Jeff Riccitelli had an idea.

Carlsbad High had a slew of talented soccer players who weren't on the team a few years back, and the Lancers boys coach came up with an inventive way to encourage them to join the program.

He posted tryout bulletins in both English and Spanish.

"The goal was to make everyone feel included," said Riccitelli, a Spanish teacher at Carlsbad. "I knew there were quite a few solid players at the school who weren't on the team, which I thought was odd. I posted fliers in English and Spanish partially to show kids that there would be no language barrier."

The results were overwhelmingly positive. Carlsbad's Latino athletes came out en masse and have been a large reason why the Lancers have become a traditionally competitive program.

Riccitelli no longer has to make his fliers language-specific. His reputation speaks for itself. Players who speak English as a second language now feel comfortable coming to Riccitelli, one of many bilingual coaches in North County.

Riccitelli has a diverse team, so he conducts all practices in English - the language that everyone speaks to some degree. But if he has to get technical with an athlete without a firm grasp of the language, Riccitelli will switch to Spanish to ensure that nothing is lost in translation.

"The important thing is that the player understands what I'm trying to say," Riccitelli said. "Generally, I try to keep everything in English for the guys who don't speak Spanish at all, but sometimes I'll switch when it's necessary."

While speaking two languages is not required, it does have its benefits for boys soccer coaches in areas with a large population of native Spanish speakers. The situation is far from universal, but many North County teams are composed largely of Latino athletes.

While the Lancers are a diverse group, Orange Glen is almost entirely made up of players who speak fluent Spanish.

In fact, midfielder Danny Barker is the only Patriots player who doesn't understand the language. That creates a complicated situation for coach John Domingo, who commonly conducts practices in Spanish.

"I'm sensitive to the fact that Danny doesn't speak the language," Domingo said. "I often use Spanish as a way to make an impact with an individual, so there's no mistaking my instructions. But when I do that, I always repeat it in English so Danny can understand. I make a conscious effort to make sure he never feels left out."

Barker insists that he has never had a case of culture clash. Orange Glen's co-captain is good friends with many on the squad and isn't bothered by the fact that his teammates often communicate in a language he doesn't understand.

"It's not a problem at all," Barker said. "I don't think there's ever been a time when I felt uncomfortable or out of place."

Many coaches and players have stated that diversity has actually helped foster team unity. Students are required to take language classes, and Spanish is clearly the most popular and practical choice in a region so close to Mexico. Native English speakers often use soccer as a way of honing their Spanish with those who know it best. That situation works both ways, allowing those raised on Spanish to practice their English with peers in a safe, relaxed environment.

"Kids who speak English as a second language are often shy and reserved because they're uncomfortable with the language," Riccitelli said. "It's a tough thing to not be comfortable in a social environment like a high school. But at soccer practices, I really see some kids come out of their shell. They're not afraid to ask questions or say that they didn't understand something."

Native Spanish speakers are often lumped together in English-as-a-second-language classes, segregated from the rest of the high school population. Athletics in general, and soccer specifically, becomes an avenue to the mainstream and gives recognition to a small sect of the population.

"It also forces those kids to work hard academically," said Mission Hills coach Apolo Rios, who is also bilingual. "Like every other school, if you don't pass, you don't play. That's a tremendous motivator."

Speaking two languages is also beneficial in dealing with parents, who often speak little to no English.

"It gets parents uncomfortable with the language involved in the program," San Marcos coach Jose Pallares said. "That's always a good thing. It's better when parents take an active role, and speaking Spanish allows some parents who wouldn't otherwise do so the opportunity to take part in the program."

Whether a coach is bilingual or not, cultural diversity on a soccer team doesn't seem to divide a program.

"Soccer is the same in any language," said Vista midfielder Ivan Rubio, a native Spanish speaker on a culturally mixed Panthers squad. "Everybody on the team obviously has a passion for the sport. That brings us all together."

- Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com. Comment at nctvarsity.com.