Bowling Green is home to the International Center of Kentucky, which helps to resettle refugees. Many of these refugees are relocated to Warren County. This contributed to the development of a community with many different ethnicities and backgrounds. Bowling Green High School, especially the boys’ soccer team, is a shining example of this diversity.
The BGHS soccer team features players that have family origins from five different continents and nine countries besides the United States: Spain, Germany, Bosnia, Africa, Somalia, the Congo, Iraq, El Salvador, and Mexico.
Scott Gural, head coach of BGHS boys soccer team, said, “Players from various regions have certain tendencies and comfort areas--ideally, I will recognize and encourage those strengths, but I frequently fail to do so. No matter their background, however, soccer has certain basic elements that apply around the world--I am frequently fascinated to see players communicate more effectively by how they move, pass, and play on the practice field and in games than they sometimes do with their language.”
Although the diversity of the team fosters an unique environment, it also creates some challenges.
“It can be a challenge to coach players with such diverse backgrounds, but it is also exceptionally rewarding to put players in places where their skills and attributes complement each other,” said Gural.
Adiel Valle, a junior at BGHS and a captain of the soccer team, whose parents are from Mexico, agrees saying, “When students come in and are wanting to play soccer, and they speak a different language, it makes it hard sometimes for us to communicate to them, but once they manage to communicate well with us and with the coaches, it makes it easier for us to understand each other.” said Adiel Valle, a captain of BGHS soccer team whose parents are from Mexico,
Currently, the boys soccer team has a 1-3-0 (win-loss-tie) record in district games.
By Emma Kate Widener
The BGHS soccer team features players that have family origins from five different continents and nine countries besides the United States: Spain, Germany, Bosnia, Africa, Somalia, the Congo, Iraq, El Salvador, and Mexico.
Scott Gural, head coach of BGHS boys soccer team, said, “Players from various regions have certain tendencies and comfort areas--ideally, I will recognize and encourage those strengths, but I frequently fail to do so. No matter their background, however, soccer has certain basic elements that apply around the world--I am frequently fascinated to see players communicate more effectively by how they move, pass, and play on the practice field and in games than they sometimes do with their language.”
Although the diversity of the team fosters an unique environment, it also creates some challenges.
“It can be a challenge to coach players with such diverse backgrounds, but it is also exceptionally rewarding to put players in places where their skills and attributes complement each other,” said Gural.
Adiel Valle, a junior at BGHS and a captain of the soccer team, whose parents are from Mexico, agrees saying, “When students come in and are wanting to play soccer, and they speak a different language, it makes it hard sometimes for us to communicate to them, but once they manage to communicate well with us and with the coaches, it makes it easier for us to understand each other.” said Adiel Valle, a captain of BGHS soccer team whose parents are from Mexico,
Currently, the boys soccer team has a 1-3-0 (win-loss-tie) record in district games.
By Emma Kate Widener