Zac Herr is only an 11-year-old soccer player, but he will have the honor of representing his country this summer at the 2009 Youth Friendship Games in Vienna, Austria. Zac was selected for the U.S. Boys 11-13 soccer team as part of the Sports Ambassador Program.
“I was kind of excited and surprised,” Zac, a sixth grader at St. Clement Mary Hofbauer School in Rosedale said. “I never thought I would be picked to play soccer across the world.”
Zac's father Dan Herr said his son loves the sport of soccer and has played for the Baltimore Soccer Academy for the past three years.
“He is a very good offensive player and that's why we decided to sign him up for the Baltimore Soccer Academy. Soccer is the only sport he plays,” Dan said.
To get selected, Zac had to submit references and had participated in a successful interview process with program coaches and leaders. Before leaving, he will attend orientation meetings with a local coordinator and other coaches to prepare for the journey.
The 10-day event will not only provide Zac a chance to work with international coaches and building athletic skills, but he will get an education and first hand look at the culture of Austria. Zac will be exploring Austrian cultural monuments including the Schonbrunn Palace, the Mauthausen concentration camp and the Vienna Prater amusement park.
”It's not going to just be all soccer. We are going to explore many museums over in Austria,” Zac added.