DC SCORES hosted a two-week long soccer camp at Tubman Elementary School. Rising third to ninth grade students participated in this free summer camp from June 26 - July 7.
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Written by Lorena Palacios Communications Intern (View our 2017 Summer Camp photo album)
Over the course of two weeks, kids from all over Washington D.C. got together at Tubman Elementary School for one of three DC SCORES summer camps.
The Tubman Toads' soccer field hosted new campers and coaches, as well as returning participants that love being a part of summer SCORES. During four hours every day, kids had the opportunity to meet new people, practice and improve their soccer skills, and most importantly, have fun.
Throughout the first week of camp, the drills focused on ball control and the skill quality improved every day. It was incredible to see how the kids grew more and more comfortable during games and with their teammates during camp. The level of play within every level increased thanks to the support of the camp coaches.
As much as the campers enjoyed the drills, there was no denying the huge smiles on their faces when they played scrimmages with each other.
From the middle school kids with the most experience to the rising third graders that have never touched a ball before, the amount of support shown throughout the two weeks was incredible to witness. As the team bonds grew stronger, the last couple days of camp had a sense of nostalgia. For many kids in the city, this soccer camp was the highlight of their summer, and it was soon coming to an end.
Following tradition, the last day of camp consisted of a BBQ for the whole community where campers, coaches, staff, and families had the opportunity to come together to celebrate another successful camp.
For the campers, their efforts of working together as a team were tested during the most important game of the summer, the coaches vs. campers game!
No team of campers has ever won a game against the coaches, EVER, and this time was no different. Even though the coaches continue their reign as summer camp champs, the kids came close in some instances which demonstrates the teamwork they built.
Thanks to this special opportunity that DC SCORES provides, kids that arrived as complete strangers, built teams and friendships that will go beyond their time on the field at Tubman.
This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram. Check out Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII of the mini series.
Written by Lorena Palacios Communications Intern
In the final edition of our series with the Tigers, I got the chance to hear from the kids and coaches how successful Fight 4 Fitness was in their community, as well as hang out with them at Jamboree!.
During soccer practice and service-learning, there seemed to be a certain level of excitement in the air knowing that Jamboree! was only a few days away. The time the Tigers spent outside playing soccer was very free-flowing and lively, truly just playing for the love of the game. As the school year comes to an end soon, one of the second grade classes came out to practice to see what was in store for them next year as third graders when they become a part of DC SCORES.
Going into service-learning time, I was so excited to find out how their Fight 4 Fitness campaign went and check out the poster they were working on that showcased their project.
It is obvious how much these kids love to put their creative skills to use! The poster was super colorful with drawings the Tigers made of their favorite fruits and vegetables, pictures of them going out to grocery stores, and talking to their peers about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Their next task was to create captions for their pictures to explain what happening during that captured moment, but Coach Lee added the challenge of writing the caption in five words or fewer. It can be hard to write so little about something you love so much, but the Amidon-Bowen students crushed the challenge like always.
Everything was ready for the big day... JAMBOREE!
When I met up with the Tigers during the spring season celebration, their levels of excitement and happiness were through the roof! They were so thrilled to share their service-learning project, as well as see what the other DC SCORES teams worked on during the season.
It was such a great sight to see everyone enjoy such a truly special day. Coach Carlos, Coach Lee, and Coach Pecot looked so proud watching their team compete with other schools on the field. There was so much support from the kids as they cheered on their teammates during the games.
I will always be super grateful for the opportunity I had to work with all of the kids and the coaches that were always a pleasure to work with. My days were better whenever I had the chance to hang out at Amidon-Bowen.
There honestly could not have been a better way to wrap up spring SCORES with the Tigers. Their hard work on and off the field paid off in amazing ways by creating change in their community. Fight 4 Fitness was more than just an awareness campaign, it was the first step toward a healthier lifestyle for the rest of their lives.
This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.
Written by Lorena Palacios Communications Intern
The poet-athletes of Amidon-Bowen were so awesome with me on my first day as an intern, so I was very excited to go back and check out the progress of their Fight 4 Fitness campaign.
