By Jennifer Marino
Now Tom Foley coaches the girls, including his daughters Lauren and Megan. Most of the Bandits have been playing soccer since kindergarten, and now they play in the more relaxed intertown league to have fun and be with their friends.
When the popular term "soccer mom" was coined, it conjured images of suburban mothers chatting on the sidelines while their minivans and SUVs awaited the gaggle of neighborhood children they would transport home. But cultural trend spotters forgot about soccer dads. The game can be a connecting thread for fathers and daughters from kindergarten through high school.
In the RVC Soccer Club, fathers are involved as coaches as well as fans offering moral support. Most don't travel as far as John Gallagher does, however, to get to games. Gallagher has coached his daughter Megan's travel team, the Wildcats, since she was in fifth grade. The girls are now sophomores in high school, and John lives in Zurich, Switzerland.
The Wildcats' new coach is Mary Beth Croutier, and Gallagher has been able to make it home for about six games this year. When he flies back, he tries to make sure his trip encompasses two weekends so he can make it to as many of his daughters' games as possible. Daughters Katie and Claire are on U-14 and U-11 teams respectively. "Soccer has become part of our weekends," he said.
Gallagher has noticed a big difference between athletics in the U.S. and Switzerland: The Swiss are surprised to find out his daughters all play soccer. "When you tell people in Switzerland that your daughters play soccer, they don't understand," John said. The opportunities for young girls to play in organized leagues don't exist there.
Richard Abbinanti believes times have changed in the U.S., too. Today fathers and daughters have the same bonding experience as fathers and sons, he said. He says he can talk to his daughter Amanda, who is on the Bandits, about many things, like sports, cars and travel.
Gerry LoDuca has a daughter, Aimee, and a son, Andrew. Gerry and Aimee went to the Super Bowl together in 2001. Gerry was there to root for the Giants, while Aimee was more interested in seeing 'N Sync. Despite their different motivations, Gerry said it was a "special weekend."
The Women's World Cup is another sporting event the fathers and daughters enjoy. Bob Wolchok went to two games last year with Kristin, and hopes to go to some more this year if they're played nearby.
Besides spending time with their dads, the girls find a second father figure in their coaches. For the Bandits, Coach Foley isn't just Megan and Lauren's father, he's like a dad to them all. Bob Wolchok says he gained 17 daughters when he started coaching in Freeport, and he still looks on Kristin's teammates as daughters, too.
It helps that everyone seems like family, since the girls often play games on both Mother's and Father's day.
