The SXA Way has roots in a moment many years ago that changed how Coach Ming viewed the sport forever: Diego Maradona’s legendary goal in the 1986 World Cup. That run—joyful, daring, technical, and improvised—became a lifelong study in what makes a truly great player.

Across soccer cultures, the idea is universal: the Brits call it a technical player, the French say un joueur technique, the Argentinians, habilidoso, and the Brazilians call it craque. All describe a player with mastery on the ball, comfort in chaos, a clean first touch, creativity, and confidence. SXA draws from these global traditions and blends them into a distinctly American soccer identity—one rising in the western hemisphere and shaped by the creativity, rhythm, and diversity of the Americas.

Is every kid going to become a Maradona, Messi, Mbappé, or Yamal? No.

But can every player meet—and exceed—their maximum potential with the ball at their feet? Absolutely.

That is what the SXA Way is built for.

At SXA, this philosophy becomes The CTRL Player:

CTRL your development — master your skills and play with creativity.
CTRL under pressure — stay composed when the game gets chaotic.
CTRL your response — your tempo, touch, and decisions in the moment.
CTRL yourself — effort, attitude, and teamwork, not the ref, score, or sidelines.

A CTRL Player masters themselves in both training and matches. They stay steady through the ups and downs, focus on the moment, and control what they can control: effort, attitude, touch, and intensity. This is the essence of SXA—developing technically gifted, mentally grounded players who play with joy, intelligence, and purpose.