By: Malcolm Shields
The ultimate goal of all athletes is to turn the sport that they play into a profession. For most athletes, the first step towards that goal occurs on the fields of youth organizations.
The sport that is known as the “Beautiful Game” has taken root in Boca Raton and the fruits of its investment have produced scores of soccer players that have played either collegiately or professionally.
Youth soccer programs like Soccer Association of Boca Raton (SABR), Greater Boca Youth Soccer Association or Boca United, and Team Boca have given thousands of boys and girls in the region the chance to hone their skills on the numerous soccer pitches in Boca Raton.
Boca Raton youth soccer has produced world-class talent. United States Men’s National team member and member of the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, Jozy Altidore began his journey to the elite level of international soccer in Boca Raton.
“For me and my family, soccer is in our background. Soccer is the biggest sport in Haiti so everyone played,” Altidore said. “For me it was a no-brainer to play soccer.”
Along with providing valuable life lessons of teamwork and perseverance, local soccer organizations provide young athletes the opportunity to create memories and build relationships with teammates and coaches. “Youth soccer is one of my best memories,” Altidore said. “It [youth soccer] was a huge platform for me.”
Along with participating on a travel team, Altidore was a part of a program that played in multiple state and national soccer tournaments.
For many of the players on travel teams, the chance to play in major tournaments provides the opportunity to advance their soccer careers as many of the tournaments have coaches from the college ranks scouting for future talent. “Our first priority is to develop kids to play at the next level,” said President of SABR Hank Kreh of the travel program. “We want players in front of college coaches.”
The association also provides soccer programs for all levels in recreational leagues and for participants with disabilities. “Each kid receives a buddy in high school in Boca Raton,” Kreh said. The league for players with disabilities currently has over 150 participants.
Over the past five years, the growth of soccer in Boca Raton has steadily risen. Currently there are close to 3,000 youths that compete in youth soccer. The growth in girls participating in soccer has also risen. “Girls [participation] took a huge bump with the women’s national team in 2011,” Kreh said.
The excitement of women’s soccer increased with the presence of the Women’s Professional Soccer’s franchise, the magicjack, in Boca Raton and the United States’ success in the Women’s World Cup in 2011. In the past year, SABR was able to help nearly 40 girls to obtain full or partial scholarships to play collegiately.
Kristy Whelchel and Lisa Gomez were both youth soccer products from Boca Raton. Whelchel played high school soccer at Spanish River, collegiately at Duke University and professionally for the New York Power of the now defunct Women’s United Soccer Association from 2000 – 2003.
Gomez also played high school soccer at Spanish River, went on to play at the University of Miami and was selected to the Mexican National team in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. “I think that it is a huge thing,” Kreh said of having successful players come from the area.
The Jozy Altidore Foundation has also been committed to aiding youth soccer players to reach the next level. “There is a lot of talent here in South Florida. A lot of these guys get overlooked, as I did,” Altidore said. “I think we need to shed light on them.”
For all of the success, the platform that youth soccer provides is invaluable to keep area youth involved in a positive activity. “It’s important to keep kids healthy and to keep them out of trouble,” Altidore said.
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