Soccer coach seeks positive change





READY TO PLAY— Calabasas High School soccer coach Leon Abravanel, front and center, takes a time out with his players. Abravanel, a former professional soccer player, is rebuilding the school’s soccer program with motivation and discipline.

READY TO PLAY— Calabasas High School soccer coach Leon Abravanel, front and center, takes a time out with his players. Abravanel, a former professional soccer player, is rebuilding the school’s soccer program with motivation and discipline.

Soccer is a world’s top game and the most popular youth sport in the United States. Spectators in Europe, Asia and South America are passionate beyond words about the game and their teams.

Leon Abravanel, a former professional soccer player, seeks to bring similar enthusiasm for the sport to Calabasas High School.

Since becoming head coach of the boys’ soccer program at CHS last November, the 26-year-old Abravanel and his assistant, Ryan Bergstrom, have been working to make the Coyotes a force not only the field but off.

He uses the game as a metaphor for life.

“ Discipline, commitment, teamwork and respect are all important aspects to the success of an individual and can all be learned through playing soccer,” Abravanel says.

“It’s a really fantastic way to get kids going in the right direction, whether it is soccer, college and social.”

In addition to building a disciplined and skilled high school team, Abravanel is developing a local club program.

A South Tahoe native, Abravanel played soccer for the U.S. National Champion San Juan Predators and was a member of the Region IV Olympic Development Program team.

After attending University of San Diego and University of Denver on college scholarships, he played across the Western U.S. and in Bolivia, Brazil and Germany, and then joined the Los Angeles Blues of the new USL Professional League.

Building a team

The Coyotes performed well under the leadership of longtime coach John Reich. But following Reich’s departure eight years ago, the team struggled with a run of six different coaches seven years.

“I took it as a challenge to really turn the program around,” said Abravanel.

“ The lack of commitment (at the helm) was perpetuated to the kids. If you don’t create a disciplined structure, you’re not going to have a disciplined team or program,” Abravanel said.

CHS finished sixth in the Marmonte League this past season.

About 60 students participate in a CHS soccer program that comprises three teams: Varsity, junior varsity, and a freshman and sophomore squad.

In addition, the coach is developing a club program in Calabasas in association with the Camarillo Eagles Soccer Club to allow players to compete year round.

He is also creating a new community service organization called Juggle the World to promote volunteerism among his young players. As part of the program, CHS players will donate their time to referees games for the West Valley Soccer League.

“For me it’s not just about soccer, it’s about creating upstanding citizens for this country,” Abravanel said.

Team member Cory Feinberg, a senior at CHS who played soccer throughout his high school career, calls Abravanel a gifted coach and mentor.

“The program always had good talent, but it didn’t have the coach to match with that,” Feinberg said.

Besides improving discipline, he’s eliminated conflicts between players and improved team chemistry, the player said.

“ I’ve seen a ‘ ginormous’ change that has happened this past year. We’re heading in the right direction,” Feinberg added.

Freshman Jusco Garcia agrees with his teammate. “He (Abravanel) knows what he’s doing and he has good ideas.”

Abravanel said he aspires to create a new generation of soccer players who will have the skills and motivation to take the sport to the next level.

“My life’s goal is to see the U.S. win a World Cup. We have the athletes, the talent and resources to create a world power house.”

But, he concluded it’s harder to recruit talented athletes in the U.S. because soccer is not a big part of American culture.

Abravanel also coaches for the Steve Sampson Global Sport Institute, a subsidiary of the Steve Sampson Soccer Academy owned by longtime Agoura resident Steve Sampson who coached national teams for the U.S. and Costa Rica, and guided the Los Angeles Galaxy. Sampson is executive director of the Camarillo Eagles youth soccer club.

For more about the CHS and Eagle Club programs, call Abravanel at (619) 204-6301.


Leon Abravanel

Leon Abravanel

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