John DeBatty, Head Coach
National 'D' licence
'E' Licence
U8, U10, U12 Youth modules

I have a lifelong connection with soccer going back to when I was playing in the western suburbs of Chicago. I played year round in recreational leagues and with the Cicero based club Sparta. The Sparta midget and juvenile teams were extremely successful, winning league championships and tournaments as far away as Nebraska and Ohio. Several of my team mates made it to the professional level in the US and in Europe. My mom invented the position of 'Soccer Mom' back in the 1960's, driving us to all these tournaments, practices, and games.The only difference was we had a station wagon instead of a minivan. Most of my high school years I did not play competitively. Sparta played at such a high level I could not take the pressure - It wasn't fun any more. My High School fielded a soccer team for the first time during my senior year of high school. I tried out half way through the season and earned a starting inside midfield position. I tied for the team lead in assists while playing only half the season. I received an offer to play at Aurora college, but wasn't ready for college. After high school I served 4 years in the Marine Corps, went to college, and then started a family. My oldest boy got involved in soccer about 11 years ago, which is when I started coaching. Since then, soccer has been a constant in my family's life. I've become a student of the game, to the point that I watch it on the spanish channel, attend seminars and classes, and play in an over-40 league. It's like riding a bike - you don't forget how to do it, you just can't go as fast any more.

Home phone: (630) 790-0760

E-mail:

DeBatty790@wowway.com

"Make your teammates look good and everything else takes care of itself."