Interview with Horst Bertl, director of coaching, by Soccer America Youth Soccer Letter Executive Editor Dan Woog.

Location: Dallas.

History: Started 26 years ago as boys club; grew slowly; girls program added four years ago.

Championships: Several USYSA Region III championships.

Most famous players: Jeff Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes), Chad Deering (Dallas Burn).

Number of players: 290 boys and girls, ages U-11 through U-19; club draws from a two-hour radius.

Number of teams: 18.

Number of coaches: 10.

Coaching salaries: $800-$1,000 per month per team.

Cost to play: $1,400 per year, not including uniforms.

Facilities: Classic League uses 11-field facility; club leases Brookhaven College for training.

Club philosophy: “We are a developmental club, in for the long term. Our goal is to give kids a chance to advance to a good college program and to help with exposure for the regional and national teams. Championships are nice, but if we can instill passion for soccer in our players, then we’ve done a good job.”

Club’s biggest strength: “Our history. We are known nationally.”

Club’s greatest challenges: “We have to rely heavily on volunteers. Also, in this area there is a lot of competition from clubs similar to ours. Now that we’re getting into girls soccer, we have to build up that program while remaining strong on the boys side. And we also have to raise funds for lights for our practice field.”

Competition in Dallas: “We have to do as good a job, or better, as everyone else. Of course, we need competition or else there would be no games.”

Club’s goal: Expand to 24 teams (16 boys, 8 girls) and to “stay in the forefront of soccer, and place as many players as we can in college and on regional teams.”

Partner: adidas.

Fund raising: Flower sales, other events.

Interesting facts: Last year, the U-19 boys team beat Corinthians in the Dallas Cup Super Division. This year, the Comets will host Dallas Cup teams from Brazil and Lithuania. In the last 10 years, the Comets have placed 14 players on various U.S. national teams, five on the Olympic team, and 14 on the Parade All-America list.

Contact: Horst Bertl; e-mail: bertl47@aol.com; Web site: www.cometssoccer.com