Alex Schachinger, named to the 2016 Super Y League National Player Pool, has been preparing for the SYL North American Finals in a unique way, learning from an English Premier League champion.

Schachinger, who played for the Long Island Rough Riders U-14 during the summer, has been training with Christian Fuchs, Leicester City Football Club defender and Austrian National Team captain, as part of the Fox Soccer Academy. The Fox Soccer Academy, which focuses on improving players' strengths, was founded by Fuchs in 2014. To learn more about the Fox Soccer Academy, visit foxsoccer.academy.

Schachinger will compete at the SYL Finals in Bradenton, Florida, with the Concorde Fire, having been selected by the club through the Guest Player Pool.

RELATED: Player Pool Spotlight: Rough Riders' Sparkowski

The SYL Spotlights serve to highlight players from the National Player Pool. Players who excel during the Regional Scouting Series events are selected by the SYL and college coaches. A total of 195 players, including 99 girls and 96 boys, make up the 2016 National Player Pool. Players named have the opportunity to be chosen to take part in the 2017 USL Experience at San Antonio.

The USL Experience, a multi-day residential experience following a professional training format, provides an unprecedented look into professional American soccer and will offer SYL players the opportunity to compete against high-level youth competition. Invitations to the 2017 USL Experience are set to be revealed in January.

Alex Schachinger

Long Island Rough Riders Midfielder

SYL: How long have you trained with Fox Soccer Academy?

AS: I started training in person with Christian Fuchs and the other coaches of Fox Soccer Academy in New York in the summer of 2015. At the conclusion of the camp, Christian and Heinz Griesmayer, who trained Christian, were kind enough to offer to work with me virtually throughout the year when we were not able to train in person. Christian and Heinz would upload training videos to a shared account. I would have someone film me completing the training and then upload my videos for critique. In person, I have also worked with Fox Soccer Academy coaches Mark Smith, Sean Faulkner, Bernhard Bresich and world-renowned freestyler Martin Schopf. Each of them helped me to develop a unique aspect of my game.

SYL: What are some of the things you have learned through working with Christian Fuchs and Fox Soccer Academy?

AS: Christian and the other coaches at Fox Soccer Academy have taught me how to diversify my skills. Soccer is a physical game, a mental game and a tactical game. Each aspect takes a separate skill set that then needs to come together to be the best player and teammate on the field in a game.

SYL: What have you learned in regards to what it takes to become a professional player?

AS: It is an exciting opportunity to be able to ask an actual professional player such as Christian how he became a professional player. Christian has not only told me what it takes but has shown me as well. You have to have talent of course, but there are many talented players. You have to want it more and be willing to put in more effort than everyone else around you. You have to enjoy the training and the hard work. I love to play, but I also love to train. Now my hard work is paying off as I have been invited through Christian and Fox Soccer Academy I to trial in England this winter.

SYL: Has there been anyone that has been influential in your development as a player leading up to this point?

AS: I have been very fortunate to have parents who have played soccer, love the game and support me in every aspect. My brother, John, is a great influence because he is also an incredibly talented player and because he is fearless on the pitch. Christian Fuchs has been an incredible influence and role model. I am extremely lucky to have been able to work with him. I have also benefitted from some great coaches who have encouraged and believed in me such as Joe Odumewu, Manfred Kapper, Alex Fridman and Jordan Russolillo at NY HOTA Bavarians and Paul Curran, my coach at Long Island Rough Riders in the Super Y League. I also have a friend and teammate, Zachary Bernstein, who passed away from a brain tumor, who showed me what real courage and friendship are and what it truly takes to be a teammate. He is a constant reminder to me that although I take soccer very seriously, it is still a game, and that it should always be fun.

SYL: Is there a specific player you base your game off of when you play?

AS: I admire hard-working players like Christian Fuchs and the style of Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa and Mario Gomez; however, I am most interested in being the best possible player in every category as well as developing my own style.

SYL: Do you have any favorite memories during your Super Y League season or Regional Scouting Series events?

AS: Coach Paul was an excellent coach during the season, but he also had a great sense of humor and made sure games and practices were always fun. I have great friends from my Rough Rider team. We played hard and always had an excellent time together. I also got to make some new friends during the RSS that I hope I get the opportunity to play with again one day.

SYL: Are you interested in college soccer, and, if so, what colleges are you interested in attending?

AS: I am definitely interested in college soccer, as furthering my education is just as important to me as my soccer career. As a high school freshman, I have just started to look at different schools.