ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP
At Soccer Shots, we believe that soccer is a powerful vehicle for positively impacting youth. Unfortunately, many children don’t have access to soccer programs or soccer fields to play the game. In fact, according to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, 77% of children growing up in households that earn less than $25,000 don’t play sports at all.
That’s why we work with the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Together with the Foundation, we provide children in underserved communities with opportunities to participate in high-quality soccer programs at little or no cost to families. We’re connecting children to caring and trained coach-mentors who support their physical and personal development. And we’re creating safe places to play through the creation of mini-pitches and the Foundation’s Safe Places to Play program.
The result? Children are healthier, more active, and have the tools they need to succeed both on and off the pitch.
OUR IMPACT: BY THE NUMBERS
We’ve supported the creation of six mini-pitches through the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play program. These six mini-pitches provide hundreds of children with access to free play and structured soccer programs.
We’ve supported the Urban Soccer Symposium for seven years and counting. Individuals from more than 350 organizations have attended this annual conference over the years. The event shares best practices for the sports-based youth development field and provides attendees with tangible tools for using soccer (and sports) for social change in their communities.
SPOTLIGHT: URBAN SOCCER SYMPOSIUM
This year’s Urban Soccer Symposium will be held virtually on March 25 and 26. This event is free and open to the public. The 2021 event will feature crucial conversations, workshops and expert presentations around the pivots made during a global pandemic – a time when inequities were illuminated in great detail.
Keynote sessions will feature the WNBA’s Layshia Clarendon, former USMNT member Tim Howard, and many others to be announced in the coming weeks. Register today to reserve your spot here.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
With your support, the U.S. Soccer Foundation can provide the joy and benefits of soccer to more children in underserved communities. Every dollar makes a difference.