Our Mission
We work to increase youth soccer opportunities and access for all children in Washington,
with a primary focus on underserved youth and communities.
We have seen the power soccer has to build character and unite communities -
and every community deserves equitable access to every youth opportunity available.
With our free, after-school soccer programs for at-risk youth
and leading the drive for increased capacity to serve every youth in Washington,
we believe soccer is the key to community strength and social change.
Our Vision
Every child has a safe, healthy after-school experience: According to the Afterschool Alliance, more than 18 million children nationwide are in need of healthy, active after-school opportunities. The hours of 2-6PM are the most dangerous hours in a day for youth in communities with high poverty rates and fewer community resources.
Soccer is a tool for creating social change: Coach-Mentors have the unique power to guide youth through the importance of doing well in school and avoiding negative influences such as drugs, alcohol, and violence. By using soccer, youth who would traditionally not be interested in entering a formal mentorship bond with caring adults.
A healthy lifestyle improves the health of families: Through a healthy diet and at least sixty minutes of active play each day, youth learn how a healthy lifestyle can benefit not only themselves, but their entire family. Lessons on healthy eating are put into practice by families at home, increasing healthy, balanced meals eaten each week.
Increased access to youth soccer brings communities together: Youth of varied cultural backgrounds learn to play together and build friendships and empathy skills. Families cheer on their children at practice and share cultural traditions with fellow families at family engagement nights. New bonds are fostered that last beyond the soccer field.
““I learned how to work together to achieve a goal. In my class, I started working with other students to do some stuff and that’s what soccer has helped me do.””
What We've Achieved
245 Coach-Mentors over 19 seasons have provided a healthy after-school snack, nutrition education, and fun soccer activities 3x a week to every participant
More than 7500 K-6 students in urban low-income South King County communities have participated over past 8 years
7 AmeriCorps members have served a total of 10,900 hours and recruited 3850 volunteers
1212 hours of safe after-school activities delivered - the equivalent of over 50 days of mentorship and healthy lifestyle education through soccer