Hundreds of soccer players, coaches, and internationally renowned soccer celebrities gathered at De Anza College on June 2-4, for the Latin American Soccer Coaching Association’s 3rd annual coaching symposium.

Soccer celebrities from around the world participated as guest speakers and instructors.

“We try not just to teach, but to present an environment that can teach them to be soccer lovers, not soccer players,” said Rene Miramontes, on LASCA’s involvement with youth athletes.

Miramontes, the assistant coach of the Colorado Rapids is a former officer of LASCA. He continues to support the organization, as he says it reaches out to the Latino community.

Roberto Perfumo of Argentina, known as “El Mariscal,” held classroom lectures on teamwork and also held coaching clinics on the De Anza soccer field. He was a captain of the 1974 Argentinean World Cup team. Perfumo played on several teams, having won many championships throughout Latin America and Europe.

Other guest instructors included: Tim Carter, director of player development for the United States Soccer Federation; Javier “Zuli” Ledezma, member of the famous “Chivas” of Guadalajara Mexico; Mauricio “Pipo” Rodriguez, director of the El Salvador national team; and USSF National staff coaches Carlos Menjivar and Jaun Carlos Michia.

“I think it’s really interesting, if you pay attention you can learn a lot from all the coaches, it’s a good learning experience,” said Miguel Ramirez of Suisun.

Ramirez was among the many young athletes from several California cities and other states that were awed in the presence of their idols.

Founded six years ago, as a branch of the USSF, LASCA has grown at an accelerated pace. LASCA now has nearly 1,000 members and 13 chapters nationally.

With the support of new sponsors, the organization now has enough financial backing to continue having events.

LASCA president Carlos Menjivar states, “We need all the Latino’s cooperation and a unified effort to continue to grow.”

LASCA’s vision is to create youth soccer teams in areas where there would otherwise be none. LASCA also has a goal to disseminate information to players and coaches, as well as developing programs for coaches.

Working with LASCA to ensure success, the USSF launched two new programs to help identify and develop youth soccer players: Project 2010 for boys under 14, and Project Gold for girls under 14. The new programs are slated to bring minority communities into soccer. Carter is leading both programs.

Intense lecture sessions were held in Forum 1. Coaches listened closely, and were allowed to ask questions during the classes. The lecture topics included teamwork and “The Three Moments of Soccer.”

The lectures were not just serious.The celebrity lecturers and the participating coaches shared many laughs. Many times, the lecturers seriously pondered about answering difficult questions.

“That is the purpose,” said Menjivar. The symposium gave coaches the opportunity to ask hard questions to professional coaches and players.

To extend their knowledge, coaches attended a professional soccer game between the San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado Rapids of the MLS. After watching the game, the coaches gathered in Spartan Stadium’s locker room to criticize and analyze the game with Miramontes. Miramontes gave his opinions of the game and then coaches gave their critiques. Some of the analyses were very accurate, and others were laughed at.

In their short time of existence, LASCA has created a certification program for coaches. The program requires coaches to pass courses in which they are taught effective strategies in coaching.

“In the last five years we have hosted clinics and developed coaching licenses, together with USSF. Recently, we have had clinics free of charge to low-income participants,” said Andres Orejvera, president of LASCA’s San Francisco chapter.

Working with USSF, LASCA plans to have more events in the future.