2021-2022 SMHS Girl’s Soccer Team Rules

• Eligibility:
  You must maintain a C average or a 2.0 GPA. Be enrolled in a minimum of 5 classes and be on track to pass 20 credits. Any student with less than a 2.0 GPA and 2 or more F’s is academically ineligible to participate in games.
  
• Practices:
  If you are going to be late to practice you must either contact your coach or team captains, failure to do so may effect playing time.

• Code of Conduct:
  At all times you are to be respectful of teammates, coaches, school officials, referees, as well as demonstrate good sportsmanship to the opposing team. Failure to comply with these standards may result in diminished game time. There will be no negative outbursts tolerated from players at practice or games towards teammates.
• Playing Time:
  Game time is earned and will be based on practice effort/attendance, game matchups, and school opposition. Our intention is to play everyone during preseason but you will earn starting/substitute positions for conference play.
• Attitude:
  All practices and games will be conducted with encouragement and a positive outlook. We encourage creativity among all players but with a goal of team success. You are now role models for younger soccer players in San Marcos and must always remember this fact, especially during games both at home and away.

2021 Freshmen Team Tryouts

The girls soccer coaching staff would like to welcome all incoming freshmen to the girls soccer program. We wanted to provide some important information prior to the start of tryouts:

• Please understand that we do not have a conditioning period that club teams can provide. We have a three month season and our preseason games begin very quickly after you return from Thanksgiving break

• This means that you need to be in game shape when tryouts begin. We unfortunately have to select players who can immediately participate in full scrimmages and positively impact games.

• Because of the schedule restrictions we concentrate primarily on tactical schemes for all teams at practices because many of the players do not play together outside of high school so we focus on the team first aspect. We simply do not have time to spend practices to zero in on individual skill work. We do have technical drills for each practice that are conducted during our warmups but we do not devote whole practices to technical work. This means that you need to work on your ball skills prior to tryouts and on your own. You need to come prepared

• We do not care nor will we ask you where if at all you play outside of school. So please do not approach any of the coaching staff to discuss your club experience during the tryouts.

• For those of you who do wish to try out for JV or even Varsity please keep in mind when determining what team you want to play on that high school is a completely different brand of soccer. In high school the JV and Varsity teams are combined ages and especially on Varsity you will be competing against players who could possibly be four years older than you. This is basically you in four years, older, stronger, faster, with additional experience and knowledge. Choose the team you can play on, sitting on the bench does not help your career at San Marcos High School.

• For tryouts you will need to bring the following:
   Shin guards / water/ and cleats

For tryouts please do not wear any club affiliated apparel
If you are not fully cleared by the Athletic Department you will not be allowed to tryout, no exceptions! 

 

COACHING STAFF

Daniel McKell – Director Girls Soccer Program / Head Coach Girls Varsity

Coaching Experience

2016– PRESENT: SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL

Director of Women’s Soccer Program / Varsity Coach Head Coach

2019 – Present: City SC San Marcos / SM Revolution

Director of Coaching / Director of Olders

2018/2019 SEASON: NORTH COUNTY FOOTBALL CLUB [NCFC]

Director of Coaching (Boys and Girls) / Head of Player Development

2017/2018 SEASON: SAN DIEGO SURF

2000 DA Technical Trainer / Assistant Coach / Strength & Conditioning Coach

LA GALAXY SAN DIEGO / CARLSBAD UNITED

• 2000 & 2001 Premier Coach / Girls: U10, U11, U12, U14, & U15
• 12 First Place Tournament Trophies & 5 Second Place Finishes
• Final 4 & Sweet 16 State Cup Finishes
• Playing Experience

Professional Career

• CONCAF (FIFA Tournament) Club championship (with SAP FC)
• Antigua – SAP FC ( Top Division )
• Trinidad and Tobago North Eastern Stars (Top Division)
• Queens Park FC (Top Division)
• Atlanta Silver Backs (USA – USL / A League)
• Contracted out – Luton United FC (London Division 1)

College Career – Division 1

• University of South Carolina (Ranked Top 10)
• Captain 2 Years / All Conference / Honorable Mention – All American
• Marshall University / Charleston University (West Virginia)
• Captain 2 Years

Trinidad and Tobago’s National Team: U20 and U23 training 

High School – Trinidad and Tobago: League champions / National runner-up

Josh Leupold Varsity Asst Coach / Goalkeeping Coach / 

Operations Manager for the Women’s Soccer Program

Playing career:

  * 4 years on varsity at Westmont HS (goalkeeper, all league selection senior year)

  * 10 years with West Valley United club

San Marcos High School

Coach Josh is entering his 7th year with the San Marcos HS girl’s program as assistant/goalkeeper coach and is looking forward to the 2021-22 season.

 

Highlights with the Varsity Knights include two League Championships (2017 & 2021) and a SoCal DII Finals (2017).

 

Previous coaching experience:

  * 2 years with Vista Storm club

  * 3 years with West Valley United club (San Jose)

  * 11 years with Westmont HS (San Jose); won first girls league title in school     history

 

Dean Balent – Varsity Asst Head Coach / Tactical & Training Coach

Playing Career:

Instituto Ingles’- Rancagua, Chile 

Newport FC – Newport Beach, CA. 

Phoenix Club – Greater LA Semi Pro League 

Los Angeles Aztecs – North American Soccer league 

California Surf – North American Soccer League 

San Diego Sockers – North American Soccer League 

University of San Diego – Captain / Starter 

Coaching Career:

Orange FC – U14 Boys Orange, CA. 

Orange Coast College Club Team – Costa Mesa, CA.

La Jolla Nomads – U16 Boys National Champions

SD County Soccer League Women – Open Division  

Carlsbad Lightning - U9 & U10 Girls 

Carlsbad United /L.A. Galaxy San Diego – U11 through U17 Girls Teams

High School Coaching

2014-17 Carlsbad High School  Boys Freshman Team League Champions x2

2017-18 Carlsbad High School Girls Varsity -League Champions  first time in 7 years

2018-19 Carlsbad High School Girls Varsity - League Champions – undefeated

2019 CIF San Diego Open Champion - First time in 9 years

2018-19 CIF San Diego County Coach of the Year

2021     San Marcos High School Girls Varsity - League Champions first title in 5 years undefeated

Valentina Zito - Junior Varsity Head Coach & Assistant Varsity coach

Playing Career

Started playing soccer at 4 years old

Goalkeeper for life

Played club soccer in New Jersey

College

Palomar College & University of Saint Katherine Captain all 4 years

NCCAA 1st team all-regional in college

All-time saves leader with 441 career saves at USK (2017-2019)

Coaching Career

Started coaching at SMHS 2015

City SC San Marcos

 

OTHER QUESTIONS?
If you have questions not covered above, please email the coaching staff at smhsgsoccer@gmail.com.