D.C. United and itsnon-profit arm, United for D.C., will be holding two days of tournaments tomark the end of the fall season of United Soccer Club. The tournaments willinvolve all children, ages 6-12, who participated in United Soccer Club thisfall. The events will be held on Wednesday, November 16and Friday,November 18 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. on the RFK Stadium Training Field and will feature matches, playerautographs, D.C. United mascot Talon, carnival games, music and much more.
This unique tournament brings together youth from acrossthe District and Maryland to RFK, exemplifying D.C. United’s commitment to thecommunity. All participants will have recently completed a 10-week soccertraining regimen as part of United Soccer Club, and will have the opportunityto showcase their skills in front of several D.C. United players. Family and friends are welcome to attend, andfood and drinks will be provided for the student athletes as part of theprogram’s focus on healthy lifestyles.
» Make a donation in support of United Soccer Club and United for D.C.
United Soccer Club enrolled close to 700 children in theprogram this fall, teaching the participants the importance of a healthylifestyle through physical activity and proper nutrition, as well as lifeskills that are beneficial on and off the field. The program operates at 12sites and two middle school teams. All teams met three times each week afterschool for 90-minute sessions, and players were taught by D.C. United staff,current and former United players, and talented local coaches. The 2011 season also saw the addition offriendly matches throughout the season, which were a highlight for parents andfurthered the participants’ sense of team, commitment and healthy competition. The middle school sites – Harrison Parks andRecreation and Friendship Academy Tech Prep – participated in the DC Scores’League.
Elementary sitesinclude Sites include Fort Davis Parks and Recreation Center in Ward 7, theFishing School at J.O. Wilson Elementary School in Ward 6, Barry FarmRecreation Center, Ketcham Elementary School, Boys & Girls Club at OrrElementary and the FBR Branch at THEARC in Ward 8, Turkey Thicket RecreationCenter in Ward 5, Harrison Recreation Center and Parkview Recreation Center inWard 1, Richard England Clubhouse #14 in Ward 7, and Long Branch CommunityCenter in Silver Spring, Md.
United Soccer Clubwas born from a request in Ward 8 for opportunities for children to playorganized soccer. In the spring of 2006, United for D.C. launched its own afterschool soccer program, in partnership with D.C. Parks and Recreation at BarryFarm Recreation Center. The program hasincorporated a formal healthy lifestyles curriculum in an effort to combat theregion’s high rate of obesity amongst children.
United Soccer Club,sponsored by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Volkswagen, The Department of Healthand Gallup is one of the many community outreach ventures of United for D.C.Others include the Kicks for Kids program, through which thousands ofunderprivileged children will have an opportunity to watch United play nextseason, as well as United Reads, currently presented in six DC elementary schools.This program distributes nearly 8,000 books during player visits throughout theyear. Make a donation
For more information on these programs or how fans cancontribute time or money to these worthy causes, please contact United for D.C.at 202-587-5000.
