The American Youth Soccer Organization has long been regarded as a grass-roots program, where young children first learn the basics of the game before many heed the call to more competitive horizons. But AYSO has developed its own competitive program, which through AYSO Region 116 is known as the Bonita Matrix.
The Matrix offers†the opportunity to play club soccer without a large expense and where coaches, board members and managers are all parent volunteers. Coaches continue to follow the AYSO’s six philosophies: everyone plays, balanced teams, open registration, positive coaching, good sportsmanship and player development.
After coaching his son’s team in the Bonita AYSO core program to great success (a runner-up finish in the Orange County regional championships), Rogelio Garcia decided it was time to try coaching a team in competitive club soccer.
Garcia approached Luis Avalos, the father of Quike Avalos, one of the players who had already played for him on his regular AYSO team, about working together to coach a Bonita Matrix under-11 boys team team. The elder Avalos grew up around soccer and had a lot of experience playing and coaching at various levels, so he thought they would work well together†as a†team.
The opportunity was there and the two men took it. They selected 14 boys, 12 of whom had never played club soccer and were all coming from the AYSO core program.
“It’s been a real family effort,” Garcia said.
Team managers Martha Avalos and Blanca Garcia have worked with parents to put together fundraisers and have traveled together†to cheer on the boys at every game.
“We had an undefeated season playing in the Presidio League bracket AA-B while competing against name clubs such as Albion, Nado, Aztecs and the Bonita Rebels and look forward to the promotion to the AA-A bracket in 2011,” the elder Garcia said.
Besides scoring success during the regular season, the Matrix U11 boys teams also had great showings in several tournaments throughout the recently completed season. The Matrix finished as finalists in the Nott’s Forest Cup, Carmel Valley Manchester Cup, Rady†Childrens Hospital Charity Cup and Bayern Cup. The Matrix won the Crown City Classic Tournament.
