For AYSO athletes, soccer comes down to Fundamentals

By Leila Wai
Special to The Advertiser

Derek Leong, far right, of the Kane'ohe Knights, launches a shot over hard-charging Hilo Bronco goalkeeper Brent Minato during an under-12 match at the AYSO Kirk Banks Soccer Tournament at Waipi'o Soccer Complex. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I was a little intimidated to try something new," said Ching, 24, recalling those days 17 years ago.

"Going into it, with it being a positive atmosphere, it really helped. They made sure everyone had fun. That initial impression of having fun really kept me in it. It introduced me to the game, it got me playing, and once I was introduced, I fell in love with it."

Ching, who began playing in Hale'iwa when he was 7, is now a forward with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

Ching's experience after his initial foray into the sport is what the American Youth Soccer Association, a group 22,000 strong in Hawai'i, strives for.

Comfort level

More than 630,000 boys and girls, ages 4 through 18, in 46 states, participate in AYSO.

There are also 250,000 volunteer coaches, referees and administrators — most of whom are parents of the participants.

This helps newer players become more comfortable.

"I wouldn't play unless my mom coached," said Ching, a Kamehameha graduate and the 1996 Interscholastic League of Honolulu player of the year, said. "I made my mom coach, and she knew nothing about soccer. She went out, bought the books, and read up."

AYSO differs from the other youth league in Hawai'i, the Hawai'i Youth Soccer Association (HYSA), which players join on an invitation-only or tryout basis.

"A lot of the other sports are very competitive," Jon Fujita of Honolulu said. "AYSO is more about participation rather than competition. Not every kid is going to be an athletic star. Just to have them out there participating is good."

Confidence builder

AYSO is ruled by the basic philosophies of sportsmanship and participation. Because of its principles, members are able to combine exercise and fun in a positive atmosphere.

Kane'ohe Knight Keola Antone dribbles ahead of a pack of Hilo Bronco defenders in the Knights' 5-1 victory. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

According to Fujita's son, Michael, however, it's about much more.

"It's fun to run around," Michael, 11, said. "You feel good if you score, assist, or do your best. And you get uniforms! And you get to meet people. It's just fun to play."

As 11-year-old Ari Ashkenazi of Honolulu put it: "It's fun; there's not a whole bunch of competition. You don't have to win to have fun."

Ashkenazi's mother, Kathy Ferguson, said, "You learn a lot, and everyone gets to play. Coaches are always great, and they care about the kids. They promote teamwork and sportsmanship. I think it's a great organization. It's such a great growing experience for a kid."

Learning experience

Honolulu resident Mela Kealoha-Lindsey's knows that all too well. Her 9-year-old son, Ka'eo, is an only child. Five years ago, she signed him up to play AYSO, and saw a change in him on and off the field.

"My son is a strong-minded child," Kealoha-Lindsey said. "The best thing he learned was to work with kids that have other personalities. He grew quite a bit. Not until he got to soccer did he learn to share and play with other kids. It was a major hurdle in the development of his personality, and it really helped him in school."

Ka'eo said that participating in AYSO helped him to "concentrate more and work with other people better." He said he learned the importance of teamwork and getting along well with others.

He said what he likes best is "just playing the game and having fun; meeting new friends and having a good time."

Practice upcoming

Practice for the fall season begins Aug. 1, and games usually start the first weekend of September. There is also a spring season, which has just been completed.

"We are one of the biggest youth sports programs in the U.S.," Honolulu regional commissioner Doug Park said. "We are very organized and provide a lot of support to kids and parents with programs such as coaching, officiating, and new parent clinics.

"AYSO lays the groundwork, the basic foundation that there is more than winning in competition."