As always, the Tigers started with some soccer practice in preparation for their next game day. A scrimmage between the boys and girls got their enthusiasm going and the penalty shooting drills got their minds in the right place to start working on their service-learning project.
Once practice was over, everyone split up into their committees and went right to work. This session was all about putting their plans into motion and getting ready to execute them by showcasing the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The coaches and staff were a great resource for the kids to get organized on all the tasks they set out to complete. Mr. Keck was assisting the Marketing committee in putting up posters in the school hallways, available in English and Spanish, that highlighted healthy food proportions. Coach Pecot worked alongside the Information Desk committee to gather all the supplies they were going to handout to the student body, including water bottles, pencils, and flyers with healthy living tips. In the school cafeteria, Coach Lee assisted the Media committee in practicing their morning announcements, which included poems written by the kids.
Earlier in the week, the Tigers had worked on a PowerPoint presentation and gathered pictures showcasing specific foods and recipes the Amidon-Bowen students can start incorporating at home.
With the school year wrapping up soon, the Tigers hope to make an impact within their community by really emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle by talking one-on-one with their classmates about how easy it can be to adjust our habits.
It's obvious how much this service-project has changed the kids' view on being healthy. They're all so excited about their plans and are constantly discussing their favorite fruits and vegetables (strawberries and cabbage are the top picks for each).
I can't wait to go back and hear about the success and impact their Fight 4 Fitness campaign has been among their community!
This spring, we are following Amidon-Bowen's season highlighting their service-learning project, but also attending games and soccer practices. The Tigers are located in Southwest D.C. in Ward 6. You can follow along on Twitter and Instagram.
Written by Lorena Palacios Communications Intern
During my very first day as an intern at DC SCORES, I had the privilege of hanging out with the kids of Amidon-Bowen and learning about their service-project, Fight 4 Fitness.
Even though it was a bit windy outside, it was overall a great day to start off with some soccer. Coach Lee and Coach Carlos had the Tigers practicing their passes and getting used to using both of their feet. The poet-athletes then went on to have some 1v1 drills to get them warmed up for their scrimmage. These kids are seriously so skilled with the ball. During the game, one of the goalies scored from their side of the field!
After such an exciting game, everyone was in a great mood to start setting a timeline and specific tasks that are going into Fight 4 Fitness.
The Media, Marketing, and Information Desk committees each started brainstorming specific goals each group is going to put into place to accomplish their overall objectives for their project. Their four main goals are: to raise awareness about their program within their school community, inform the students about the importance of healthy eating and drinking plenty of water, remind everyone to exercise daily, and teach families how to incorporate these habits into their lives at home.
Last week, the Marketing committee put up posters in the school's hallways about healthy eating portion sizes. The Information Desk is going to share quick and easy recipes, like strawberry balsamic and spinach salad. Finally, the Media committee was gathering research about healthy facts to include in the morning announcements starting the very next day.
Did you know that the healthiest food item in the world is a lemon? I didn't know until the kids in the Media committee found that out in their research!
As always, Mr. Keck, Coach Lee, Coach Carlos, and Coach Pecot were very helpful in assisting the committees during their brainstorming and planning process.
It was such a great experience being able to spend my afternoon at Amidon-Bowen. All the coaches and kids were super welcoming and made my first day better than I could have ever imagined. I'm looking forward to going back and continue sharing their progress and results for their Fight 4 Fitness service-project.
As DC SCORES has grown over the past several years -- from 20 schools, to adding middle schools in 2006, to 27 schools, then 42, and now to 60 sites, including several recreation centers that make up the first-ever DC City Soccer League -- we've expanded our reach across Washington, DC. And now we serve 2,200 kids in neighborhoods throughout the entire city -- meaning all eight wards. This fall, we'll bring to you a highlight program in each ward.
In Ward 3, Hearst Recreation Center is the sole DC SCORES site. Because the site is a recreation center and not a school, their programming only includes soccer.
On a typical day of DC SCORES soccer practice, Coach Alex Oshinsky comes down to the field to see his students already having a snack and ready to go. To start off practice, they'll play games such as sharks and minnows, keep away, and steal the bacon.
