Soccer and Change Go Hand-in-Hand in Compton
Compton United Under-16 squad in action. (Compton United)
If the recent World Cup taught us anything (besides the fact that bad refereeing can really sour a tournament), it is that soccer has a special way of connecting and impacting people, usually in ways that are difficult to mimic through other activities. This is true even in a city without any soccer fields, such as Compton. Despite this challenge, however, the beautiful game has quickly become a powerful vehicle for change within the city.
“The other day I found a syringe with a needle on it,” explains Mike Herman, as he points to an area of the park a few feet away from where we are standing and chatting about Compton United Soccer Club, the organization he proudly leads. In the background, a wall littered with gang graffiti also serves as a reminder of the day-to-day dangers for many of the kids that make up the club. Within that context, the lack of proper training facilities and equipment shortages seem like a mere footnote.
The lack of facilities forces Compton United to practice at local city parks that allow the sport, but lack of city support means they do not have a permit and they must practice within whatever space they can make for themselves upon arriving. On this particular day, practice is at South Park and only a few more feet away from the scene of the syringe incident.
None of it seems to hinder the team’s desire to succeed or puts a damper on Herman’s motivation.
Founded in 2006, Compton United aims at enriching and improving the lives of at-risk youth through soccer. This is a club that is equally serious about producing talented soccer players as they are about producing individuals of good character. “They have to sign a 12 point contract,” says Herman, before going on to outline team expectations which, amongst other things, include maintaining certain academic standards, rules of conduct and community work.
Compton United has faced its challenges head on and has gradually grown over the years. They currently field multiple competitive boys and girls teams ranging in age from just under 6 to 16 and representing about 200 players. Of the 7 teams the organization manages, the boys under 16 squad has been together the longest and are coming off their most successful season, having reached the semifinal stage of the playoffs where they were eventually ousted on penalties. As Herman tells the story, he lightly jokes about the fact the team has never had a chance to practice penalties on a regulation size goal and how that may have contributed to their loss.
Over the years, professional players such as former Galaxy defender Julian Valentin and Chivas USA teammates Michael Lahoud and Justin Braun have helped with not only improving soccer skills, but also mentoring the kids. Valentin is no longer in the L.A. area, but both Lahoud and Braun are regulars at Compton United practices.
Herman explains how their presence is significant as they also help mentor the kids on the value of going to college, learning a trade, etc. Chivas USA has also allowed the team access to their front office, exposing them to the behind-the-scenes work that is required to run a professional soccer club and in turn, show them that there are other skills they could learn and yet remain tied to the sport.
Throughout the evening, Herman gives a variety of other examples touching on the various aspects of character development the team stresses. Perhaps the most telling example was the one he didn’t mention: the level of respect various players demonstrated. As we spoke, practice took a break and immediately, several players came to greet Mike with an extended hand and respectful greeting. They did the same to me, without hesitation. The scene repeated itself once practice completed at which point Head Coach Ramiro Caldera also joined the conversation.
Caldera, himself a former soccer player, recent college graduate and from a similar background as many of the players, volunteers his time to Compton United. He finds the experience rewarding beyond what words can describe and of greater value to him than any material thing he can think of. When asked what was one of the most rewarding things he’s heard from one his players, he says “Coach, we are getting better.”
If you’d like to help them continue down that path, check out their web site, located at http://www.comptonunited.org. They are in desperate need of equipment such as balls, portable goals, first aid kits, etc. Monetary donations also go a long way as many of the families have limited resources and the team regularly struggles to pay tournaments fees or buy uniforms, as is the current case. Donations can be made through their web site.