A visit to the Boscheé-Danzer household tells visitors everything they want to know about what goes on there.

One table, once used for family dinners, is loaded with papers — all relating to American Youth Soccer Organization scheduling, registration, referee assignments …

On Sunday, the downstairs television was tuned first to the U.S. women’s World Cup victory over Brazil. Then came the MLS’ Portland Timbers.

With no soccer games to play or coach, this family of four watched the game for almost five hours.

Jen Boscheé-Danzer answered her phone with an enthusiastic greeting, lauding the American women: “Go USA! Hi, this is Jen.”

Mom Jen, dad Jim and daughters Shelby, 14, and Paxson, 12, right now are 24/7 soccer.

You see, Jen Boscheé-Danzer is in the middle of her stint as Region 218 (Davis AYSO) commissioner, the first female soccer boss in 20 years. Husband Jim and she coach different teams for the AYSO select program and both of the girls are accomplished players on those teams.

With the MLS team in their native Oregon and the U.S. women doing so well, there isn’t much else in the psyche of this soccer clan.

“Our family loves Abby Wambach and we were thrilled to see her get her goals against Sweden and Brazil! We’re also big fans of (American goalkeeper) Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan,” Boschee-Danzer explains.

The new commissioner got involved in soccer when Shelby began AYSO as a 4-year-old. When Paxson began her under-6 season, there was an emergency call for a coach.

“I told the person who called … that I didn’t know enough about soccer to coach,” Boschee-Danzer said, thinking back to what would be the beginning of her mentoring career. But AYSO provided age-appropriate coaching training and the Davis woman grew with her children.

“I actually like it, having Mom coach,” Shelby said, smiling. “A lot of kids hate when their parents coach ’em because they get benched more often … or there’s a lot of pressure.

“I think it give me more authority on the field to be a team leader and it also helps me with my skills. (My parents) make me get out there all the time.”

Entering Davis High in the fall, defender Shelby Danzer wants to play Blue Devil soccer after playing for her mother again on a U16 select fall team.

Meanwhile, Paxson, headed for Holmes Junior High in two months, plays U14 for her dad.

“They’re both good coaches,” outside midfielder Paxson believes. “Even if a team isn’t very good (at the beginning), it always gets better and (my) parents make it really fun.”

For a time, Jim and Jen coached together. How did that work out?

“It all came down to control issues and neither of us is very good at being as assistant,” Jim offered, as the whole family laughed, Shelby rolling her eyes in agreement. “We couldn’t decide who was going to be the boss.”

Jen chimes in:

“We’d be at games and I was bugged with the way he was doing things … and he’d be bugged with how I was doing things. So one day, I looked up and said ‘I don’t like coaching with you’ … and Jim said, ‘Well, I don’t like coaching with you.’”

The silver lining in breaking up the duo is that twice as many girls now get the pair’s coaching expertise.

With one more AYSO fall registration session at hand (Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the AYSO building adjacent to Community Pool), Boscheé-Danzer thinks numbers will be right at the spring enrollment, around 1,800 players.

As its own district, Davis’ select competition area includes Winters, Esparto, Rio Linda, Antelope and a new region for Williams.

“It’s nice because (Davis) is a big region,” Boscheé-Danzer continued. “We have a lot of autonomy, but it’s nice to have the support of other regions in our area. As commissioners, we work together a lot. As competitors … well, it’s still nice to have that support.”

Within her local operation, the new commish says she couldn’t do without folks like J.P. Marie, Jim Belenis, Fred Main and Christi Postlethwaite.

“J.P. runs the VIP program and if there’s anything I need done, I can go to him. You know he has a great philosophy that I love and appreciate … it’s a lot of work running this region, but family comes first.

“Jim is another person (that) you can call on a moment’s notice and (he’ll) help you do anything.”

Belenis stays on the board this year, but moves from select coordinator to safety director.

Postlethwaite does “a tremendous amout of work as registrar.” Longtime referee coordinator and trainer Main continues his duty. Boscheé-Danzer says she’d “be lost without their support and hard work.”

So, are there things the Boscheé-Danzers like to do outside of soccer?

“Used to be,” laughs Jim, alluding to how busy his family is with soccer responsibilities this year. “But we like the outdoors. We hike a lot, ride bikes. Shelby and dad share the adventures of Harry Potter.”

And then there’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters … But that’s another story.

Notes: To celebrate the release of  “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the Boscheé-Danzers will have a party Tuesday and go to a midnight showing of the last Potter installment. … While Mom and Dad are admitted Deadheads, they’ve introduced their kids to Big Head Todd and the Monsters and will make a trip east next month to see them in Chicago. Mix in the family’s allegiance to the Oregon Ducks and it’s little wonder these guys are constantly on the go. … Betty Hess-Pierce was the last female Davis commissioner in 1991. Others include now-state Sen. Lois Wolk (1987) and Cheryl Pater (1979). … This year marks the 40^th anniversary of AYSO sponsoring girls teams. … Jen Boscheé-Danzer’s day job is as case manager for Davis Community Meals.

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047.

0712AYSOw

The Boscheé-Danzer family — from left Jen, Shelby (14), Paxson (12) and Jim — watch soccer in the living room of their home on Sunday. Much of the family’s life revolves around their favorite sport and Jen Boscheé-Danzer is currently serving as the first female commissioner of Davis AYSO in 20 years. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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