Randolf Roth - Randy, since he arrived in the US - is from Dresden and played for Dynamo Dresden in the U19 Bundesliga. Like every academy player, he faced the question: chase the professional contract, or open a new chapter? He chose the new chapter, and is now in his second year at Regis University in Colorado.
The rhythm of a day
The day starts with training from seven to nine. "One thing that's definitely different is the mentality," he says. "Americans don't seem to care about what time you train, an experience we haven't had in Germany." After training, the cafeteria, then classes - the earliest slot is 9:30. After lunch more classes, then the weight room, then schoolwork, calls home, dinner, and in the evening a game of pool.
The compactness is part of the design: on his campus everything is in one place - training ground, classes, cafeteria, gym - five minutes from each other.
Three intense months
The college season is short and dense: roughly late August to early November, with two games a week plus travel, on top of coursework. During those months, Randy puts his time at about 50:50 between studying and soccer.
What carries the experience, in his telling, is the squad itself: "We have a Frenchman, an Icelander, a Greek, an Italian - we have many, and we all experience the same things. It feels like a family." His conclusion after a year and a half is unspectacular and honest: the life of a college soccer player is not always easy, but the combination of sport and degree is worth every full day of it.
From the Athletes USA archive - first published January 2025
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