#SoccerSaturday
Two Parents &
Three Sets of Twins Take on AYSO #SoccerSaturday
Near the end of last season, we got to sit down and talk to a very unique soccer family about their AYSO soccer experience. Six kids pile into a van, soccer bags ready, cleats in hand and bubbling with energy while part-time AYSO referee and fulltime soccer dad, Mike Jansta, is getting behind the wheel, ready to drive this small group to a long day at the field. It was just another day of AYSO soccer for this father, but for anyone else, it could be something right out of a blockbuster family movie. Every weekend, Mike and his wife Lisa, prepare for a full Soccer Saturday at the field with their six kids, three sets of twins in Ladera Ranch, CA (Region 1455). He and his wife Lisa are a stellar team of soccer parents that both find amazing ways to stay involved with each of their soccer star’s AYSO days. From parenting to volunteering, this pair gets the best out of AYSO with their unique family. Mike knew that having six kids would mean long days of dad duties but spending long days at the soccer field was an unexpected surprise. A life-long baseball fan, he never thought he’d be giving all his time to the beautiful game of soccer at this point in his life. His story of refereeing came to be so he could be
more involved in all of his kids’ games while juggling a busy work schedule. “When you have 6 kids, being a coach is difficult because someone is going to get left out,” said Mike. “So, when they asked for volunteers, I knew I could figure something out. Refereeing made the most sense, I could get some exercise, be allowed to referee the kids’ games up to a certain age and have the best seat in the house for some of their games.” Each pair of twins came as a great surprise for Mike and Lisa. As they all became old enough to play sports, he began to look for the best possible organization that would fit his family and AYSO was the best option. They were able to accommodate their needs and ensure each child had a partner in their age group when possible. The three pairs of twins include Boy and Girl 11-yearolds, that play on their own 12U teams, identical 10-year-old boys on the same 10U team and fraternal 9-year-old boys on their own 10U teams. Janice Lugo, Regional Commissioner of Ladera Ranch AYSO, knew she had an amazing group joining her region from the moment she heard about them. “When we heard at in-person Registration that there was a family with 3 sets of