Opening Day tomorrow

For me, it's Opening Day tomorrow for my new U19 team based out of College Park. It has been a long time coming for this group, with the majority of them working all summer to come together as a team. It hasn't been easy, but what is these days? It's a U19 team, but with players ranging from 14-18 years old. Hey, it's the best we could do, and the only way to keep all of these guys together.

For them, it's an opportunity to play in something structured, and get a taste of what could lie ahead. There's so many of them with the skill to play in any club in the city, but without the wallet size or SUV to get there. Some of these guys have actually had to drop out of school to support their families when parents have become ill. This isn't The Big Green, or Kicking and Screaming, or whatever other Hollywood interpretation of youth soccer you might think about. This is real life, right in your face.

The skill is there, but the hardest thing for these guys is the trust and commitment needed to take that next step. For some, they're satisfied being the stud of the local bootleg league, but they deserve more. That's the plan, to show them more...

I've really loved working with these kids over the summer. I'm hoping that they're getting what I get out of it. Now I can't wait to see it in a game that matters...