"You want to keep the kids moving," Alex said. "Instead of running a warm-up where the kids are standing and stretching, I'll run a dynamic warm-up."
He's found that the kids are more than happy to play these games. "They seem to take to the games a little bit more than just standing in a circle," he said.
Practice then continues for about an hour, concluding with a scrimmage. It was evident that the students were more than happy to be there. They love soccer, their team, and their coach! Keep up the good work, Hearst!
WARD 3 PROGRAMS
Heart Recreation Center
Hearst Rec FUN FACTS
Year DC SCORES started: 2016
Ward: 3
Uniform color: Blue
Coaches: Soccer -- Alex Oshinsky
COACH's CORNER
"The relationship I have with the students is great! I show up and they are excited. DC SCORES is a good program." - soccer coach Alex Oshinsky
KID TALK
"I like playing for Hearst Rec because it gives me more chances to become a better soccer player." -Max on improving his soccer skills with DC SCORES
"I really like DC SCORES because I'm with people from my school. I wasn't with my friends at my old soccer team. It's nice for kids to feel special and be with their friends! I'm really happy to switch to DC SCORES." - Innea K.
Every week this fall we will be visiting the Barnard Bears during poetry sessions and soccer games to document the progress of the Bears. Follow along to see how students develop their writing and soccer skills, and how the team comes together. We will bring you individual poet-athletes' stories in addition to stories about the team as a whole. Follow along our journey with the Bears on Twitter @DCSCORESInterns & Instagram @DC_SCORES.
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Written by Elaine Lu Communications Intern
We started game day off by patiently waiting for each student to get ready. While standing in the busy atrium, I had the opportunity to speak with a couple students about how excited they were for game day!
"Look at my new cleats!," exclaimed Angel, the week's featured player. "I got them because I won player of the week!" He explained to me that he was so well-behaved that he got a reward.
A minute later Dynasty, the previous player of the week, came up to me and said, "I got new ones too!!"
Both were overjoyed. I could see the sense of accomplishment in each student's eyes, as well as a little boost in confidence. They were so excited to wear them for the first time on game day.
"Angel is a leader among his peers and he always shows great sportsmanship," said soccer coach Lindsey Sharp. "Angel also supports his teammates on good and bad days, which is a really great quality to have."
Lindsey added: "Dynasty has shown tremendous improvement since the beginning of the season. She is really a team player and has shown great attitude recently both on and off the soccer field."
As soon as each student was ready to go, we rushed outside to the bus to make it over to Raymond Education Campus for game day.
While Lindsey coached the girls, I sat on the sideline with the boys and soon noticed that a few of the students seemed upset. When I asked them what the problem was, they explained to me that there was a group of older students that were bothering them, saying that they were going to lose and that their own school was better. I explained to them that it was important to be the bigger person and still show great sportsmanship. I was so impressed with how maturely these 8-, 9-, and 10-year-olds were able to handle this conflict. They found a way to easily look past the trouble and focus on their game, cheering the girls on their team on with all of their hearts.
The Barnard Bears were incredible, as always, and now the Poetry Slam! is imminent. I can't wait to see them perform on stage.
Today marks the beginning of DC SCORES' 23rd fall season. Across Washington, DC, in neighborhoods marked by poverty and a lack of resources, DC SCORES leaders new and old -- see our list of 60 sites -- are building tight-knit, supportive communities for District kids.
See below for all the numbers and dates, and please visit www.DCSCORES.org to get involved in any way. We look forward to you being a part of our team this season!
Click HERE to read and watch any or all of the Alumni Stories we have documented, posts that demonstrate the profound difference DC SCORES makes in kids' lives from elementary school through to college and beyond.
This summer, more than 250 DC kids are participating in DC SCORES’ three free soccer and enrichment camps. Throughout the season, we will highlight particular participants through our Faces of Summer SCORES video and blog series. You can also follow along on Twitter and Instagram via the hashtag #SummerSCORES.
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Written by Kelsi Moran
Communications Intern
It’s summer — the pools are open, parks are filled with loungers and live performances, and a great number of students are on vacation. For many, this time of year is accompanied by feelings of excitement and opportunity, while others are burdened with the worries of how one will pass the days.
