RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - “Bigger, better and younger” are likely the most fitting descriptors for Rancho Murieta’s 2024 youth soccer program.

Doug Mattos, the club’s program director for 12 years, credited the success to the coaches for creating an enjoyable experience for both the kids and their parents throughout the four-month season. It began in August and ended in November.  

 “When you have so many kids sign up, it reinforces that you are all doing the right thing,” Mattos said. “We had the best year for signups in 10 years.”

The sign-up numbers were impressive, with 222 players this year compared to 196 last year, which is an increase of 26 kids. Of those, 114 were girls and 108 were boys, organized into 17 teams, three more than last year. The growth also allowed for two teams in each age group. 

“For the first time we had multiple kids in multiple age groups for both the boys’ and girls’ teams,” Mattos said.

“We also have over 127 kids playing in the ages U6 to U9 (under 6 and 9 years old),” Mattos added. “Over half the club is in the younger ages, which is great for the future of soccer in RM.”

The Mini Kickers Program, which introduces three- and four-year-olds to soccer, grew to 61 participants this year, six more than last year. The program was led by Elk Grove Soccer coaches Ross Gibb, Dougie Best, Chad Myers and Oliva Mattos. Additionally, more than a dozen community teenagers volunteered, earning community service hours in the process.

Prospective coaches, mostly parents with a child on the team, must choose to volunteer, Mattos explained. After a full day of work, they commit to two night practices during the week and games on Saturdays.

Parents with busy schedules also face a choice when deciding to enroll their kids in the program. According to Mattos, the greatest compliment a coach can receive is when parents sign their kids up to play on their roster for another season.

Mattos said they begin reaching out to find coaches in July and August after forming the teams according to age groups. This year, seven new head coaches volunteered: Adam Smith, Doug Braddock, Brittany Bunnell, Joshua Weidenbach, Brandon Tafoya, Danny Kershaw and Dan Stephens. 

Another nine returned: Kaitlin Bauer, Chris Betzler, Kurt Bunnell, Tony Driver, Josh Twist, Dennis Brown, Meghan McDonald, Tara Iverson and Rick Spickard.

“My number one job is to make sure all of the good people stay involved, because it makes it easier for everyone,” Mattos said.

Mattos noted that most head coaches have been volunteering for three or more years. Their experience helps in recruiting new volunteers when new teams are formed for incoming age groups. Instead of making the pitch himself, Mattos directs potential coaches to these seasoned volunteers for a first-hand perspective.

Coaches of older players sometimes opt to take their teams to tournaments, requiring additional commitment from themselves, the players and their parents. 

“It extends the season with three weeks of practice under the lights when the weather is getting colder,” Mattos said. “It is a testament to what the coaches are doing to make an experience for the kids.”

Five teams, the most ever, participated in a tournament in Davis on Dec. 7 and 8: the RM Hawks, Unstoppable Divas, RM Mustangs, Murieta Mayhem and RM Jaguars.

Mattos noted that the program had fewer local referees this year, mostly going off to college. However, three teens,  Kate Myers, Dylan Kershaw and Christian Stigler, continued to referee. The Elk Grove Soccer League also provided referees to cover their games.

Mattos expressed hopes of expanding the local referee program, seeing it as a valuable way for young people who have aged out of youth soccer to stay involved. It also offers them an opportunity “to put a little extra money in their pockets by working on Saturdays.”

Mattos credited Tony Driver, who was already coaching two teams, with helping the 2024 season run more smoothly by handling tasks such as lining the fields and moving the goals. 

“He was my right-hand person. I couldn’t have done it without him,” Mattos said. “I call him a sports field junkie…He likes everything looking good, so he was a natural to help me.”

Mattos also acknowledged the Rancho Murieta Association Maintenance team for making Stonehouse Park a special place to play soccer. For many years, the Rancho Murieta Association lead was Rod Hart, who has since been promoted to general manager. The current lead, Troy Schaffner, worked closely with Mattos, who said he called Schaffner at least once a week during the season.

“I don’t know what is about the RMA guys. They are drinking from the same well because they really do care about the kids,” he said. “They are out there making sure the fields are good, and that we have anything we need on game day.”

Mattos also recognized Elk Grove Soccer, led by Board President Debra Carlton and CEO Andrew Donnary, which oversees numerous neighborhood clubs and more than 6,000 players. This year, Elk Grove Soccer assisted the Rancho Murieta Club by replacing its old soccer goals with new ones and ensuring all other equipment was up to date.

 “We get a ton of support for making sure we grow the program out here,” Mattos said.

This support was in place even before Mattos joined the Elk Grove Soccer board of directors in 2024. He was re-elected to the board this year.

Two coaches and a Mini Kicker parent also shared their thoughts about Rancho Murieta Soccer.

Tara Iverson, who recently completed her sixth year as a coach, originally agreed to coach for just one year when her 5-year-old daughter’s team lacked a coach. “It’s been a wonderful, wonderful opportunity growing alongside these girls,” she said. “The players and the families make it so worth it.”

Iverson said she took her team to the Davis tournament for the second time. “We didn’t even place or win a game,” she said. “But it was very fun. Our girls had a blast.”

Iverson noted that Mattos often emphasizes this point to her. 

“Yes, of course you want to foster a way for these girls to improve their skills and learn the game of soccer, but more importantly, you want them to have fun while they are out there,” she said.

Iverson praised the Rancho Murieta Club for being well-organized. 

“It’s been such a testament and a wonderful thing to see how Doug runs the organization as a whole, how many people sign up, and the coaches that serve under him,” she said. “It’s been fantastic, and we will probably continue doing it as long as he is here.”

Ashley Glenn said she enrolled her now 4-year-old in the Mini Kickers program in 2023, based on the recommendation of her brother and sister-in-law, both coaches. She appreciated that the sessions were held on Fridays and that the schedule was adjusted as needed for lights or weather.

Following a recommendation from Mattos, the coaches adjusted how the lessons were run this year. The kids were divided into three smaller groups, each staying with the same coach throughout the session. 

“So they got really quality time without being in a huge massive group trying to do one drill at the same time,” she said.

Her oldest will join a team next year, and the 3-year-old will become a Mini Kicker.

Glenn expressed her admiration for Rancho Murieta Soccer after her experience with the Mini Kickers program and watching her nieces and nephew play.

“It’s always run really well,” she said. “I think Doug does a great job organizing and managing everyone.”

Brittany Bunnell, a first-year coach for a team of 7-year-olds, found the experience somewhat easy because the rules for that age group are simple. “It also was somewhat hard because I have never played soccer,” she said.

Bunnell said she and her assistant coach used an app to find recommended drills for the kids. “But there also is good old YouTube as a helpful resource,” she said.

As a parent, Bunnell said she loved helping her child develop both physical and social skills while spending time with her, her friends, and other kids in the community. She found soccer to be an excellent way to foster teamwork and build relationships, both as a parent and as a leader within her daughter’s peer group.

The Rancho Murieta Club was founded 22 years ago by Paul Frank, Martha Glunt and Sam Sommers Jr. 

“They got it started by putting the best experience on the field that the community would embrace, and we are just continuing it,” Mattos said. “That’s why it has lasted 22 years."