By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
May 11, 2011

Some call soccer the universal language of Northeast and some are tapping into that concept.

Several organizations recently partnered together to form Northeast Sports Alliance, an organization geared toward providing first through sixth graders with soccer opportunities and health education.

Partners include Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, James Elementary, Mattie Rhodes Center, Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department and Whatsoever Center.

“We have a lot of kids who obviously love soccer in the Northeast community and we saw it as an opportunity to engage more families in the community in a positive activity the whole family can get into,” said Krista Kastler, social worker at Mattie Rhodes.

Another aspect of the program includes offering weekly wellness lessons, which range from healthy habits to self esteem to leadership skills.

“It’s really a holistic program,” she said.

Programming kicked off April 11 and games began April 30 and will continue through June. Eventually, Northeast Sports Alliance would like offer other sports, Kastler said.

Head soccer coaches are Nick Garcia, technical director, and Raul Cobos, director.

Cobos, who grew up in a community similar to Northeast, played on a youth soccer team and in college.

“It’s shown me the world,” Cobos said of soccer. “I’ve traveled through soccer. I’ve had opportunities to play overseas. Most importantly, it’s helped drive my education.”

Asked if soccer taught him life lessons, he said, “Absolutely. I think first and foremost it’s huge in what I do now. I work at a marketing firm and (through soccer) you learn how to integrate and be a team player with people.”

For seven years, he worked as the youth marketing director for the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting KC, and currently coaches for the Unified Futból Club.

Garcia began playing soccer as soon as he could walk. While playing at Indiana University, his team won back to back national championships in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, he began playing for the Kansas City Wizards and continued with the team until 2008 when he was traded to a team in San Jose, Calif. While in California, he won two championships. Recently, Garcia signed on to play for Kansas Magic.

“It’s helped me mature,” Garcia said of soccer. “It’s made me appreciate not only what it teaches you on the field, but off the field.”

Off the field, it’s taught him self-discipline, respect, team management and compassion, he said.

Asked what he hopes to instill in his players with Northeast Sports Alliance, he said, “Right now, it’s about getting them active, getting them doing something positive after school, respecting each other and respecting the game.”

Garcia also hopes to teach them to be humble whether they win or lose.