Readers, City Give a Boost to Low-Cost Soccer Leagues

A story in The Times about low-cost youth soccer leagues has prompted donations from readers, as well as efforts by the city to administer the teams at local parks.

The leagues are aimed at low-income Latinos, who have cultural ties to soccer but cannot afford more-established youth soccer organizations.

A Sept. 9 story described efforts by carpenter Genaro Cortez, founder of the International Soccer League, to keep his league operating despite a lack of funds and insufficient field space.

Cortez, the father of six sons, says he has spent thousands of dollars of his own money to subsidize the league, which has grown to about 300 boys.

Cortez charges parents $35 to cover registration and uniforms, much less than is typical for more traditional leagues such as the American Youth Soccer Organization and the California Youth Soccer Assn. Many of Cortez’s league members pay little or nothing to play.

The story prompted about 20 calls and letters from readers, many of whom sought to donate money or equipment to the leagues.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick has called meetings with city Recreation and Parks officials to discuss accommodating Cortez’s league.

Chick “was impressed with the willingness of someone in the community to take on such a responsibility,” after reading about Cortez, said Juan Rodriguez, Chick’s field deputy. “She wants to step in and see what she can do to assist and mediate problems and get resolutions.”

*

Since the story ran, Cortez has also received several donations. A Spanish-language radio station gave tickets for Cortez’s 300 players to visit Raging Waters in Valencia.

One man went to Lanark Park, where the league plays, handed over several hundred dollars in uniforms and walked away without giving his name, Cortez said.

Cortez has been trying to get Lanark Park officials to allow the league to keep its lease on fields through the winter. Park officials have planned to run flag football programs after December and say they may oust the soccer league.

Following the meetings with Cortez and Rodriguez last week, park officials are trying to locate a school nearby where the league could play year-round.

Park officials also proposed making the league a city-administered program, with Cortez filling an unspecified leadership role. If the city takes over, he will no longer have to pay field lease fees--which cost more than $1,200 per season. The city could also provide insurance.

Jose Garcia, founder of the United Nations Soccer League in North Hollywood who was also mentioned in the story, has received uniforms from a hardwood floor company and from a large mortgage banking firm.

And a third soccer-league organizer, Jose Monico, who is struggling to keep afloat a low-cost league with 300 children in Panorama City, was visited by representatives of an athletic-shoe maker, who donated soccer balls.