Today we’d like to introduce you to Walter Merino.
Walter, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Olé started with a vision of creating some of the most skilled, creative and fundamentally sound players at a young age. My brother Mario and one day decided to launch camps, we were already coaching club soccer and saw lots of players and parents valued our styles.
In March of 2014, we had our first Spring Break camp. We invited everyone out! We called, emailed, passed out flyers, etc. So excited to begin and thinking this was going to be an amazing way to our camps, only 6 kids showed up. Of those six, three of them were our cousins. These camps were 4 hours a day Monday-Friday. These 6 kids had the best time and couldn’t wait to come out the next day and eventually the next camp.
Little by little we continued to grow and show our quality in the San Fernando Valley. After the Spring camps, we do summer camps. We increased to about 10 players and then hosted a Winter Camp where we grew to 25. After listening to our audience and getting feedback, people wanted more of the Olé training. We decided to host Saturday clinics every weekend in Burbank. We eventually got kicked out but formed a team to compete in local leagues in the East Valley.
Fast forwarding to 2017, we now have 8 club level teams and 2 pre-club level teams. Our focus has always been on the development of the younger players to give them that confidence on the pitch at a young age. When kids get to 13-14 years old and don’t know how to trap the ball or even know how to kick it, it becomes very tough in their habits and ways. We mold young players to think and be aware, challenging but encouraging at the same time being in a phenomenal environment to grow as a team.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! We struggle everyday but are grateful for the struggles as well! We are based out of the East Valley, the majority of our players and families live in the East Valley. Some players come from as far as Palmdale, Calabasas, Pasadena but the majority live in Sun Valley, North Hollywood, Pacoima, & Sylmar areas. When most think of the East Valley, you don’t think of the Grove type of cities where you have access to the nicest stores or may even run into trouble in the corner of your block.
Our struggle is to maintain this club thriving by providing a field open as many days as possible to keep these kids off of the street and surrounded by other like-minded kids trying to improve through their talent, which is soccer! Some of the most amazing soccer players come from very humble beginnings. Olé’s biggest struggle as of late is keeping up with the payments of paying for Poly HS that has lights to train at night and plenty of space to host our teams throughout the week. Olé’s club fees are very minimal compared to other clubs and main reason why we do have club fees is because funding and sponsorships are low at the moment.
My job is to give these kids the same opportunities that the kids on the West Valley or Westside get. Money should never be an issue to a child who has dreams of playing professional, receiving a scholarship to get an education or even just playing at a high level and building lifelong friends.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Olé Soccer Club – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Olé Soccer Club specializes in advanced level training offered to kids born 2010-2005. Our focus is on the youngest players to give them a head start so that when they reach their teens, they are mentally and physically prepared to play at the academy level.
Olé Soccer Club’s reputation in the soccer world is known for producing some skillful players. The passion and love for the training is second to none. This work ethic and love for our players makes it feel like these families joining our club have come to a family.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Our city is beautiful and like the diverse cultures throughout Los Angeles. The great thing is that just like LA, the soccer ball attracts all walks of life from all over the world.
Our city needs more futsal courts and more fields to offer a safe environment for kids to play soccer.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12431 Roscoe Blvd, Sun Valley, CA 91352
- Website: www.olesoccer.org
- Phone: 818-731-8558
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @olesoccer
- Facebook: @olesoccercamps
- Yelp: ole soccer camps
Image Credit:
Photo Credit: David Kartch
