St. Charles East Girls Soccer is a perennial force in the state of Illinois. The team is once again charging into the Regional Finals against Geneva as the #1 Seed. This is something they’ve become accustomed to doing. But behind the consistent success is something less visible: a daily system that helps the coaching staff connect, adjust, and develop athletes across both the Girls and Boys programs.

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Coach Vince DiNuzzo has led both the Girls and Boys programs since 2017, guiding players through deep postseason runs and building a standard of excellence on and off the field. What sets his leadership apart isn’t just the wins, it’s how he’s built a culture of trust, self-awareness, and accountability. And for the past three seasons, XA Score has played a key role in that evolution.

“XA Score lets me adjust my session plans in real time. A quick glance in the morning tells me if we need to dial things up or down. And it’s opened up one-on-one conversations I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

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Culture Over Results

From the start, Coach DiNuzzo’s mission has been to prioritize connection over outcomes. Both programs emphasize traditions, pride, and belonging. That human-first approach is what made XA Score such a natural fit.

“We value culture over results. We want players to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. XA Score helps reinforce that by giving us a tool to check in with every athlete—not just physically, but mentally too.”

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Daily Impact, Built Into the Routine

XA Score provides a daily snapshot of soreness, sleep, and readiness. That data doesn’t just sit in a dashboard, it drives how practice is built and how communication flows throughout the day.

“Players are expected to check in by 8AM. I check it before I plan practice. If something stands out, we bring it up with the player before training begins. It’s just part of the routine now.”

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It’s not uncommon to see players talking during warmups about their check-ins, discussing what impacted their sleep or what’s bothering them physically. The daily repetition creates more than a record. It creates habits.

“XA is a part of their day. The reminders help them reflect, and that reflection builds awareness.”

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Every coach wants buy-in, but few build it as consistently as Coach DiNuzzo. He understands that real culture isn’t created through speeches or slogans, it’s built one small touchpoint at a time. XA Score gives his program those reps. Character is developed through consistency, awareness, and the simple act of reflection. And in his hands, XA Score isn’t just a tool to collect data on soreness and sleep, it’s a system for building discipline, resilience, and connection across both teams.

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From Red Flags to Real Coaching Moments

What makes XA Score powerful isn’t just the numbers, it’s what they reveal early enough for coaches to act.

“We had a girl check in with a ‘2’ on sleep and feeling. Turns out she had three tests that day. It helped us temper expectations and let her leave early. Another player logged low soreness after a week of ‘5s.’ We found out his hamstring was tight and got him treatment before it became something worse.”

These check-ins spark the kinds of conversations that prevent injuries, support mental wellness, and show players that their coaches are paying attention.

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A Standard Across Both Programs

What started as a pilot has become a foundational part of the St. Charles East identity. The Girls team especially has embraced it, even continuing their routine during the summer.

“One player told me it’d feel weird not doing XA Score in the offseason. That tells you it’s working.”

It’s also become part of the program’s recruiting and parent engagement strategy.

“We bring it up at Meet the Team Night. Parents see it as a signal that we care about their kid, not just as a soccer player, but as a person.”

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Leading With Awareness and Care

Today’s athletes expect more from their programs. For Coach DiNuzzo, that means being intentional, especially with large rosters and limited time.

“It’s our job to make sure every player knows we care about them. XA Score helps us check in and build that trust every single day.”

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In a game that’s evolving, this approach keeps St. Charles East ahead, not just in wins, but in the way they prepare their athletes to succeed long-term.

“Some kids speak up. Others won’t. XA Score gives us a way to check in with both.”

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Sustaining Success—and Leading by Example

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As both St. Charles East Soccer programs continue to raise the bar, it’s clear their edge isn’t just in tactics or talent, it’s in the daily habits and intentional culture that Coach DiNuzzo and his staff have built. XA Score is now part of that system, helping ensure every athlete is seen, supported, and set up to perform.

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Championship culture isn’t an outcome. It’s a process repeated every day.

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To follow the continued success of the Saints and see the program in action:

• X: @STCEGirlsSOCCER
• Instagram: @stcharlessoccer
• And follow Coach DiNuzzo @

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