Fout Works to Revive Rock Island Soccer

Bob Fout is a man with a dream. He believes that Rock Island is lacking in his favorite sport and he is trying to make a difference. He wants so see Rock Island soccer grow.

Fout has started two traveling soccer teams in the hope that by doing so, the community he lives in, the community he grew up in, will embrace his sport like they do others.

“We lose a lot of players to baseball and football season. The kids who want to play all year go to Moline and East Moline to play in their clubs,” Fout said.

Fout selected traveling teams so they could play competitive soccer. He wanted the more talented kids in the Park and Recreation leagues to see what was waiting for them when they reach high school.

His teams are broken up into under-12 and under-10 and they play in the ILLOWA league under the name of the Rock Island Danes. Many times just to play they have to compete against kids that are older than they are, Fout points out.

With all of those obstacles in front of him, why would Fout want to undertake this project?

“The kids look up to me. I get to be a role model and I find it rewarding. I know that I may have steered a couple of kids off of the wrong path,” Fout explains.

Fout’s credentials include playing soccer throughout his whole life. He explains that when he was in high school Rock Island didn’t even have a soccer team. After high school he played in a tournament with the Fort Worth Strikers.

“I was just trying to get noticed,” Fout said.

He tore two tendons during that tournament, effectively ending his playing career. Fout decided if he could no longer play, then he would promote the sport. His way to do that was to create these teams.

The teams get funds in a variety of ways. This past season Fout’s boss at Quad-City Freight Service, Robert Doran, donated the entry fee so the team could compete in the league. Fout has the players pay for their own uniforms and they sometimes receive donations. Fout also says he invests “a couple of hundred dollars” of his own money every season for equipment to practice with.

“I would like it to become a club like Moline and East Moline. I would like to have it turn into a feeder program for the Rock Island School System,” Fout said about his dream.

Cory Crandall is the current head soccer coach at Rock Island High School. His feelings fall right in line with Fout’s.

“Bob Fout is definitely right. The lack of feeder system kills Rock Island Soccer. We have had some talented teams in the past, but the lack of team chemistry is the difference in being a successful high school team. These kids don’t play together in the off season and that hurts Rocky Soccer.”

Bob Swanson, Athletic Director of Rock Island High School, was glad to hear that someone was out there taking up the cause of soccer.

“I am gratified by people like Bob. Generally, what happens is someone starts coaching because their kid is in it and they stop when their child moves to high school. We then have to wait until the next talented parent comes along to start the cycle all over again. I would love to see us get something going but that takes a long term commitment. My guess would be that in Moline and East Moline if you go back into the history of their programs that you would find a few people in the beginning who just wouldn’t let that program die.”

“Bob gives my son that passion about soccer. He gives encouragement. My son started with the Park Board and found it fun but not challenging. Bob is the next step up,” Stacy Yeader said. Yeader’s son Brandon plays on the under-10 team.

“Bob coaches at every single game, and when he is not coaching he is refereeing. That says a lot. Bob’s just wonderful and he’s really great with kids,” Yeader adds.

Other parents also love Fout’s enthusiasm.

“He’s a very good coach. At practice he’s almost one of the kids. He never gets down and always has a positive outlook,” Bill Polito said. Jake Polito has played under Fout’s tutelage for the last six years.

“Jake just loves him. He has taught Jake everything about soccer. He’s more than a coach, he really befriends these kids. He is Rock Island Soccer right now,” Polito said.