Montera Varsity 2 Soccer is still without a coach. Their first practice was nearly abandoned due to confusion. Could they be connected? On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, the Montera Middle School field was deserted by the Boys Varsity 2 players. Due to a lack of a coach, they might not be able to play games this season and will have to forfeit.
Even though a memo was emailed to a handful of players, it was very unclear to players if there was Soccer Practice on Tuesday. This resulted in very few showing up to practice, only to practice with no coach. Mr. Price, the Varsity 1 coach filled in, but Varsity 2 needs a coach of their own.
A week later, and Montera Varsity 2 still has no one to coach them. Price has asked players to reach out to their families. Unfortunately, most of the players do not have parents who are familiar with soccer and have turned up empty handed.
Tuesday’s practice, on Jan 14., Price talked about how he “has to run boys varsity black, and girls varsity black” and talked about how boys Varsity 2 soccer is in desperate need of a coach. Price cannot run three teams at the same time and “we need a coach”. Price discussed that without a coach, Montera would have to forfeit games. This will not do, it is unfair to the players, and the other teams in OAL middle school soccer.
Price says that he’ll try to help out, “coach Mellisa will try to help out”, but they truly cannot do it by themselves. Seventh grade student athlete, Luke Okajima, says his mom will “step up if no one else does as an assistant coach” and it doesn’t look like anyone is stepping up. Luke explains that “she wouldn’t really be a head coach, maybe an assistant coach or something.” But something’s better than nothing so Montera will take what they can get.
We need a coach now and there is no “for sure answer” for Montera Varsity 2. Another seventh-grader on the team, Xicome Pinedo, explains his dad, Mr. Arick Waters, might be able to coach, but unfortunately, he is also the coach of a club soccer team, The Montclair Strikers. Coaching Montera might “overlap with the spring season,” explains Xicome, “so it is a maybe”.
Still with no coach, and the first game coming up, Montera Varsity 2 desperately needs a coach or they may have to forfeit. There is hope of a parent coach, but if someone doesn’t step up, Varsity 2 might be in trouble.