When a soccer player passes the age of 30, their best days are usually behind them. That’s certainly not the case with Chad Vendegriffe. 

The 33-year-old from Saint Louis has been a leading light for the Florida Tropics in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) over the past two seasons. And, like a fine wine, he seems to be getting better as the years roll by. 

His professional career started ten years ago. Having starred for Saint Louis University’s soccer team in 2010-11, Vandegriffe signed for Saint Louis Ambush in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

He represented his home city team for three years before moving to Milwaukee Wave at the start of the 2016-17 MASL season. In 2018-19, he helped the Wisconsin outfit win the Championship, and now he’s aiming to repeat that success with the Tropics.

Last season was, statistically, Vandegriffe’s best as a professional. The defender made a career-high 54 shot blocks and made key contributions at the other end of the field too, scoring five goals.

Despite his team losing in the Playoff Semi-Finals to San Diego Sockers (USMNT legend Landon Donovan’s former team), Vandegriffe was named MASL’s Defender of the Year in 2021-22. 

Speaking after the award announcement, coach Clay Roberts had high praise for his player.

“Chad is the bedrock on which our defense has been built,” the Tropics supremo said. “He is smart, dedicated, talented and the kind of player that every coach wants to have on the roster. He had a fantastic year, and is richly deserving of the honor.”

Clearly a top professional, then. But what advice does Vandegriffe have for youngsters eager to follow in his footsteps? Here are six tips from one of the top athletes in the MASL… 

Learn from defeat

Chad has experienced plenty of highs in his career. But you can’t enjoy the sweet taste of success without suffering the occasional blip. So how does he bounce back from defeat?

“You have to get it out of your mind quick,” he told MASL Insider. “Learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and then get ready to go again. You have to believe in yourself, have belief in the person next to you and trust in your coaching staff.” 

Study your opponents

Like all things in life, when it comes to soccer, good preparation is vital in overcoming a challenge. That means doing your homework when it comes to your opponents.

“Sometimes the hardest opponents are the ones you know very little about,” Vandegriffe says. 

“One of the problems we faced against Kansas City in last season’s Playoffs was we hadn’t played them in the regular season. We’d only seen them from afar, watching their games on video. That made it difficult. If you don’t know your opponent’s tendencies, you can get caught off guard.” 

Value your teammates

It might sound corny, but for Vandegriffe, there really is no ‘I’ in ‘team’.

“Individual stats are nice, but the team winning is what matters. And no team should have to rely on one person. 

“That’s what makes the Tropics such a threat. If our opponents try to shut down one or two guys, other players will step up and show what they’ve got. You need more than one, two or three people scoring all your points. On this team, the responsibilities are spread out. 

“Also, every team suffers injuries. At some point, you need those guys who’ve been standing on the sidelines to step in. Soccer’s a team game — and the team even goes beyond the 15 in your game-day squad.”

Take the rough with the smooth

Performing in front of thousands of fans might sound dreamy, but a career as a professional athlete is a bumpy ride. So Vandegriffe says it’s important to take the rough with the smooth. 

“It’s easy when you’re playing at home. You get to sleep in your own bed and practice at your own facilities. But there’s travel involved, you’re away a lot. There are bad times as well as good. But you need to go through those to appreciate the special moments. Think of it like character building for when you get into high-pressure games like the Playoffs.”

Focus on what’s in front of you

‘Take each game as it comes’ has long been a mantra for soccer players and coaches alike. But Vandegriffe says there’s a reason for that.

“I can’t look too far ahead — I’m only looking at the next game. In fact, in a regular game, I break it down quarter by quarter. When you’ve won the first quarter, it’s time to focus on the second. When you start looking at the bigger picture you’re in danger of taking your eye off the challenge that’s right in front of you.” 

Maintain balance

Finally, one of Vandegriffe’s most important pieces of advice for young athletes: stay grounded.

“Indoor soccer is all about individual moments and it’s easy to get swept up in them. But you don’t want to get too high when things go well. You also don’t want to get too low when things don’t go your way. When you have experience, you don’t get carried away so much — and I guess that helps you become a good leader.”