Not just for kicks
One of the most contentious topics attached to the USC Athletic Department is the absence of a Varsity Men’s soccer team at the university. In order to comply with Title IX — the federal law that seeks to provide parity for female athletes in proportion to the number of male athletes enrolled — USC cannot afford to offer a men’s varsity soccer team without subtracting an additional program.
This sacrifice seemingly deprives USC and its students from engaging in the beautiful game, but ask anyone on the men’s club soccer team, and they will say otherwise. Although they lack official recognition from the NCAA, or funding from USC Athletics, make no doubt about it: The men’s club soccer team takes pride in being part of USC.
It is a truly unique program, and one would be hard pressed to find a club level team that operates and competes with similar intensity. Without a varsity team, the club soccer team has an even greater responsibility to represent USC and contribute to its athletic tradition.
“There is that mentality on and off the field, just putting the USC jersey on, you’re representing the University of Southern California as a soccer program, and there is something extremely special about that,” head coach Adam Gootnick said.
The club competes with other student organizations for facilities and money and is limited in resources. USC does accommodate them, however, by offering practice space and trainers, as well as games on McAlister Field.
The team is currently comprised of 20 individuals, ranging from freshmen to fifth-year seniors. Tryouts are held at the beginning of each semester with over one hundred students auditioning for just a few open spots. That sizeable pool is a testament to the competitiveness of the program, which has had tremendous success over the past few seasons. The team competes in two leagues, fall and spring, against college club teams from across the country. Placing high in these leagues qualifies them for a regional tournament and can result in a birth to the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association national championships in Arizona.
The time commitment mirrors that of any sports team, requiring multiple weekly practices in addition to games and weekend-long tournaments throughout the school year. This makes the students’ commitments to the team even more impressive; receiving no financial aid, preferred registration or other athletic benefits, they play purely for the love of the game. According to Gootnick, many of the players could have played at the Division I level elsewhere, but decided to pursue an education at USC instead.
Talking to the players about their experiences, it became evident that the program represents so much more to them than a recreational outlet. Senior Ryan Favero, a four-year participant, detailed the irreplaceable feeling of being on the team.
“When I first got to USC, I felt really lost in this big school,” Favero said. “The soccer team helped me find a group of guys who loved what I loved. I can’t imagine my time here without it.”
The team offers a unique opportunity for the players to travel to other schools. Many players call these trips “weekends [they’ll] never forget.” The men’s club soccer team is a fascinating concoction, possessing the competitiveness of a major sports program and camaraderie of an intimate student organization. For the players, it represents so much more than a club sports team; it is a family here at USC.
In addition, the club promotes volunteerism among the students through a partnership with a non-profit program called Kicks for Kids, which was founded by a former player. The program enables special needs kids in the greater Los Angeles Area to participate in youth soccer, and the USC players often engage as coaches and mentors.
Tryouts have already been held for this season, but the men’s club soccer team will hold tryouts for next fall. There will be three home games on McAlister Field this semester.