Colorado Soccer Foundation

MAKE THE GAME OF SOCCER ACCESSIBLE TO ALL KIDS WHO WANT TO PLAY.

SOCCER CITY: THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND PROGRAMMING INITIATED IN THE 3.6 ACRE PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES A 5,000 SQ. FT. COMMUNITY CENTER, TWO 7V7 FIELDS, AND TWO 5V5 FIELDS. THE FIELDS ARE TURFED AND LIGHTED. MEMBERSHIP IS PRIMARILY YOUTH WHO LIVE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT ALSO INCLUDES FAMILIES, ADULTS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING LOCAL SOCCER CLUB PARTICIPANTS. MEMBERS PAY A NOMINAL FEE TO ACCESS THE FIELDS AND PLAY PICK-UP SOCCER AT ANY TIME WHEN THE FACILITY IS OPEN. ADDITIONALLY, MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY LOUNGE AREA WHICH INCLUDES A PING PONG TABLE, FOOSBALL TABLE, TV'S AND A CONCESSION STAND. THE GOAL FOR THE NEXT YEAR IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE MEMBERS TO OVER 2,000 WHILE ALSO GENERATING REVENUE THROUGH FIELD RENTALS THAT WILL HELP SUSTAIN DAILY OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: IN SPITE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY KICK OFF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVE 250 PARTICIPANTS AND SCHOOLS IN THE SPRING OF 2021. THE PROGRAM METHODOLOGY INCLUDES TRAINING TEACHERS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE REGULAR SOCCER PROGRAMMING DURING AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS. WE PROVIDE A STIPEND FOR THE COACHES, ONGOING TRAINING/SUPPORT, AND ALL SOCCER EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO RUN THE PROGRAM ON SITE AT THEIR SCHOOL. PROGRAM BENEFITS INCLUDE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON PEER-TO-PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND PEER-TO-TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS, IN ADDITION TO THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLAYING ORGANIZED TEAM SPORTS. THE GOAL IS TO GROW THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS WITH HIGH RATES OF FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AREA AS WELL AS MORE RURAL LOCATIONS BY SOURCING FUNDING THAT ALLOWS US TO HEAVILY SUBSIDIZE THE COST OF THE PROGRAM. THIS KEEPS THE COST OF PARTICIPATION AT A NOMINAL RATE AND ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO ALL YOUTH WHO NEED ONE.

GAME DAYS: GAME DAYS ARE HELD EVERY WEEKEND DURING THE FALL AND SPRING SEASONS FOR ALL YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN SOCCER AFTER SCHOOL. SCHOOLS PLAY FRIENDLY MATCHES AGAINST OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AT SOCCER CITY AURORA, ALLOWING YOUTH PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR SOCCER SKILLS IN FRONT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. ON A TYPICAL GAME DAY, SOCCER CITY HOSTS AT LEAST 25 GAMES FOR OVER 500 ATTENDEES, INCLUDING TEACHERS, PARENTS, PLAYERS, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THEIR YOUTH PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN FRIENDLY COMPETITION.