Aaron Thompson/Special to the Home News
Christian Tarin, 7, kicks a soccer ball while assistant coach Dave Poertner, left, and coach Juan Serafica, center, watch.
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | midnight
UNLV men's soccer player Juan Serafica, 20, laughs as he leads players in a group stretch.
Special Olympics soccer coach and UNLV student Juan Seafica leads his team in a group stretch at Acacia Park in Henderson.
While many of his friends use Sunday mornings to rest and get ready for another week of school, Juan Serafica spends his time coaching soccer for the Special Olympics of Nevada.
Serafica, 20, is the head coach for the organization’s Henderson soccer program. This is his third year as the head coach, but he’s been with the program for several years — his older brother, Gino Serafica, coached before him.
“He taught me all kinds of things about leadership and being a coach. He moved to North Carolina and left the team in my hands,” Serafica said. “I feel like I’m half the coach he was, though.”
Serafica, a junior at UNLV, graduated from The Meadows, where he played soccer, football, track and was captain of the wrestling team for two years.
“Being a coach for the first time felt like a brand new experience,” he said. “I was so nervous for my first practice, especially because I had to learn by fire. But over time I developed as a coach and have had some very successful seasons.”
The athletes practice on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Henderson’s Acacia Park through Oct. 26.
Serafica teaches everything from the basics to more advanced techniques based on how quickly the athletes learn.
Henderson resident James Booth got his 10-year-old son, David, involved in the program a couple of years ago, hoping it would help him develop motor skills and coordination.
“One, it’s great for the kids to be in this type of environment where they can learn how to play different sports and develop some of those abilities,” Booth said. “Second, it’s also good for the parents, because we meet other families who are in similar situations.”
He added that David took to the soccer program more easily than the other sports.
“He really enjoys running around with the other kids and kicking the ball with them. It’s been really good for him,” Booth said.
The athletes will play in a regional tournament at C.W. Woodbury Middle School in Las Vegas on Nov. 1.
“There’s not a lot of college kids who are willing to come help out and spend their time working with our athletes,” said Kim Gradisher, sports manager for the Special Olympics of Nevada. “Juan has set a great example and is a real asset for us.”
Serafica studies early childhood education at UNLV and also works in the university’s preschool.
“My friend keeps telling me that I’m cutting my life shorter each day I do this, but at least at the end of it all I can say that I lived without hesitation,” Serafica said.
Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-2687 or [email protected].
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