The Costa girls soccer team share their love for the game and mentor soccer players in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). The program is in its fifth year and currently has 32 volunteers to mentor the Manhattan and Hermosa AYSO girls under 10 team (GU10).
“[The kids] really look up to you and it is great to be a role model for them and inspire them to stick with soccer,” freshman Riley Hansen said. “It is the best volunteer program I have ever done, and I’m so happy that Costa offers it to us.”
Members of the program go through a series of online tests on the AYSO website to become a certified mentor. The first test teaches the mentors how to coach kids under 10 years old and what to incorporate into their practices. The following tests teach the mentors about concussions, concussion protocol and how to put the safety of the players first.
“My favorite part is definitely being able to work with the girls as someone who they can look up to,” senior program chair Olivia Tuffli said. “Having a high school player that the young girls are able to work with every year is really cool because it makes them realize that they can play when they’re older too.”
The mentors attend the AYSO practices and games to assist the coaches and help the players improve their skills. They also set up passing, dribbling and shooting drills for the team to help the girls improve their technique.
“Our mentors are also great role models for the girls who enjoy having them at training and seeing them is a really important part of their AYSO experience,” AYSO coach Mark Hodson said. “The mentors have great experience as accomplished players but also have a unique ability to connect with younger players who benefit from their experience. I am hopeful that over time, many of the mentors continue to be involved in the game and hopefully become coaches in the future.”
As chair of the program, Tuffli finds and matches mentors to a team. She is also in charge of promoting the organization and communicating with the GU10 AYSO commissioner. She also coordinates with the coaches to assure they understand what the mentors should be doing. Tuffli will pass this commitment to sophomore Rachel Fox next year.
“I am excited [to be the new chair],” Fox said. “The coaches and young players really appreciate the help, so I am looking forward to continuing the program.”
Mentors are encouraged to go to one practice or game per week but are always allowed to go to more practices in order to encourage the players to improve their skills, Fox said. This
program provides positive female role models in the sport which is critically important, Hodson said.
“It’s so cool to see the girls get excited for their careers in the future,” junior Ashley Stepczyk said. “I think that for them, seeing older girls play makes it possible that this is something they can continue, [and] it’s so fun to know that you are inspiring them to be like the older girls.”
The program created the AYSO GU10 Field Crew, which allows players to sign up and be a ball girl at Costa girls soccer home games where they will join the pregame team huddles and collect soccer balls on the sidelines.
“It’s nice not having to chase after a ball, but it’s nicer to be able to see the look of awe on [the GU10 players] little faces when they see the soccer they could be playing in a few years,” Tuffli said.
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