Why FSC?
For over two decades, coaching has been a massive part of my life. My journey started back in 2003, coaching my daughter under the sunny skies of Los Angeles. When we relocated to Michigan around 2010, I found myself on the sidelines for a bit, watching in my important role as a parent supporter while my middle son played in the Farmington Hills youth rec league in 2011. By 2013, his coach made the decision to move the team to the club level, forming a squad with Livonia. After two incredibly successful years there, we had the opportunity to bring the entire team “home” to the Farmington Soccer Club as the U11 Fury in 2015.
The 2016 season was nothing short of magic. The Fury went 13-3-0, scoring 50 goals while giving up only eight. We won our division and ranked 29th in the state. The boys had an absolute blast, and the parents truly enjoyed spending those weekends together on the sidelines—so much so that just this last Saturday, our coach, Coach Tom Huber, hosted a Fury reunion on his back patio. It was the perfect reminder of what happens when well-intended folks dedicate their time and effort to volunteering and supporting their community.
Then, at the end of the 2016 season, the floor dropped out. US Soccer declared the new birth year registration mandate. Starting in the 2017 season, teams that had grown up together were ripped apart overnight, and players were reshuffled strictly by birth year. We were devastated. Everyone was devastated. Tryouts that year felt completely different. We lost old players and dear friends, while gaining new faces and new families.
We rested and recouped over that summer, and then we hit the pitch in the fall. It only took a few weeks of practice to realize that we had actually gained far more than we initially thought. Yes, we did lose some teammates and their families, but they were still playing, just not with us. In addition to our new friends and families, we gained a variety of useful skills, adaptation and resilience being two of the biggest. These are remarkably important life lessons that these young men were able to learn in a relatively safe way, and skills that I know will continue to benefit them their entire lives. Sports aren’t static; they are fluid, unpredictable, and in a constant state of change. When you think about it, that’s what makes sports so compelling. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.
After the reshuffle, the newly formed Fury 06 was still a force. A force for fun, engagement, growth, and experience. They went on to multiple seasons filled with exciting wins and painful losses, and there were so many unforgettable moments just hanging out with the families on tournament trips. My scrappy little center back went on to play for multiple teams and clubs, and this fall he’ll be going into his third year of playing collegiate soccer as he pursues his undergrad in molecular biology and biochemistry (yes, I’m a very proud dad).
In 2018 shortly after the mandatory change, I started coaching my youngest son and his teammates on the Fury 10 squad. Almost 8 years later, I can easily say that I cherish every opportunity with this club. Some of those opportunities present themselves as joy, like when I see a player struggling with something finally make a breakthrough, or when the boys support each other after a rough match, or when I see a beaming parent on the sideline watching their kid thrive and succeed. Those moments are unforgettable, and they are made even brighter through the remarkable privilege and lens of being a coach. Other experiences, while they can be frustrating, still present that same opportunity for growth, understanding, and resilience. We are all passionate. They are all our kids. But let’s never forget that this is youth sports and we are volunteers. Volunteering to me means an opportunity to gift my time and hopefully knowledge for the greater benefit of those around me. I try my best to remind myself that nothing is owed to me. I choose to give, like you all do. The club owes me nothing, just like the players and parents owe me nothing.
When I was initially asked to take on the president’s role, I was hesitant. Not because I didn’t want to continue with the club, but because I knew what was coming. We were facing another massive age-change rule alongside the elimination of anti-poaching regulations, all compounded by an era of multi-million dollar clubs that outspend us annually in a single week. Trying to keep a grassroots club true to its mission in that kind of shifting, hyper-competitive landscape is a terrifyingly heavy lift.
Before accepting the role, I spent over a month reaching out to our volunteers, parents, and players, asking them a simple question: Why FSC?
The responses I got back were as authentic and diverse as we are as the organization:
“Because my big sister played here.”
“Because it’s affordable.”
“Because it’s a chance to give back to my community.”
“Because I want to compete.”
“Because I love being the underdog.”
“Because no one else raised their hand.”
“Because my mom’s the coach.”
“Because I’m saving for college.”:
“Because I don’t have the money for all three of my kids to play anywhere else.”
“Because I was cut from my old team.”
“Because I just love coaching.”
Every single person I spoke to helped me remember why it is so crucial that we show up and keep giving. This club means something unique to everyone involved. For 50 years, volunteers at the Farmington Soccer Club have put in the work to ensure there is a place for children to play organized soccer at a reasonable cost. In a time where money seems to be everything, I am incredibly proud to be involved with an organization that proudly says the players, families, and volunteers are everything. We are everything, and it’s because of all of us that we are able to create true success on the pitch, regardless of record.
I want to be there when that new group of kids puts on those jerseys and see that dynamic synergy take over. I want to be there for the kid who might struggle with natural talent, but with a little help and relentless grit, finally achieves that significant breakthrough. I want to be there when a player fails and instead of hanging their head, digs deep and sprints twice as hard to win the ball back because they know they have a safe place to learn from their mistakes and grow. I want to be there for the wins and for the losses. I hope you will be there with me.
To every parent who trusts us with their kids, and every volunteer who keeps the Farmington Soccer Club running, thank you. Let’s strive to serve the soccer community and its families for another 50 years.