(Guest post from Coach Adam at Soccer Shots Los Angeles)
In one of the many adventures that I have participated in, this story shows the power soccer has in uniting strangers from completely different walks of life.
Back in 2008, I was very fortunate to travel to South America for six months.
Everywhere I went, literally everywhere, there were soccer fields that seemed to sprout up from grass, concrete, and half finished buildings whose various levels seemed to defy architectural logic. Soon, it became quite apparent how important the game is to our neighbors to the south.
Kids begin the game at such a young age, and play with such ease; it is no wonder why the continent holds 9 World cup titles, with five coming from Brazil alone!
As a soccer lover, I felt right at home. Of the four countries I visited, (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia) each of their citizens welcomed me in similar yet different fashions. But one trend that maintained consistent was their eagerness to drop everything and include me in the many games that I played with local adults and children. All that I needed to say was donde esta la partida? Translating in English to where is the game? If there was a ball and any sort of makeshift goal, a game would begin in the time it took to get two sides together.
My most memorable experience by far, was the trip I took to the DEEP coastal jungle of Ecuador. By boat, (and I mean a canoe with a motor) the village of San Miguel is a five hour ride from a river outpost in the middle of the jungle, which is a four hour bus ride from a major city. Hopefully that paints a picture as to how remote this place was. Upon arriving, we disembarked with our backpacks to a village whose residents are of African descent.
Stepping onto shore, it was both heartwarming and sad that these people completely welcomed us without any question to their humble village. Heartwarming because it showed the human capacity for goodness and humility and sad because I questioned if these gracious people would be embraced in the same fashion back home.
For five days we lived amongst the great people of San Miguel. They had little to no money and sustained themselves through bartering with different villages that dotted the sides of the river. We celebrated Easter with them, (which was a mix of African and Catholic tradition) we ate with them, danced with them, and of course, played soccer with them.
After one of the older teenagers approached me in what appeared to be a combative stance, I thought I might need to talk my way out of a pickle.
But instead he asks in English, “are you English”? “No”, I said. “I am actually American. “ Soon we got lost in language translation. So I fell back on my customary “Tienes una pelota? Donde esta la partida? He replied, “eres un jugador?” (You are a player?) Si, por supuesto. (Yes of course.)
From the time I spoke those words to the time we were playing was no more than five minutes. Soon, all the older kids in the village had joined us and we began our intense game of soccer, San Miguel style.
Soccer, San Miguel style consists of playing on a cement field complete with bits of glass and shards of broken concrete. Oh, and some of the kids play barefoot! Soon the kids are bleeding profusely while we play with a ball no bigger than a large softball.
So here I am playing in a steamy jungle, with kids who are playing barefoot on concrete, and running circles around me.
This was quite humbling for me as I claim a pretty good mastery of the game. We continued this as a daily ritual for the short time we were there. And while language was at times an obstacle, the game of soccer helped level that obstacle if even for 30 minutes.
I wanted to share this story because sports, especially soccer can act as a unifying force. In my case it brought together groups of people whose lives couldn’t have been any more different. We see this every four years during the World Cup. There is always one country participating who is suffering from some form of civil strife. Yet whatever is happening in that country at the time, there is always unification around their team and their fellow countrymen. Even for just a month, people can put aside their differences and embrace a similar and powerful cause.
If soccer can help unite a country, think of the impact it can have on the youth around the world. We need to harness the positive power of the world’s greatest game and expose it to as many kids as possible. In the process, we might just end up saving the world.
We are extremely pleased to announce that Paul is now the West San Fernando Valley Director! For the past two years Paul has coached and managed the Soccer Shots program in the San Fernando Valley at an extremely high level. He truly represents the absolute best of what Soccer Shots is all about. Kids, parents and the staff at our schools all love Coach Paul!
Check out Coach Paul in action as he leads a group of 30+ kids with creativity and imagination! The kids have a blast using their giant bucket of water (soccer ball) to put out the fires (cones) as they fly (dribble) around the field in their helicopters!
