Interview with Marines JV Soccer Coach: Miguel Rodriguez

Long Beach High School is known for its many successful teams. To other schools—we’re a threat, and this is what gives us pride. Boys Soccer meets that expectation, and to say the least, they are a force to be reckoned with.

From watching them practice in the pouring rain, focused, disciplined, and full of grit; not only was I very impressed, but even a bit intimidated. A team so dedicated to what they love is a team to fear going up against. LBHS can count on our Boys Soccer to give us all something to brag about!

This team is led to success by our admired coach, Mr. Miguel Rodriguez. Coach Rodriguez was a delight to interview, a delight to talk to, and generally emitted a warm ray of positivity. He is just as dedicated as his boys are, since this is now his twenty-second year of coaching! The main reason he found he wanted to coach was because he thought he could relate to the boys. When Coach Rodriguez was in high school, he said soccer kept him off the streets and out of trouble. “I know what sports did for me—especially soccer, and I know what it could do for the new generation coming up,” he says. Having a relatable coach shows how deeply they care, and that’s the kind of gift Coach Miguel Rodrigues gives to his team.

JV is perfect for freshmen who want to experience a high school sport. But why would they want to join a sport, anyway? “Just like it did for me, kept me off the streets and it taught me how to work with teammates, how to build character. Helped me get to know different kids from different ethnicities. Soccer is a very diverse sport: we have an African American kid, an Asian kid, we have a Latino kid, we have diversity, and that’s life,” says Coach Rodriguez. 

Knowing different ethnicities, and getting to play along with all of them just as if there was no difference—that’s the beauty of sports. You’re not here to compare what’s different, but to play as one. In a sport, you are all the same, playing for the same goal. To fight for the same team.

Soccer specifically, is a great sport to teach the young how to conduct themselves going forward. “So soccer in general is a great sport for the youth: The little kids at the recreation level, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, they should all play soccer! It teaches you coordination, body awareness, how to fall down and get up,” says Rodriguez. 

Learning how to fall down is one step, this is where most people tend to give up. But learning how to get back up, and keep on going…that’s something that will carry you even in the most difficult times in your career. 

Soccer in general is fun and exciting—but especially for our Marines! Getting to know one another through sports makes special bonds you carry throughout all four years! This bond is expressed by our team's Striker, Ryden Nafte. A tenth grader here at LBHS, “I think others should play soccer because it's a really fun game! You get into really good shape, and make new friends—just have a good time. We have a lot of fun and lots of pasta parties!” 

But what drives these players is something really special. An example of this is expressed by Defender, Isacc Reyes, also a tenth grader at LBHS! “My parents inspire me because they didn’t get to play when they were younger. So, I want to play for them,” says Isaac. This kind of loyalty is a quality to be admired.

They say although they do love soccer, it isn’t their first priority! Their title: “student athlete,” is named student then athlete for a reason! Staying on top of school work is what’s most important when it comes to being an athlete. “It’s really just waking up, getting to school…making sure your grades are alright. Because grades are the first thing. We’re student-athletes, not just athletes,” says Isaac. “You really need time to do your homework, so they shorten practice sometimes; so you can get your studies in. And the coaches are all teachers here so they always want you to do better in school than out of school,” adds Ryden.

Overall, it was a pleasure interviewing this team; they had a continuous stride of will power, and they finished the season with a record of 8:6, placing them in 3rd in their conference!

“This year we decided to keep everybody on the team; to develop the kids that don’t know that much about soccer. So we focus on them. So they take it on and take soccer more seriously, join clubs, and stuff like that. This is a very special group of kids we have this year,” says Coach. 

Coach Rodriguez was right—this is a very special group, and Long Beach High School is lucky to have such dedication shown in the JV Boys Soccer Team.