AYSO volunteer continues two decades of coaching

COACH-Diane Saunders, a longtime AYSO coach, referee and boardmember, offers advice to members of the boys Under-14 Earthquakes during a recent Saturday morning game. Agoura Hills resident Diane Saunders makes her presence known on local soccer fields. She's the buff blond coach on the sideline yelling "Put a foot on it," "How bad do you want the ball?" and "Don't talk back to me; I'm not your mother."

For two decades Saunders, 52, has been a coach, referee and board member for the American Youth Soccer Organization Region 4, which serves about 2,700 kids from Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Calabasas and Westlake Village. She's always coached two teams and refereed at the same time, even well after her own children grew up and out of the program.

Saunders currently coaches two boys' teams, in the under14 and under-16 divisions. With her loud voice and gruff manner, Saunders may seem tough, but her young soccer players understand her expectations.

"Even though she yells a lot it's for a good reason. We learn a lot," said Josh Swedelson, 12, a player on Saunders' U14 team. "I used to charge into the ball. Now I've learned not to rush, but to be patient."

Although hard work is important, added Saunders, she incorporates fun into practices.

"I love watching kids connect with each other, look out for each other and grow together," Saunders said. "I probably get more out of it than the kids."

Losses don't bother her, so long as the game is a group effort and the players worked hard and didn't walk off the field dejected. She believes kids learn life lessons on the field.

"You don't give up, no matter what the score is; people might not treat you right on the field but you don't do the same back," Saunders said. "Never say 'I can't,' and keep the commitment you made when you signed up. Come to practice and show you want to be there by your desire to listen and learn."

Saunders has coached about 30 teams. She often sees former players around town. Some seek her out to say hello.

"With soccer I think there's a little bit more of a closeness. It teaches kids to play together," Saunders said.

On a recent Saturday her schedule was typically hectic. The two teams Saunders coaches had back-to-back games, one at Deerhill Park in Oak Park at 9:30 a.m., the other at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas at 11:30. Then she headed to Moorpark to referee a 1:30 p.m. game.

Saunders has no plans to stop coaching soccer.

"I never go 'will I do this again next year?' I just assume I will. It's always something I love to do," Saunders said.

Saunders is a lifelong athlete. Last month she ran her seventh marathon, this one in Chicago in 4:27, although she didn't start running until she turned 40.

She has hiked half of the 211- mile John Muir Trail as well as Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the 48 contiguous states, making her goal of reaching the more than 14,000-foot summit in less than eight hours.

She bikes with her father on Wednesdays, along the beach from Torrance to El Portal and back. She mountain bikes with her son, Brett, 18, who races motorcycles. Saunders works out with a trainer on weights and cardio three of the five days she visits Agoura Fitness gym where daughter Tracy, 24, often joins her. She trains with a triathlon group and runs half-marathons with daughter Erin, 23.

The only nonathlete in the family is Saunders' husband, Glenn. But he does support her, watching her marathons and picking her and their kids up when they need a ride after training. When their children were growing up, the family participated in speed waterskiing, hitting speeds of 75 to 100 mph. Glenn drove the boat, avoiding waterskiing.

"Trust me. I tried to get him into shape but it didn't work," Saunders said. "He always tells me my mother's line: 'You know what you married.'"

Saunders has loved sports since childhood when she rode her bike to the local baseball field to watch the boys play. In those days, girls didn't play

sports, Saunders said.

"I remember asking for a bat and ball for my 8th or 9th b i r t h d a y, " S a u n d e r s said. "When it

comes to

sports you

can probably

talk me into trying anything."

When not

When not

working out, Saunders runs four businesses, the Traveling Mop Shop and Agoura Beauty in Agoura Hills, Beauty Image in Newbury Park and the Traveling Mop, a housecleaning service. Her children help out in the stores.

"When it's your own business it's easier to run than working for someone else," said Saunders, who spent 17 years as a manager for Lucky grocery stores. "That was harder, and I put in more time than I do now."

Saunders acknowledges that she doesn't work as hard as she could.

"It's a choice. The soccer kids are more important to me right now," Saunders said.

Born in Culver City, Saunders grew up in Palos Verdes, the second oldest of four girls with strict "down to earth" parents. The girls were taught to help around the house and to respect their elders, Saunders said. She enjoys spending time with her parents, who live in Lomita, and is planning a trip to New Zealand with her father, a dream of his.

"They did a lot for me," Saunders said. "It's great when you get to turn i t around."