’s second year in the program.
His first course was a communications one, which involved “a lot of writing.” Since then, he’s taken a few more courses that have been more business-centred, including the fundamentals of management and business practices course he’s taking now.
“A lot of theory and a lot of intro stuff so far, but it’s been fun,” Carducci said.
Most of Carducci’s work so far has been project-based, though his last course did have a final exam, which he took at BCIT’s downtown campus. Currently, Carducci is working towards a business skills certificate. As he continues to earn more credits, he could eventually get a diploma, and – down the road – even a bachelor of commerce degree.
“That will obviously take a bit of time, but it’s good to have that option available,” he said. “Hopefully over the next few years and I can work away at it and get closer and closer.”
Carducci said he has always been interested in the business of sport, which is potentially something he could pursue after his playing career.
For now, though, he’s not thinking too far ahead.
“I’m just taking it one step at a time,” Carducci said. “We have so much free time aside from soccer, it’s good to use that time towards bettering yourself, learning, and working towards something that will help you in the future.”
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