Due to inclement weather,D.C. United and its non-profit arm, United for D.C., will combine Wednesday’sUnited Soccer Club tournament into one event on Friday, November 18. Friday’ssession at the RFK Stadium Training Field will proceed as planned, withchildren ages 6-12 who participated in United Soccer Club this fall taking partin the event. From 4:30-7:00 p.m. this USC event will feature matches, player autographs,D.C. United mascot Talon, carnival games, music and much more.
This unique tournament brings togetheryouth from across the District and Maryland to RFK, exemplifying D.C. United’scommitment to the community. All participants will have recently completed a10-week soccer training regimen as part of United Soccer Club, and will havethe opportunity to showcase their skills in front of several D.C. Unitedplayers. Family and friends are welcometo attend, and food and drinks will be provided for the student athletes aspart of the program’s focus on healthy lifestyles.
United Soccer Club enrolled close to 700children in the program this fall, teaching the participants the importance ofa healthy lifestyle through physical activity and proper nutrition, as well aslife skills that are beneficial on and off the field. The program operates at12 sites 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 and Recreation and Friendship Academy Tech Prep – participatedin the DC Scores’ League.
Elementarysites include Sites include Fort Davis Parks and Recreation Center in Ward 7,the Fishing 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.
UnitedSoccer Club was born from a request in Ward 8 for opportunities for children toplay organized soccer. In the spring of 2006, United for D.C. launched its ownafter school soccer program, in partnership with D.C. Parks and Recreation atBarry Farm Recreation Center. Theprogram has incorporated a formal healthy lifestyles curriculum in an effort tocombat the region’s high rate of obesity amongst children.
UnitedSoccer Club, sponsored by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Volkswagen, TheDepartment of Health and Gallup Community Builders is one of the many communityoutreach ventures of United for D.C. Others include the Kicks for Kids program,through which thousands of underprivileged children will have an opportunity towatch United play next season, as well as United Reads, currently presented insix DC elementary schools. This program distributes nearly 8,000 books duringplayer visits throughout the year.
For more information on these programsor how fans can contribute time or money to these worthy causes, please contactUnited for D.C. at 202-587-5000.
