From soccer ref to AYSO president

Mike Wade never watched soccer, didn’t know the sport, but he became an AYSO referee 15 years ago.

He blames his then 6-year-old son Chris for that.

“They needed referees back then,” said Wade, who tried to distinguish a yellow card from a red card. Which one is for stop? The whistle, he learned it halted play.

Now the Newport Beach resident is the country’s oldest youth soccer organization’s national president.

No more blaming his kid. He credits Chris and his two daughters, Katie and Natalie, whom he coached, for sticking with AYSO and becoming its leader.

Like Wade needed more work being in charge of an organization with more than 50,000 teams and 650,000 players?

As an attorney and partner at Demler, Armstrong and Rowland, LLP in Long Beach, he logs 50 hours a week.

The hours are around the same in his new capacity with the AYSO. The pay isn’t as good as a trial lawyer for insurance companies.

Wade makes nothing. He’s a volunteer. A workaholic, too. Ask his wife Dorene, whose patience, along with his firm, is greatly appreciated by Wade, who has been a lawyer for 30 years.

His firm can’t believe Wade is 60 years old and still kicking hard.

Wade gave the Daily Pilot some time for a Q&A; during his hectic schedule on June 28, when he already was sifting through 150 questions from people across the country wanting answers to their soccer queries via e-mail before a meeting with clients.

Wade can handle soccer. He considers himself a soccer nut now, knowing the rules like the law.

Question: What kind of questions did you answer?

Answer: Every question imaginable, from how do I find AYSO in my city to how do we create more tournament games.

Q: More tournament games mean more referees. I bet they could use you. Would you make an appearance?

A: Those days are over (laughs).

Q: How did you feel refereeing your first match?

A: Nervous. I made numerous mistakes. Luckily the parents didn’t know much about soccer then. Plus, these were 6 year olds.

I wouldn’t be able to get away with it today because the parents are more educated.

Q: I bet you had some good confrontations with coaches and parents. What was the funniest?

A: No, they were always very forgiving of my many mistakes.

Q: A lot of mistakes? How did you become the AYSO president then?

A: They asked me (laughs). I stepped away from the program a couple of years ago to focus on the law firm. I was excited to come back after serving in different capacities [referee, coach, regional commissioner, area director, legal commission member, member of national board of directors]. I had an opportunity to make an impact on the organization, which is all about the kids and teamwork.

Q: Which was the favorite team you coached?

A: Eleven years ago I had a team made up 8- and 9-year-old girls, who were the best players to work with. I’ll never forget them, especially this little girl named Courtney. Her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and that year Courtney made the all-star team.

Her mom came out to watch her play. Everyone surrounded the mom, who was in a wheelchair, while her daughter played. It was unforgettable.

That night her mom passed away. It was a life-altering experience.

Q: Do you know where Courtney is now?

A: On the East Coast, in New York. I’ve lost contact, but I think of her often and her team. That team embodied teamwork.

Q: Beside teaming up on the soccer field, what else does AYSO do?

A: AYSO is community based. During the general meeting in New Orleans on May 27, about 100 of us volunteered to help refurbish three fire houses that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. We spent the day painting, doing whatever to get them ready for the firefighters. They were living in trailers while the fire houses were being refurbished.

Q: What were you in charge of?

A: I got to pull weeds and paint a chain-linked fence. It was one of the more exciting experiences I’ve had the pleasure of engaging in.

Q: Where are Chris, Katie and Natalie at now?

A: Chris is 21 and he’s going to be a senior at the University of Arizona, where he’s studying business. Katie is 19 and going to be a sophomore at Santa Monica City College and she wants to pursue something in fashion design. Natalie is 21, a soon-to-be senior, and a communications major at UC Santa Barbara.

Q: Are they still involved with AYSO?

A: No. But I have five grandchildren. Three play soccer, and the other two are too young. They play in Irvine and Santa Barbara.

Q: So are you locked into this for the long run with the grandkids?

A: I have a one-year term limit (laughs). I’ve been president for a whole month. Check with me a couple months from now.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.