Humans of Downey - Louis

"I like playing soccer because we get to run around the field and we get to have lots of team work during the entire match. I also enjoy the competition of like-minded players.

"I had to try really hard to get on this team, the Downey High School team. Every day, before school and after school, I would come out to do training with the team to show the coaches that I was dedicated and wanted to be part of the team. It paid off because now I'm part of the team. I play left defender, which means I stay on my goal's side of the field to defend against attackers of the other team. I like being a defender because of the importance of that position. If there were no defenders then the goalie would have no one to help him out when the attackers came. It is a team sport.

"I would like to make it into a college level team of even higher. It will take a lot more dedication, hard work, putting in more effort to being more of a team player. Then I will need to show the coaches how much I want to be on their team. I need to show them that I want it more than other players. I don't think I have the physical abilities to play on that level now, but that is why I'm on this team, to build myself into that level of player. My coaches are helping me and training me to become better as a player."
~ Louis

This interview took place after the first league match between Downey HIgh School and Lynwood High School where Downey won 2-0.

Learning by example

Soccer lessons start young. But at this age, concepts like "take the ball around that cone" and "relay race" can be difficult. So when these boys didn't quite catch on initially, the dads stepped in to demonstrate.

Humans of Downey - Cesar

"I've been playing soccer since I can remember. I have played baseball and football but soccer has the most running. There's a lot more to do. I like that because when I would play baseball, I would get bored. You're always waiting, waiting on the bench to play or waiting for the ball to come to you. I like soccer because there's more action, there's a lot more going on on the field and the whole team is always active.

"Two of our Downey teams recently went to Hawaii for a tournament against three Hawaiian teams. My team lost every match but overall we played well and took away a wider soccer experience and new friendships.

"Soccer is helping me to become a better person and a better adult. I am learning personal responsibility because the individuals on the field have to play as one team, like a body with many parts but with a single goal. It's not just one player that wins, you have to work together. And there's leadership, teamwork, and being personally responsible for your own equipment necessary to play well.

"I've also learned more about friendship, getting to know more about individual people so you can understand others and play well. Sometimes you'll be playing with a new player and you don't know how they play, but you have to trust them and then learn who they are, their abilities.

"I've also learned how to calm my teammates down when there is a disagreement on the field. I stay calm myself and then talk them down to a calmer level."
~ Cesar

Aloha!

Danny Ramirez, 15, is heading for Hawaii! He and several other local AYSO teams will be competing in the Aloha International Cup in July.

This will be Danny's second trip to Hawaii. The first time, his older sister was competing, and the family visited Maui. This time, they're going to Oahu, and Danny hopes to find time to visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. But mostly, he and his teammates want to play to win and have a good time.

The players were taking a break today so that a picture could be taken of all of the teams that are going to Hawaii to compete. To facilitate the picture-taking, the teams were lining up in height order.

Soccer season

Soccer season starts soon, and the Lil Tinkerbells at Furman Park are ready. They got their uniforms today, and they can hardly wait!

Change is the only constant

Today is the last day of the 2010 school year in Downey. For the seniors, that means graduation, and change, and a wide-open future.

I like how Dr. Seuss put it.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Congratulations, Downey graduates!

And by the way, go Mexico!

One big soccer ball

Furman Park, Baseball field, while on a picnic.



I know during the course of this blog's life, Pam, Joan, and I have done multiple shots of the Downey parks but I guess we can't help it. There are so many different things going on that every shoot is different. This one happened on accident when Kodi (the dog) decided to interrupt a nearby pickup soccer game to chase the ball. On coming closer to the ball, however, he realized how big it was and quickly got out of its way. The boys had to play with him for a while till he got up his little nerve to actually tackle the giant. When he finally did, he couldn't get enough.