Paul brings 25 years of experience working with children in sports and recreation for organizations including non-profit organizations, public schools and with the Disney Company. Additionally, he also operates a robust children’s party entertainment company with his wife. During Paul’s career his certifications have included youth sports coach and personal trainer and his lifetime of experience coaching youth soccer for preschoolers and older children began in 1986!
After the birth of his second son five years ago and following the acquisition of two additional party companies, Paul resigned from his role as an Executive Director with the YMCA to spend more time with family and with the family businesses. With his youngest son beginning kindergarten he took on a part time management role as Coordinator of the Topanga youth sports program in 2009 involving 200 children ages 3 to 13 in various sports including a rapidly growing soccer program in which he continues to coach several teams each season.
With a diverse and enriching body of experience well suited to coaching and working with young children, Paul began coaching for Soccer Shots at the beginning of 2010. His experience with sports and working with children has been a great match!
Parents are constantly asking us to refer a soccer program as a “next step” for their child beyond Soccer Shots. These parents believe in our philosophy of offering a non-competitive, high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to the wonderful game of soccer and trust our experience and values. There are typically two reasons that parents ask us for our recommendation:
1) Their child is graduating from preschool where Soccer Shots is being offered and they want their child to continue with soccer OR
2) They are a fan of our program but their child is too old for our program which primarily serves 3-5 year olds.
Because of this we have been seeking a partnership with a local soccer academy that matches our philosophy. I am pleased to say that we have found the right match. “The Los Angeles Soccer Academy believes in technical development over the current trend of winning-at-all-cost found in many youth programs. We are dedicated to reversing the kick-and-run approach used to attract families and generate revenue at the sacrifice of player development… These are the years we want our children to play with confidence and control…”
In addition to the LASA programs for U6 and up, Soccer Shots will now be offering our program at the Los Angeles Soccer Academy by offering the 3-6 year old program.
The following is an excerpt from losangelessoccer.org:
At most youth clubs, if a child does not make the team he is left with only recreational options such as AYSO. At LASA we don’t marginalize children who are not ready for the club level. We place them into our academy program so they can train alongside our club team and develop the skills needed to eventually reach their goals. Each player has an opportunity to play on one of our club teams when ready, or play in our academy to attain the skills needed to reach the competitive level. We also start our services at 3 years-old, to give every child a head start through our affiliate program, Soccer Shots. We firmly believe when you nurture the love for the game first at this early age, the skills will follow.
We are dedicated to development over winning-at-all-cost. We are a possession-minded academy and club. We do not subscribe to the kick-and-run game played in many youth leagues across the US and England. We combine the possession principles of Spain, the 4v4 foundations of Holland, the flair and creativity of Brazil, and the determination, hustle and pride of US soccer.
In addition to developing individual skills, our USSF licensed coaches also teach principals of shape, teamwork, attack, vision, penetration, support, mobility, width, improvisation, pressure, cover, balance, delay, compactness, restraint and the counter-attack. At the end of every practice we incorporate match free-play to insure we allow the game to teach our players. All of our practices are founded on simple soccer, played smart.
Soccer Shots (Ages 3-6)
This is an exciting introduction to soccer for 3, 4, 5 and 6 year-olds, with a focus on nurturing a creative environment through engaging and fun practices. Our partners, SOCCER SHOTS will provide all the fun, in keeping with the LASA Mission Statement and Philosophy. Graduates from the Soccer Shots program can then advance into our U6-U8 program with confidence and a developed set of skills. This program runs one day a week. Practices are held on LASA fields alongside our other programs. To register for Soccer Shots, click on your age group here: 3-4 Year Olds | 5-6 Year Olds
U6-U8 Academy
This is the second stage of development for ages 6, 7 & 8. This is for players who have shown progress at the recreational level (AYSO) or at an introductory program such as SOCCER SHOTS. This is a fun but challenging training program to help younger players realize their potential and help them develop the skills needed to reach the club level. All players will be taught through guided discovery by NSCAA and USSF licensed coaches. Our focus in this age group will be on dribbling, control, creativity, confidence and fun! This is also an excellent supplement for club or AYSO players looking to add additional technical development into to their season. This program runs two days a week.
