Volunteer tries to groom players for success

By: JEFF FRANK - Staff Writer
Editor's Note: North County is filled with people who volunteer their time to help others. This is the story of one of those volunteers. | Sunday, September 10, 2006 7:16 PM PDT ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- Jasen Boyens is quick to pass around credit for the success of the San Marcos Pop Warner program.

He praises past presidents Mike Ray and Allen Risley, the city and school district for providing practice and game fields, high school athletic directors, football coordinator Mike Sommers and cheerleading coordinator Sarah Rivera, board members, coaches and parent volunteers, doing what he can to deflect attention from himself.

But those who work with the league's first vice president are equally as quick to sing his praises.

"Jasen is invaluable to San Marcos Pop Warner. He understands the concept of the game and the mission that we're trying to accomplish here. It's all about helping young boys become young men," said league President Diana Dahlstrom. "He spends his off time taking care of fields, he coaches and volunteers on the board. I just couldn't do it without him. He's my right arm."

Boyens spends 20 or more hours a week helping in various capacities with the program, which provides football and cheerleading teams for 429 youngsters between ages 5 and 15. That's pretty good for a guy who says "I have no official duties. I just do what needs to be done."

What "needs to be done" has included pretty much everything during Boyens' five-plus years of involvement. He currently serves as head coach of the Pee Wee Division Lords team on which his youngest of three sons, Travis, plays. He also handles field conditions and arrangements, making sure teams have places to practice and play.

His first task was painting fields, a job he got when he asked then-President Ray what he could do to help. Boyens soon added organizing the league's equipment ---- "a huge job," he said ---- one that he has happily passed along to two other volunteers.

His coaching duties involve more paperwork than game plans, with assistant coaches providing most of the instruction.

"That's when you find out where you are as an organizer or a manager, when you coach any youth sports team, particularly football," Boyens said.

The project engineer for Erickson-Hall Construction in Escondido doesn't believe he's grooming future football stars or even high school varsity players. He stresses organization, learning skills, being a good teammate, practicing good sportsmanship and following the recipe for success of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: "Success is the peace of mind that is the result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."

In that respect, Boyens said he gets his biggest rewards from watching new and less-talented players improve their skills.

"To see them by the end of the season playing in a game and contributing is much more satisfying for me than the kid who started on top and scored two touchdowns," he said.

To volunteer with San Marcos Pop Warner, call (760) 798-4036.

Contact staff writer Jeff Frank at (760) 740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.

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