US Youth Soccer Fleck Award winner creates partnership with PLAY SOCCER to create a new "Coaching the Whole Child" program
The PLAY SOCCER program is a year round recreational and holistic educational program for disadvantaged girls and boys who trains young adults as its instructors, and operates through a network of country organizations that share the common program and the mission of development through sport. Its program aims to empower children and youth to lead change in the world's most underserved communities and is an implementing partner in FIFA's Football for Hope corporate social responsibility initiative.
The U.S. Department of State has awarded a grant of $225,000 to Ohio University and PLAY SOCCER to assist in implementing the Coaching the Whole Child program. The grant is designed to focus on developing individuals who will work with young participants in underserved communities in the United States, Senegal, Ghana and South Africa.
The Coaching the Whole Child program uses soccer as a vehicle to promote the health and lives of girls and boys, ages five through 15. The initiative will be piloted in partnership with PLAY SOCCER in Athens county Ohio in collaboration with
Ohio University's Kids on Campus program for underserved, at-risk children and their families.
"US Youth Soccer is proud of the work Dr. Carr has accomplished at Ohio University in the field of coaching education and we look forward to seeing more children exposed to soccer as a healthy activity, while emphasizing fun, and instilling a life long passion for the game." said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer.
US Youth Soccer fully supports the use of sports to develop and improve the lives of children as demonstrated by its many programs. To learn more about the Fleck Award, US Youth Soccer educational programs and the recently announced US Youth Soccer grant programs, visit USYouthSoccer.org.
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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.
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