U9, U10, U11, U12 Academy
Academy players in U9-U12 train alongside our club teams of the same age groups. This is an excellent opportunity for players to bridge the gap between AYSO and competitive club-level soccer. Our goal is to help players develop and integrate into our club system. This is the first step on that journey. To join one of our club teams instead, please contact coach Alveraz for try-out opportunities and details: info@losangelessoccer.org.
At Soccer Shots, it is part of our mission to impact youth in a positive way, but there are times when the depth of that impact is more profound than we could have hoped for. The following is a letter from a parent of Soccer Shots participants. We have changed only the names to protect the family’s anonymity but the rest is a copy/pasted letter that we wanted to share. Let it be a reminder to all who work with children that the time we spend (even if it’s only 40 minutes, one day a week) can be deeply meaningful.
Dear Coach Matt,
I wanted to take the time to write you an email, to thank you for all you do in running the Soccer Shots Program. Both of my boys, Jason, now 4, and Phil, age 3, have benefited from this program in more ways than you know. That is why I am writing you, to give a first-hand account on how your program is serving others.
To many families, signing up their child(ren) may be on a long list of to-dos, a part of “growing up”…a milestone. For my family, it was a way to bring joy to a life that was hanging on by a thread.
When I initially signed Jason up in the Fall of 2009, it was out of my strong desire to engage him in an activity that was positive and promoted teamwork, self-confidence, and encouragement. You wouldn’t have known this, but it was a very difficult time for the boys and me. At the time, we were living in a home with an active drug and alcohol addict–my husband (and their father.) As you can imagine, this made it very difficult to have a “normal” life and marriage, as life with an addict is very far from that. I was also praying that the soccer program would bring a positive male influence into my son’s life, even if it was only once a week.
Last Spring, you were one of those people. I appreciated your commitment to Jason, especially when you engaged him back “into” the activity and really worked with him, encouraging him to have fun and participate. Your effort was to be commended. You always gave him special attention, and he still talks about playing soccer, and his coach was “Coach Matt.”
This season, Phil was old enough to start the program. He has had Coach Brad, and again, what a wonderful experience it has been. Brad is just wonderful with the kids, and I have tried to thank him on several occasions, knowing that he really has no idea just HOW thankful I am. One particular moment sticks out.
Early in the season, Coach Brad called Phil, “Phil the Thrill” and the name stuck with him. I know to Brad, it may have been an off-hand comment, but to Phil, it meant the world. After all, his coach gave him a special name!
At night, when I tuck him in, sometimes he waits for me to say, “I love you–Phil the Thrill–my little soccer man!” As a teacher, I have served so many families, and have had the pleasure of knowing their stories and sharing in their lives. I really feel God has gifted me in this way of serving others. Please know that I feel you have this gift, too, and THANK YOU for bringing together such an amazing team of people to do this work.
I think those of us in service positions don’t realize the magnitude of the work we’re doing at times, the lives we can be touching and not even know it, even through the game of soccer. The way we react to a child; an encouraging word, a happy disposition, a hug or high-five, even an off-hand “nickname” can go a long way in the life of a child. So today, I want you to know how much you and Brad have meant to my boys, and for that I am forever grateful.
Melissa
We hope this parent knows how much letters like this mean to everyone in Soccer Shots. This is why we do what we do.
Don’t let all the fun and games fool you, no matter how much your kids love Soccer Shots and entertain you with tales of all the fun games we play, Soccer Shots is also a SKILLS program! Studies have shown that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! And, 9 out of 10 singing nannies recommend it during all household chores for children 3 years and up!
But seriously, we all learn better and retain more when we are enjoying the activity. We also retain more when doing vs. just being lectured or reading about something. Learn while you laugh!
Keeping this premise in mind, Soccer Shots has created non-competitive games that incorporate ball skills, imagination and FUN!
Our kids are astronauts one day and superheroes the next, shuttling their precious cargo from planet to planet protecting it from asteroids or the cookie monster! Sometimes they are bears or tigers searching for food after a long sleepy winter. They are encouraged to make up their own games and exercise their creativity as well.
