Futbol playoffs

Photos of yesterday's game...
Photos on flickr

These young men and this program have earned whatever support they can get. I'm not an organizer or a detail person but am the kind of person that can make connections and bring folks together for the organizing and details. I'm an idea guy not a detail guy. I'm in if it helps. Not to try to be involved in the program, but to be part of program support, ie money sources, sponsors, etc.

Going to the game yesterday was fun. I ended up sitting next to a neighbor (okay, leaning against a rock) whose son plays on the team, which I didn't know. A fun opportunity to connect. Congrats to all involved, and great photos TrueBrit.

You know that I will be heavily involved once I return, but here is my 5 pesos worth today.
We need to build from the bottom up. That means we need to have a recreational futbol organisation that will be inclusive and allow as many kids to play and learn as possible.
This group will provide the players who will go on to represent us in the league(s) were we choose to compete.
I equate it to the "house league" and the "rep" teams which I am familiar with.
Sustainable funding is necessary and can not come from Inside Lakeside alone.
I hope that this experience over the past few months has brought new supporters to the table, and that we can continue to assist the patronato in the re-building of futbol in Ajijic.
Phil and I are on the same page (I think), and I hope that we can provide what is needed to make this happen.
Please tell all your friends about the amazing experience you have had with these kids.
Wishing I was there.  

Same page, Ivan - possibly the same line. I was very encouraged at the meeting today in that despite lofty talk of future with this team, there was great concern on opening the school to include kids that don't, and probably will never have, the skills to make it to this level, but need a positive alternative to evenings on the street.

Photos (via Flickr) of the moments after the final whistle.  Some are poignant; some are painfully sad; but there is a lot of joy being shared too.
After the final whistle...

zenwoodle wrote:You know that I will be heavily involved once I return, but here is my 5 pesos worth today.
We need to build from the bottom up. That means we need to have a recreational futbol organisation that will be inclusive and allow as many kids to play and learn as possible.
This group will provide the players who will go on to represent us in the league(s) were we choose to compete.
I equate it to the "house league" and the "rep" teams which I am familiar with.
Sustainable funding is necessary and can not come from Inside Lakeside alone.
I hope that this experience over the past few months has brought new supporters to the table, and that we can continue to assist the patronato in the re-building of futbol in Ajijic.
Phil and I are on the same page (I think), and I hope that we can provide what is needed to make this happen.
Please tell all your friends about the amazing experience you have had with these kids.
Wishing I was there.  

Agreed but no reason why both could not survive but I think we should go back to basics and the original goal which was to offer soccer school to poor kids. Everything evolves but sometimes it evolves in a different direction than we thought it would.

Z

This still depends on some sort of financial stability, correct?  Without sustainability the good intentions will be like a local restaurant as far as longevity is concerned.  Can't some folks market the product for financial support while others strengthen the overall program?  My original question was basically how can one get involved in encouraging solid community support.  Never played futbol, can't coach, love to watch and love the impact it has on young people.  Would like to do more than buy beer at matches.

any chance hector can put local funds into this , instead of listening to crazy gringo projects. this is much more worth while and benefits the locals .

more news....
I believe there is going to be a 'convivia' with IL members as special guests. I will post details when I know about them.
Also upcoming events... There is a Chivas cup in Guadalajara in July. It's a week long tournament starting around the 21st. We will be driving back and forth every day. They haven't decided yet as the registration is around $11,000mxn. Apparently there will be scouts there - but I often wonder if that isn't a ploy to get entrants to the competition.
Personally, I'm not too thrilled with these expensive tournaments. Is it a path to eventual professional opportunities? Perhaps... Chuki is awaiting a call from Santos right now, so it doesn't appear to be all high-potential disappointment. But there are a lot of kids I would prefer to see coming in off the streets to participate in something organized and positive, without the promise of future fame.
Whenever tournaments, leagues and other expensive endeavours are mentioned, eyes turn to Ivan and myself, with some sort of expectation that the gringos will be the ones that support it - despite having no input into the merit of the activity. Perhaps we can manage their expectations by outlining exactly what sort of things we would be willing to support and what sort of things we wouldn't. Now this is just my personal opinion, and it may be decided that focusing on the high level stuff is preferable and in the long run might make a permanent difference in someone's life (as opposed to supporting general youth activities). And if we were to secure business based sponsorship, things might be different.
Any thoughts?

I would prefer to support the general youth activities at the grassroots level.

As you know Phil, my preference is to support a program that helps get kids off the streets and into sports.
The fact that Chuki has been able to get to this stage can be attributed more to Ed's connections with Santos and Chuki's skills, than to anything which we have done financially.
The program which existed one year ago, the one which you and I and Inside Lakeside first became involved with, is the one which I would like to see re-invigorated.
How many kids were involved at that time? It seems to me, that the enrollment was in excess of 100.
How many are involved today in this "elite" program?
I hope we can get back to where we where and get that going once again.
There would still be the opportunities to participate in tournaments which are realistic ad affordable.
As to your question about the "scouts", the answer is yes. These tournaments use the shotgun approach.
Invite as many teams as you can and promise them everything. They usually get enough clubs to bite.
Just my opinion.  

