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***image1***The American girls stand in contrast to their German competition in the 11-team Südwest Bezirksliga soccer league. Most obvious for the girls, ages 12 to 14, is the language difference. Only the coach, Ramstein High School Teacher Deb Mol, and three of the players speak German. Then there are the yearly changes in players, created by frequent moves of military and DOD civilian families.
But the differences end there. Head Coach Mol’s FC Germania Hütschenhausen soccer team has put the league on notice that they’re here to play. They managed to finish the fall half of the season in third place with their stifling defense and quick transition to scoring opportunities by the team’s swarming, but young, offense.
“Our strength at all positions and a bond that seemed to develop gave us an edge in the fall season, and we beat some very good teams,” Coach Mol said.
The team is once again seeing the effects of its players coming from a military community regularly on the move, evidenced in its 0-0 ties in the first two games this spring.
As long as the club keeps bringing in new members, the gaps are normally easily filled. Three new girls have been added for the spring season, but there’s plenty of room for more in the Monday and Wednesday practices at the club located a few minutes outside Ramstein’s West Gate. The team will play 10 games in its spring season, running through the third week of May.
While the league is fiercely competitive, the club’s primary goal is to develop skills and an appreciation for the game, while Coach Mol hopes to add a cultural exchange that many of the girls would otherwise not have.
“We’re Americans playing in a German league,” she said. “We learn to respect each other on the field and as individuals, regardless of nationality.”
As for the language difference, the opposing teams appreciate when the girls try to speak German, but as the standings show, they let their game speak for itself.
Interested girls should contact Deb Mol at debmol@mac.com.