What our Soccer Shots kids don’t know is that through it all they are learning to dribble, properly kick the ball, pull back, protect the ball with their bodies when they play keep away and also score goals. They are learning teamwork and sharing the ball when they pass it one another. Soccer Shots is their introduction to organized sports in a positive, fun filled environment.
As they grow older they will already be equipped with the skills necessary to participate in other soccer programs such as AYSO, city leagues, club soccer, etc. They will be able to acclimate into more competitive programs with the skills they have “inadvertently” learned through Soccer Shots.
So as we enjoy the summer fun outdoors and all the activities it has to offer, keep in mind fall is just around the corner! Our fall season will be starting up sooner than you think at your local preschool or local community park. And if you know any schools that would benefit from a program like this, please let us know! We will come in and do a FREE demonstration for the children 3-5 years old and set up a fall season of soccer fun!
July 4th, Independence Day, is almost upon us evoking images of red, white and blue banners, parades down Main Street, apple pie and baseball, our national pastime. But what about soccer? People outside the USA can’t believe we don’t eat, sleep and breathe it like they do! It’s not just a sport to them, it’s a culture!
Those of us who love soccer and want to introduce our children to the “Beautiful Game” often are hard pressed to do so.
“Kids everywhere else grow up living, breathing, dreaming soccer. Here, kids in the suburbs go to regimented practice twice a week, play a game in front of screaming parents on the weekend and that’s it. No soccer on TV. No pickup games on the neighborhood vacant lot, honing their skills on a bumpy dirt field while dribbling around cinder blocks and tree roots.”
We create a fun, non-competitive atmosphere to introduce your children, ages 3-8 to the wonderful world of soccer!
We incorporate games they already know such as freeze tag, duck-duck-goose, red light green light, keep away and incorporate them with soccer skills such as dribbling, passing and scoring goals. We encourage them to use their imagination and dribble as fast as rabbits or as slow as turtles or be spacemen exploring new planets, collecting space rocks.
Here are some sources and events that will introduce our youth to Soccer Culture in the United States:
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is now playing from June 26 – July 17 in Germany. Team USA already won their first match against North Korea 2-0!
JULY – Several Club Friendly Games are being played all over the United States in Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago and right here in Los Angeles. Our own LA Galaxy is hosting Real Madrid on July 16th and Manchester City on July 24th! Here’s a great chance to catch Soccer Fever! For a full soccer schedule online or tv, click here.
Check out our Soccer Shots’ Fall School and Park Programs (park schedule will be announced on Facebook)! It’s a great skills program that compliments AYSO and other City and Club Programs!
All too often, I’m shocked when reminded of the current need to get kids off the couch. Whether it’s reading a news story about the government’s “Let’s Move!” campaign or hearing a “Play 60 a Day” ad, it’s hard to believe that we have to beg children to play. When I was young (and I’m not that old!), it was as if my parents had to pull teeth to get my sisters and I to STOP playing and come inside for dinner. In fact, finding us outside was such a chore, that Mom and Dad attached a rope to the large iron bell in the cupola on top of the garage and rang it when and it was time to come in. We spent hours in the woods building forts, in the creek catching crayfish, or even just in a neighbor’s yard, making up dances to the latest Madonna song.
Most of these memories took place a little more than two decades ago, but the American Academy of Pediatrics says in just the past 20 years the prevalence of children who are obese has doubled, while the number of adolescents who are obese has tripled. So how does that translate into actual numbers? The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found nearly one in three children and teens are overweight and one in six are obese. Some may argue that BMI, or Body-Mass-Index, isn’t the “best” way to determine whether or not someone is overweight, but consider this: Kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of seven and a half hours each day using entertainment media. According to the Let’s Move campaign website, this includes TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies. Although some may blame modern technology for making these activities more prevalent and more accessible, we can all agree being sedentary is a huge health risk.
