Rockman's 'Rovers' harness the unifying power of sport

Another generation gathers at the feet of longtime soccer coach Spencer Rockman. Photo by Denise Nickel.

Spencer Rockman has come a long way from being known as the "Ice Cream Man" in his hometown of Metuchen in the early 1970s, to becoming a well-known soccer coach, camp director and founder/owner of the Rovers International Soccer Organization.

Being part of a soccer organization was not something that dreamed of when he was young. In the 60ís soccer really wasn't part of the sports landscape. More focus was put on the traditional American sports -- baseball, basketball and football. "When I was 13 and played my first game, I didn't even like it, I walked off the field," Rockman said. But it became his life's calling soon enough.

Rockman, 56, of Edison sold ice cream from his Good Humor truck for three years, but he wanted to spread his love for soccer throughout Metuchen and soon the adjacent community of Edison. He carried a soccer ball on the truck with him and held his first street corner clinic in August 1972 with 13 kids. As word spread more and more children turned out.

Soon they were playing clinics three times a week on the high school field. "It was a real grassroots campaign," said Rockman. "There was no parental involvement. [But] once the kids got involved, the word spread like wildfire."

Training day

As its 38th season begins, the fire is still blazing strong. Rockman coaches soccer clinics six days a week. His Rovers International Soccer Organization reaches across Central Jersey, from Woodbridge to Scotch Plains, Edison and the Brunswicks, to Marlboro and Manalapan. The Rovers Summer Camps and Clinics are now the longest running summer soccer camp program in New Jersey.

Boys and girls, ages 2 to 18, can attend the camps and clinics, which in Highland Park are held on Thursday evenings at the Center School on North Fourth Avenue. The Rovers soccer program also offers pre-season clinics for coaches.

In Highland Park, the Rovers International provide clinics at several levels for both the travel teams of Highland Park Soccer Association and the borough's recreation department.

The Rovers provide skill training, said Rockman, "[but] the key is making it challenging and fun at the same time. Without a challenge, there is no growth," he added.

Coaching the coaches

A co-founder of the Garden State Soccer League in 1980, Rockman was the varsity boys' soccer coach at St. Joseph's in Metuchen from 1981-1986. He has also been a part of the New Jersey Soccer Coaching Schools since 1974, training and certifying coaches under the umbrella of the New Jersey Youth Soccer Association.

As head coach of the Rovers Soccer Club from 1976 to 1990, he led the squad to 450 victories and 31 championships. More recently he was soccer director of the Garden State Games from 1995-1997.

The unifying power of sport

A look at the last twelve months gives a window onto the good that the Rovers organization is able to accomplish with its long standing in the community.

In June of 2007, the "Kicks for Katif" benefit at Johnson Park raised $1,750 to help in the building of a youth center in Nitzan for more than 1500 displaced Israeli families from Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip.

Rockman took his soccer camp to Beersheva in the Negev of Israel last summer. He ran thirty mini-camp clinics in ten days, teaching soccer fundamentals to 475 Israeli children and 25 adults including young Ethiopian immigrants in Beersheva and Arad.

Then, last October, the Rovers partnered with Lainie's Angels to host the fourth annual "Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders" at St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. The event included a Rovers 5K Run/Walk and a soccer marathon, and raised $20,000. for the benefit of these families.

Now the Rovers will be assisting in Highland Parkís community-wide Project Zambia, helping to support the Shiyala community school near Chongwe, Zambia with a spring soccer benefit.

After thirty-seven years, tens of thousands of children have attended the Rovers soccer clinics, and Rockman reflects back on his long tenure as a coaching guru, camp director, team founder and business owner. "You use the game as a vehicle and a vessel. There is an emphasis on unity. Respect, effort and gratitude lead to unity,"

"You always have to reinvent yourself and find your purpose."

As the Rovers organization begins to complete its fourth decade, Rockman has always been known as a man on a mission. "All of us have the same goal which manifests itself from one source. I will do whatever it takes to help the kids reach their potential, and use the game to reach that goal."

For more information on Rovers International, call 732.777-1600 or visit www.roversoccer.com. Andrea Baay, borough recreation coordinator can be reached through the Senior/Youth Center on South Sixth Avenue, phone 732.819-0411.