The game of one-touch is known by many different names in the world of soccer training, but the concept is simple. A group of players stand in a circle and try to keep a soccer ball in the air for as long as possible. To limit mobility, players sometimes put their hands behind their backs or tightly cross their arms like a straitjacket.
When a player is forced to do a double-touch, then he must suffer a punishment devised by his teammates. On Friday at Toronto FC's training session, the unfortunate player was Maurice Edu. The midfielder was forced to make some extra contact to keep the ball within the circle, and the move drew a teasingly ominous "ohhhh" from his teammates. The players gathered around Edu and gave him his comeuppance -- a number of finger-flicks to the head, while Edu held up his hands in mock protest.
"I'm always the one that's taking the brunt of the foul play," joked Edu. "These guys add in rules every now and then to screw someone over."
Moments like this in training serve as a reminder that Edu is still a rookie, as the 21-year-old has had precious few of those on the field this season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft has become a contender for the Rookie of the Year award and become a fixture in Toronto FC's midfield.
Despite missing the first two games of the year due to injury and one game due to a red-card suspension, Edu is still third in minutes for Toronto with 1,190.
It is a heavy workload for a first-year player, but Edu credits his teammates with preparing him to shoulder the burden.
"The impression I got from the coaches was that I'd see significant minutes depending on if I performed well in training and in games," Edu said. "After the first few games you get confident and start feeling freer ... my teammates have done a tremendous job of making the game a lot easier for me. The guys playing in the middle with me, Robbo [Carl Robinson], Welshie [Andy Welsh], Ronnie O'Brien, they've helped my adjustment from college to professional soccer. My hat's off to them because without those guys and the way they've been helping me along the way I wouldn't be where I am now."
Edu's fellow midfielders played a role in developing the youngster's scoring touch. Though he scored 10 goals and 11 assists in 55 career starts at the University of Maryland, Edu was considered to be a defensive-minded midfielder. Since coming to MLS, however, Edu has three goals with Toronto, including the game-winner in a 4-0 win against FC Dallas on June 17 and the equalizer in TFC's 1-1 draw with Chicago on July 7.
"I think they encouraged me to be a two-way player," Edu said. "To get in the box and the end of plays and work them back. The main thing is to play a lot smarter. Robbo and Ronnie have encouraged me to think a play ahead, know where you want to go when you get the ball, know where your options are and increase your vision."
And that game of one-touch isn't just an opportunity to have some fun with the rookie -- it's also a valuable training tool.
"You can't take the cushion touch all the time, so you really learn how to play one-touch soccer," Edu said. "In college you have a little more time on the ball, so you're a little bit too comfortable at times. Here, the speed of play is a little bit quicker."
Unlike in other sports, a No. 1 overall pick in MLS isn't necessarily expected to immediately step in and lift a whole team in the manner of a LeBron James or a Sidney Crosby. Toronto coach Mo Johnston didn't want to put any pressure on his young star by anointing him the face of the club, but he did expect a quality effort. In that respect, the coach has been more than satisfied with Edu's performance.
"He's a tremendous young athlete and a tremendous player," Johnston said. "We watched him numerous times at Maryland and knew he was going to flourish. When you get No. 1 draft picks, you want to play them and start them ... but it's hard to find someone like him because they're not always that good a caliber. He's been wonderful for us."
Johnston said that other teams have inquired about Edu, and the midfielder's ultimate destiny may be in a higher league.
"He's someone we look forward to working with for a long time," Johnston said. "It's going to be hard to keep ahold of him, to be honest with you, since a lot of teams have asked about him. Sooner or later they'll be chomping at the door and we don't hold him back. You saw against Aston Villa, [Nigel] Reo-Coker comes in the game, and [Edu] manhandled him easily. [Reo-Coker is] a kid who has played in the Premiership."
To hear Edu talk, however, you'd think he was a free agent trying to break onto the reserve squad. He said hasn't let his high draft status influence his work ethic.
"[Being drafted first] was an honor and I'm appreciative for it, but that's done now," he said. "Now I'm just a player on the team. Every day I come out and work as hard as I can to earn my spot. Nothing is guaranteed, you know? You have ups and downs but I'm on an up right now and hopefully that continues."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