On a daily basis, when I get to leave the office and head out to a Soccer Shots site to coach, I feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair and the mud beneath my shoes and I feel like the luckiest person alive. I get to revert back to the times when I ran around the neighborhood laughing and burning energy. I get to be a kid again. I get to play! Better yet, I experience the feeling that our organization is making a difference. If the little ones we work with associate a positive feeling or a sense of joy with physical activity, we are on our way to reducing health risks associated with childhood obesity. I’m proud that my job allows me to teach kids to play a game that doesn’t involve a controller.
My hope is that the activity doesn’t stop when kids leave our preschool soccer classes. It is my hope that kids share the games we play and parents see the activities we demonstrate in our webisodes. Just a few minutes each day being Cookie Monster or a Rabbit or Turtle could really get parents laughing…. and kids playing!
Parents! Check out our new video demonstrating one the important skill of “dribbling” like turtles and rabbits. Watch as Coach Carly demonstrates how you can practice the “dribbling” like a turtle and rabbit with your child.
The Soccer Shots Community Outreach Award (SSCOA) is our way of giving back to the local community. In addition to our nationwide and worldwide efforts with our very own non-profit initiative Global Goals, we are also very much interested in having a positive impact on the underserved communities here in Los Angeles.
The SSCOA was created to do just that. To give back to the children here in our local community by bringing soccer directly to the schools and centers that serve these children. To accomplish this we are offering you an opportunity for your children to experience Soccer Shots at your school/site/program. This will be in the form of a 10 week season of Soccer Shots for all of your children ages 3-5. In the 2011-12 school year, we hope to give out a total of $10,000 in Soccer Shots sessions!
How does it work? We come to you, once a week for 10 weeks and offer a 30 minute soccer session to your children.
If you are interested in becoming one of the few selected schools to receive the SSCOA please complete the application process below.
Our application process is simple!
• Name of School/Site/Program:
• Mailing address:
• Contact person:
• Title:
• Phone:
• Email:
• Website:
• Number of children age 3-5:
• Mission statement:
• Tell us HOW Soccer Shots would benefit your children and WHY your school/site/program is deserving of the 2011 Soccer Shots Community Outreach Award.
To apply, please submit your application to Soccer Shots:
1) Email rian@soccershots.org
or
2) Mail to Soccer Shots, PO Box 5741, Playa Del Rey, CA 90296
Positive role modeling is key in any child’s development and learning process. Our children learn by watching and emulating before they can even process verbal commands. Aristotle believed that with positive role modeling we learn virtue and honor in the context of socialization. Let’s think about this for a minute…How do those around our children (teachers, family members, parents, friends) deal with various situations? Are they happy, energetic, caring, angry, disapproving?
It’s important to provide positive role modeling throughout our children’s lives. It gives them an example of how to react in certain situations, a figure to aspire to as they grow up, goals to reach as they experience life, a pattern of behavior that they will copy as they mature.
With that in mind, Soccer Shots’ innovative curriculum extends beyond physical activity to incorporate values like teamwork, encouragement and cooperation. The enhancement of your child’s coordination, balance and agility is often seen immediately, but it is the building blocks being created for a life-long love of sports that have the strongest impact. In each 35-40 minute class, our experienced and enthusiastic instructors focus on having fun while guiding your children through imaginative games that teach basic soccer skills. Our trained instructors are energetic, great teachers, love working with children and strive to be a positive influence in their lives!
We believe it is important that all children have a positive first experience with organized sports. Our goal is simple: to leave a lasting, positive impact on every child we serve.
Soccer Shots is a leader in youth soccer development for children ages 3-5 & 6-8.
Offered at preschools, daycare centers, and parks, our nationally recognized non-competitive skills program offers a high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to the wonderful game of soccer.
Soccer Shots is owned and directed by Rian Heim and his wife Alyssa. Their passion for soccer and working with youth was their motivation for bringing Soccer Shots to Los Angeles. 2011 marks the fourth year that Rian and Alyssa have been running Soccer Shots here in Los Angeles. Together they make every effort to deliver a solid program that children, parents, and schools will benefit from and enjoy. They currently live in Playa Del Rey with their one year old son Charlie and dog Buddy.
Soccer Shots Los Angeles Blog
