From talking to most volunteers who coach youth sports, you'll hear them say they do it for the love of the sport and seeing how much the participants get out of it.

For Austin's Scott Knoebel and Steve Modaff, it's no different.

Knoebel, 48, is the chairman of the board for the Austin All Stars. The group has three tournament-level baseball teams for those ages 12, 13 and 14. Knoebel said there's about 14 to a team.

"The organization is based on them trying out for the team," Knoebel said. "This is our 25th year and I've been involved in it for the past eight years."

Helping those better themselves in a game he also enjoys, Knoebel said there's many aspects of working with youth baseball that he finds satisfying.

&uot;It's a combination of things,&uot; he said. &uot;There's a lot of enjoyment with it in that you feel you're doing a lot for the kids. It's a necessity for the sport of baseball in Austin.

Knoebel has also been a member of the Austin Youth Baseball Board for children ages seven through 15.

&uot;I've been a member of that board for 15 years,&uot; he said. &uot;I'm a member of that board and coordinate umpires for that league for the last four year. We have approximately 600 kids that participate in those leagues.&uot;

Knoebel has also coached baseball at Ellis Junior High School and seventh grade football through Austin Youth Football and also has taken up refereeing games on occasion.

By doing the latter, Knoebel said he's been able to get a different take on what happens at ground level of the games.

&uot;I help referee youth basketball tournaments here in town,&uot; he said. &uot;It's a great perspective. It's amazing how many fouls that you can see from the bench. It's amazing how you can see traveling way up in the stands, but not on the floor. You're looking at the player, but you're also looking at two other players out there. I try to make it fun out there for the kids.&uot;

Modaff, 28, has been head coach for one of the Austin Youth Soccer Associations teams for the past two years.

&uot;I love the game of soccer,&uot; he said. &uot;I play it and I continue to play it. As far as coaching youth, I've done it before. I enjoy the interest level in the game and teaching young players, so to be a part of a young program is definitely gratifying. The youth here, they're a great bunch of kids, that's for sure.&uot;

The season usually begins in April and lasts through the summer, and that's where it takes time a dedication to follow through on one's obligation. However, it's one Modaff said he gets tremendous satisfaction from.

&uot;When it gets down to four or five nights a week, it does take a large portion of time when you put in a workday,&uot; he said. &uot;But I find the time because I enjoy working with the youth of the community.&uot;

Also, Modaff said he can see an increased presence and zeal for soccer in the Austin area. It's that receptiveness that is encouraging Modaff to offer options to other players.

&uot;I'm going to be offering a program, hopefully next month before the season starts, for a conditioning class,&uot; he said. &uot;It's just because of the interest level in this community is high and growing. There's enough people that are at the age where I'm coaching (15 years old) they need a different level of play.&uot;