Cherry Point service members coach soccer

Photo By Cpl. Unique B. Roberts | Gunnery Sgt. Carlos A. Candido, a Cherry Point soccer player, chases the ball during a scrimmage at the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point soccer field Feb. 14. The Volunteers are assigned to various units at Cherry Point.  

CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

02.20.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Unique B. Roberts 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines and Sailors at Cherry Point have joined together to assist the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association in coaching soccer.

With the 2014 All Marine Soccer Team on hold, due to budgetary constraints, Capt. Bradley A. Poulin, one of the coaches for the All Marine Soccer team, now coaches youth soccer players in Swansboro, N.C., to maintain his soccer experience.

Despite the cut, Poulin encourages other service members to volunteer with the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association to teach children ages 5 to 18 the ins-and-outs of the game.
Collectively, between Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point, Marine Attack Squadron 231 and Marine Transport Squadron 1, a dozen Marines and Sailors participate in the volunteer program offered through the association all year.

Volunteers coach and mentor youths three or four days a week in counties around Eastern North Carolina.

“Being a volunteer soccer coach is a difficult job. Not only is your sole responsibility to train and mentor the kids but also coach the games,” said Poulin.

With the numbers of soccer players steadily increasing, the volunteers have to be resourceful when trying to gather equipment needed to practice and aid their teams in a successful season. More often than not, the coaches pay out of pocket to fund their teams, according to Poulin.

“Some equipment is provided, however, many coaches purchase their own due to lack of team funding. I personally spend about $1,000 a year on the kids,” said Poulin.

Spending personal money to help fund the soccer program comes as second nature to many coaches because the love for the sport surpasses all obstacles presented.

“It’s total selfless sacrifice, no pay, no big coach celebrations, just a Marine and the youth of tomorrow, day-after-day,” said Poulin.
Gunnery Sgt. Carlos A. Candido, a volunteer with the soccer program, believes that helping youth is a great way for volunteers to become experts in soccer.

Many of the soccer players have played all of their lives, and when preparing for the season, it provides the volunteers with a great motivating factor to continue working hard, according to Candido.

“I do not want the sport to die and fade away and that also motivates me,” said Candidio.

For more information on getting involved with the soccer program, visit the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association’s website at http://www.ncsoccer.org/.

• Date Taken: 02.20.2014
• Date Posted: 02.20.2014 08:22
• Story ID: 120879
• Location: CHERRY POINT, NC, US