The 2012 U14 Boys Premier team capped off a remarkable spring season by winning the Northeast Regional President's Cup. With this victory, the boys completed the spring "treble,"; also capturing their third consecutive State Cup title and finishing first in the National League New England Blue Division with a 6-0-2 record. (They also won the fall league, finishing 7-1.) But this wasn't just one great season. It was the culmination of five years of mentally and physically demanding training and the thoughtful construction of a roster by Coaches Bob and Josh.

This a truly remarkable group of boys from all walks of life. A core group has been together since U10, with new complementary pieces added each year. What stands out most is how they play. Honed by their coaches, their style is mesmerizing, each of them knowing where the next one will be before they pass the ball. This isn’t clairvoyance; it’s trust in one another developed over hundreds of hours of training.

Most games follow a familiar script:

1. The opponent comes out flying.

2. For 10–15 minutes, it looks like it might be close, and the parents start getting nervous.

3. The other team slowly begins to wear down from chasing the ball.

4. Frustration sets in, and the opposing players start chirping at one another.

5. BFC heads into halftime up 2-0.

While their playing style is captivating, thankfully, their “Sty” leaves something to be desired. There's a workmanlike quality to this group. No slide-ins or sprinting to the corner flag after a screaming banger from outside the 18. No flopping about at the slightest touch of a defender. They simply go about their business and get the job done.

Sometimes it makes you wonder: do they even like the game?

I believe they do, maybe some more than others, but the one thing they all really enjoy, and it’s the secret to their success, is each other. I've never seen a group of pre-teen and teenage boys be so positive and supportive of one another. Not once in a while. Not only when things are going well. Every game. Every practice. For five years.

For me, the best moments happen after the final whistle. Win or lose, the boys walk off the pitch in groups of three or four, smiling, laughing, goofing around. It's never the same group. I always find myself looking to see who my son is walking off with this time. There are no cliques — just a team of boys who genuinely enjoy being together.

By Ross Fenderson, BFC U14 Boys Premier Parent