Diving head first
Smith (middle) listens intently to Chaparral junior varsity coach Tim Mann, a former college goalie himself.
Photo by Louis Lopez
But Chandler is no wallflower. He’s highly competitive and doesn’t mind getting dirty, which is best displayed during 50-50 balls behind the net. Whoever arrives first gains possession and if Chandler gets beat, the goal is empty and the Pumas are vulnerable.
Chandler is already vulnerable and seemingly at a huge disadvantage. He’s clearly not as fast as the other players either. His sprint to the ball is more of an awkward but powerful gallop. He uses all body parts to thrust forward as his iron leg tries to catch up. It doesn’t deter Chandler, Mann said.
“More times than not he beats kids to the ball,” he said. “It’s uncanny. The other kids should definitely get to it first, but Chandler finds a way, partially because others perhaps underestimate him, but mostly because he simply has a heart and will to get there first. He often dives head first.”
He needs that good noggin to get better and learn the game. His lack of speed and mobility, especially getting low to his right side, are major obstacles to overcome, so learning the game intuitively will help compensate, Mann said.
Protecting his lower right, as he does nicely here, willbe a key for Smith in the future.
Photo by Louis Lopez
So too will getting bigger and stronger through weight training – Chandler is only 5-foot-8 and 100 pounds. But judging how intently he listens and soaks up instruction, Smith will get there. His aspirations are to play in college, perhaps at the Division II level.
Mann wouldn’t bet against him.
“He gives me everything,” Mann said. “He listens when I speak. Others who think they are better than they really are don’t always listen. They do what they think they should do. Chandler really listens and he gives me everything he’s got.
“These kids look up to him. He gives them so much encouragement. When he talks, they really listen. They know he’s different and they play better because of it. He brings a lot of unity to the team. They want to protect him so they play harder.”
But there’s definitely no sense of pity for Chandler. Most have been watching and playing side-by-side with him for years in this bedroom community of 100,000 in southwestern Riverside County, a short drive from San Diego and Orange County.
“He’s just such a strong kid – he does everything we do,” said sophomore Anthony Cole, who’s been friends with Chandler since he moved into Temecula just before the third grade. “Nothing can hold him back after everything that has happened in his life. He's on his way.”
