Using Soccer to Save Kids

The film crew is still following Gina Castañeda.

Though about the Santa Cruz County juvenile probation officer and her inspirational—if not innovative—gang intervention program is less than six weeks away, the cameras have yet to finish shadowing Casteñeda.

They're with her at work and in court, when she coaches her daughters' little girls soccer team and, of course, at Aztecas soccer games at the indoor soccer arena at .

Castañeda started the Aztecas soccer program three years ago as a way to help troubled teens find a positive activity. Dozens of gang members have gone through the program, which will be featured in HERoics, .

Castañeda is the only American featured in the project. She learned earlier this spring she had been selected.

"I didn’t know how big this was until I asked how many stories are going to be featured, and they said six," Castañeda said. “To be chosen as a story from the United States—I’m at a loss for words.”

She's quick to refute any possible misconceptions about her program.

“People think it's just kids playing soccer," she said. 

"The Aztecas program is an incredible program that really is a gang-intervention program that’s working with youth to show them there’s something outside of gangs." 

She explained that the soccer team provides a place where the teens are encouraged, feel motivated and have mentors in positive Mexican men.

“One of the things that gangs give kids is they give them love and trust and friendship and loyalty," she said. "There discipline. … Our soccer team’s doing the same thing for them, but in a pro-social way." 

The team, started with donations and a taco-selling fundraiser, has grown into two: the Aztecas and the Toltecas.

The team's stats off the field support her assertions. Among the 75-or-so teenage boys who've been a part of Aztecas in the past three years, Casteñeda has noted the following:

• 21 percent decrease in recidivism
• 16 percent decrease in truancy
• 21 percent decrease in incarceration
• 35 percent increase in successful completion of probation
• 70 percent are finishing community service requirements
• 55 percent are on track to graduate
• and 98 percent of the kids have shown positive behavioral changes.

Aztecas players appreciate the opportunity at a second chance.

Brian Arce is 17 and on probation. He said he could stay out of trouble on his own, he thinks, but "I just love playing soccer."

For Fernando Gutierrez, 16, being an Azteca player for the past year has been "just entertainment." He spoke in short sentences from his perch on the wall at the soccer arena Wednesday, where he was clearly more focused on his teammates passing the ball up to shoot on the goal.

When they're playing, the teens who might threaten one another or even fight in public play on the same team. They bond with mentors, players on other teams and even their former enemies.

“We’re starting to see the impact on and off the field," Casteñeda said.

Aztecas players start feeling love, identity, affiliation, trust, respect and loyalty, and they have fun, she said.

"Those are all things that they would get also from a gang. We’re just replacing it in a positive way," Castañeda said. "The biggest thing is we want to get these kids to identify as soccer players and not gang members.”