Why does the discussion seem to say that youth soccer programs and elite soccer programs are exclusive of each other? I realize it is all about funding and volunteers, but why not have a lofty goal of youth soccer than involves as many kids as possible opening the possibility for participation in the elite level. My kids started in rec leagues and ended up with Div I college scholarship looks. From pushing a ball that was knee high to State Championships in high school. A lot of other kids went different directions along the way, but they all got something out of the program.

What we have experienced in the past 18 months is a program that went from grassroots to elite while leaving the grassroots to flounder.
To have a successful program, you must keep the grassroots program alive.
That has not happened.   

I agree that the grassroots must be strong and the entire idea will only benefit the community if it includes as many kids as possible. Need to include brainstorming on why it floundered and what needs to happen so it doesn't flounder again.

I believe, and I think that Phil would agree, that it floundered because of it's success.
What I mean is that we were beating every team around lakeside, and were the 2013 champions.

We failed miserably at a tournament in Guad, but it was spun that we finished 3rd.
In fact we finished third in a group of 4, and we beat the 4th place team when they refused to return to the field after a big thunderstorm. There were 3 other groups of 4, and we did not even advance past the first round.

Nonetheless, the Patronato decided that we should participate in the league that we just finished.
At that point, coaches started coming out of the woodwork, and none of them wanted to work with the younger kids and we went from 3 teams down to 2 and the younger levels were just left to play for other clubs.

Egos play a big part in the decisions which are made, and that is sad.   

We are invited to the end-of-season fiesta!

I have just heard that there is a convivia for team and "special" supporters (i.e. IL members). It will be on Saturday at the "Salon de Los Ciruelos" at 6-corners. I have no idea what or where this is - I will ask around. I was told it was a "part" where they have fiestas. I don't know the time either - as soon as I find out, I will post here. I hope you can all make it. It will be a good opportunity to connect.

Just spoke to Rafa - they have a pig. It is going to be at the 'Sala de los Mangos' - I was told the wrong fruit. Apparently it is next door to the tortillaria at six corners - I can't imagine you could miss it. I am going to be there at 1pm. I have other commitments during the day (including England vs Italy at 3pm). So if you can make it, come along. Rafa specifically mentioned that I must invite the members of IL.

Late news - it starts at 11am

Later news - all the kids who told me it started at 11am showed up to be greeted by....nothing. It actually doesn't start til 2pm. They were setting up the gas to cook the pig and they told me it should be ready by 2pm. The place is a big empty lot next to the tortillaria a couple of shops down from seis esquinas. I think it has both plums and mangos hence the confusion over the name of the place. I plan on being back there at 2 -2:30pm.

At the convivia, I spoke with a couple of members of the patronato who told me a little of the plans regarding Union Ajijic and other youth programs that they want to expand.  The impression I got was that they want to spin-off Union Ajijic from the patronato, which will permit the patronato to return to promoting boys and girls soccer.  Apparently this was the platform that Rafa and the patronato ran on.  They are voted in for three years and they are half way through their term.  Patronatos in the past have been less than reputable and I think Rafa and the rest of the patronato have been a breath of fresh and honest air for football in the village.  I hope they can continue.
Now all this was communicated in the middle of a party, so I wasn't able to verify as much as I would have liked.  But Rafa is coming to my house for a meeting on Tuesday evening to clarify and discuss the future of soccer for kids in Ajijic.  Now if anyone wants to attend with ideas or expertise, you are more than welcome.  Rafa is very amenable to our input.  Please PM me and I can let you know more.

You know my thoughts on this matter Phil. I think it will be the right move to spin off Union Ajijic.
Due to the confusion caused by the "Union Ajijic" team in the Chapala league, it would be a good idea to give the school a different name.
The England vs Italy match was a good one.
Sorry about the outcome.   

Hey Ivan
First of all, thanks for the commiserations. I thought our lads played some entertaining football, but the defense was suspect. I can't prove it but I know the Italians cheated.

I am hoping someone from IL responds to my request to join Rafa and myself on Tuesday. I want Rafa to understand what IL can and can't do, and I don't feel that I can represent the group compared to you hard-core members. I will do my best to manage his expectations.

When I find out more on Tuesday, I will post it here and people can react.

Looking for a decent thunderstorm here - they keep promising.....
Happy Father's Day,

Phil

I would definitely be willing to attend with the understanding I'm late to the game and will defer to those of you who are much more knowledgeable and have been involved much longer.

Mainecoons wrote:I would definitely be willing to attend with the understanding I'm late to the game and will defer to those of you who are much more knowledgeable and have been involved much longer.

Well we don't have much knowledge. We mostly give money, drink beer, cheer, and do what Zen and Truebrit tell us to do laugh out loud. No secret knowledge here I believe.

Z

I can handle all of those.