San Diego Soccer News: San Diego Sockers' Juli Veee

SN had the chance to chat with the legendary soccer star Juli Veee, who played for the Sockers from 1978-1988.  Veee is now commentator for the San Diego Sockers (5-0 PASL-Pro) Channel 4 TV coverage.  It is always a pleasure to see Juli Veee's smiling face at the games. He always takes time to talk to fans and sign autographs.  San Diego's own soccer celebrity answered questions openly and gave great insights into soccer today -- and with his own special dash of humor.

What do you think about youth soccer today?

“America has one of the best soccer programs in the world; the problem is some people are taking it too seriously.  Now a days, the kids are not getting a chance to rest up.  Most kids quit playing soccer at 15 or 16 years of age because it is just too much.  All this regimented and organized training is not healthy.”

What do you think would be better?

“Not have it be so serious.  Soccer is a creative game.  Don’t take it so seriously. Competitive youth soccer in California is big business.  The kids are almost playing year round, with no break at all. So when they finish high school, they have been playing for 10 years!”

Soccer is very competitive.  Winning teams keep training so they can win more tournaments.  A great divide grows between the really good teams and those that do not practice and play as much. How can the kids take this break and stay competitive and on top teams?

“Vicious circle of teams winning and constantly training – yes, it is difficult.  So many players never stop all the training, but the kids get tired and only a few of the really talented kids go on.  America has as much great talent, if not more than Europe and many more soccer youth players.  It is unfortunate that so many players are burnt out by the process."

San Diego Soccer Star and now San Diego Sockers' TV commentator Juli Veee with co-host Craig Eisten

What is your recommendation?  How can we protect our youth players better?

“It is the family’s job to parent.  How much time do you put in to this merry-go-round?  There is too much emphasis on soccer paying for college.  It all becomes cloudy.  Soccer scholarships are great, and I am working with a program called Hero Connections that helps all kinds of kids trying to get into college, but the critical emphasis on being the best at such a young age is damaging.”

Gerry Ingram, Julie Veee, John Napier in 1981

 How is youth soccer different in America than in Europe?  You have played soccer here and abroad, please tell us what you think.

"The difference is the free flowing form of soccer.  American kids are more like robots and you can tell when you watch the kids play.  Even when you watch an MLS game, you can see the difference.  This is the product of endless training and nonstop coaching."

"America is getting better players & more talent but we need to inspire our players to be creative and understand the game, not just regurgitate taught plays.   In my world, there would be no competitive soccer until after the age 11.  .  Let the kids learn from deep within on their own as they are playing with friends and being instructed by coaches.   Let competitive soccer start once the kids are old enough to understand the game and abstract instruction. "

What should American youth coaches do Differently?

 “Coaches should stop yelling and giving so much instruction and let the players be more creative.”

Is there too much emphasis on instruction?

“Too much money is made by competitive soccer programs, that has nothing to do with developing a child.  Kids can only soak up so much information – what do you expect from a little kid?  The pros can only absorb so much & pay attention for so long.  We expect too much from the kids.”

“Let kids be kids and enjoy soccer.”

You are a youth coach, who do you coach?

"I am coaching Encinitas Express U15 and U11 girls and I am having a ball.  Last year I stopped being DOC, so I could concentrate more on the Sockers and my art.  Guy Newman is now the DOC at Encinitas Express and I enjoy only having to coach. I also try not to yell at my players."

What is important when coaching U15 girls?

"If you look at the muscle structure of a young 15 year old girl, you have to be concerned about preventing injuries.  You can only push U15 girls so hard unless they have really developed muscle structure; otherwise you will have ruined dreams and blown knees."

American kids in general do not get enough physical education.   For instance, kids need to learn to roll and how not to hurt themselves.  These kids are as naïve as they come, not street wise at all. 

"Parents should step up and figure out what is best for their kids.  Parents are always involved in youth soccer in America.  The American lifestyle is so different, you cannot help it…Practices are often too far for children to attend alone.  Kids have to be taken everywhere.  The sub culture of taking the kids from one organized sport to another is unique to the U.S..  Ferried around by a car, stuffed with food and propped up to play, the kids get a lot of attention and they love it, but is it really good for them and does this produce the best athletes for our country?"

"American parents are busy – especially with today’s economy, but all the cheering on the side lines is not the same as making smart parenting choices."

What about when you were young in Hungary? 

"My dad saw me play twice before I was 18 years of age.  Here, all too often parents are trying to live through the kids.   Why would anyone spend so many hours watching the kids play soccer?  I can’t imagine why?  I saw the ‘America parenting’ instincts take over in my own daughter with my grandchild.  She attends every game and watches every soccer maneuver on the field.  And, of course she says “It is not because he is my child, he is the best!”

"All this can be too much pressure!" 

Veee on the Sockers

“Sockers this year are doing well.  Credit goes to John Kentera, our General Manger, for bringing so much attention to the San Diego Sockers…to bring in more than 5,000 fans, this is just great. The future for indoor soccer is very bright.  The league is growing leaps and bounds. The Sockers team has more depth than last year, all they have to do is get used to each other and it should be a great season. Kids can learn a lot by emulating professional soccer players, coming to a San Diego Sockers game is a great chance to learn by watching the pros."

What do you want to tell SN readers?

"It is simple.  All the ex Sockers players should be coming out to the games in Del Mar and supporting the team that gave them their chance.  These former Sockers made a name through this franchise and a lot of them are Directors of Club Soccer (DOC)) at local youth soccer clubs and I want to see them at the games. I am wondering where they are and invite them all to come to the match and to the announcer booth and say hi to me!  And they should bring the teams too!"

Who are these former professional soccer players now coaches?

"Brian Quinn, Raffi, Jean Willrich,  David Banks, Jean Willrich, even John Napier among many others.   I played against John Napier in 1975 when he was on the Jaws and I was playing for San Jose. There are at least 20 additional former Sockers’ players who are ingrained in the San Diego soccer community that should be coming out support the Sockers." 

"Come on now, if you ever had said that you have played for the Sockers, you should be coming out now and supporting this team.  Common courtesy – this could be big, and the sport and the team deserve your support.  There are 40 different clubs in san Diego, all the kids can learn from watching the pros, plus it is a lot of fun to come to the games."

"If everyone can bring a team out with them, it would be huge.  All these people had a dream of being a pro player.  Now it is time to give back by taking your own time to support soccer in San Diego."

"I remember when it was hard to get attention for soccer.  I used to juggle soccer balls in gas stations to build awareness of soccer.  Soccer is going to take over as the American sport. Soccer comes and envelopes you.  No other sport has a chance like soccer.  The sport is already in the mind of Americans – and soccer is big business now."

"I invite all the former pros to come to a game and meet today’s fans – it is great!" 

Juli Veee is an extraordinary man.  The five-time indoor champion, also known as the Double Deuce, Veee, scored over 250 goals when playing for the Sockers in the '80s and gives back to the game he loves in many ways.  Veee also volunteers teaching soccer and art.  Veee will be in the TV booth this indoor soccer season providing commentary and play by play analysis for the Channel 4 San Diego broadcasts and 619Sports.Net coverage.  Stop by and waive and say hi!

 

Schedule and read more about San Diego's favorite indoor soccer team!

 

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