For Bryan, a student at Thomson Elementary School, freedom from the responsibilities of school is a deep concern. He recognizes that being away from his studies can be detrimental to skills such as math and reading. He asks his mother to assign him math problems to avoid any learning loss. While tackling this issue, he understands that this does not answer the question of what he will do to avoid boredom. "Summer is so fun, but my teachers always tell me that it’s easy to forget math," Bryan said. "So I asked my mom if we could do practice problems so I don’t forget.” Boredom is the biggest culprit in unhealthy decision-making, especially during the summer months. As an active student and athlete, long periods of free time is not enjoyable for Bryan. That’s where DC SCORES’ free summer camps, which began at Kelly Miller last week, come in.
Bryan’s love for SCORES summer camp is a combination of spending time on the field with teammates, and productively fill his free time. Bryan has been with DC SCORES for two years now, and his affinity for camp is apparent in his glowing smile. He thrives in environments that are geared toward being active and learning. His wholehearted engagement in the drills and games leads his coaches to describe him as passionate and hardworking. “Watching Bryan on the field is truly a joy," said camp coach Bashir. "You can be certain that he will do his best every day and be as excited as he was his first day of camp on the last day."
One word that best describes Bryan is passion. It takes one conversation with him to see this. Whether discussing soccer, school, or NBA basketball, Bryan’s eyes light up and his scope of knowledge and pure interest permits him to talk for hours. Fair warning, this passion is highly contagious and may cause those who experience it to enthusiastically engage in conversations previously ignored. DC SCORES camps are more than just a place to have fun with friends and dodge boredom; it is an outlet for Bryan, a place to express his passion for soccer and learning to its full extent. Bryan’s goal of making summer 2016 one of memories, learning, and engagement can be a source of inspiration for many. With SCORES, summer will continue to be a time of excitement and opportunity for Bryan as he spends his days doing what he loves. Students have passions that should be encouraged and developed, but summer can often cause those passions to suffer. Thanks to SCORES supporters, this will not be the story for students like Bryan.
Written by Jake Lloyd Communications Manager (Full tournament photo album.)
This year, the weather cooperated.
Not that some rain would have kept the kids away.
Tuesday marked the 6th Annual DC SCORES Alumni Tournament held at Tubman Elementary School, and the event for former program participants now in high school was its largest ever.
More than 150 kids making up 17 teams spent a chunk of their spring break playing countless soccer games, reuniting with friends, and laughing and smiling under sunny skies while a wind ripped across the green turf surface on which three games took place simultaneously -- one round after another.
The tournament was sponsored by District Sports, a longtime partner and the largest provider of adult rec soccer leagues in DC. The Truth Initiative also provided support.
Before the event began, all the kids came together for a pep talk followed by a group photo. It was amazing to see the 17 different teams, all wearing custom-color T-shirts, make up a rainbow in the photo.
And then it was game time! More than any DC SCORES event, the tournament showcases the progress kids who hadn't touched a soccer ball before joining the program make over three, five, seven years. The skill level is very high, and the competitiveness only increased as the games got more meaningful.
In the end, F.C. All-Stars came away with the championship for a second straight year after scoring a golden goal vs. F.C. Lions. The All-Stars were handed autographed D.C. United balls, a generous donation from our partner.
But when all was said and done, more than 150 kids had a great time playing, storytelling, laughing,
reuniting, reminiscing and much more. The tournament was the best it's ever been, and it'll only continue to grow as more DC SCORES poet-athletes become alumni.
Thanks again to District Sports and the Truth Initiative for making the Alumni Tournament possible!
The spring DC SCORES season begins this afternoon when the school bell lets out. Across Washington, DC, kids at elementary and middle schools and rec centers will reunite with friends and coaches. Customized DC SCORES school jerseys will be handed out.
The first soccer balls will be rolled out.
Kids will roll up their sleeves and begin to examine their communities and create change.
Let 12 weeks of soccer and service-learning -- culminating with the Jamboree! June 4 -- begin!
You can get involved this spring by volunteering or donating to directly support programming. See below for more information.
Where is DC SCORES?
See the map below and click here for a Google Map. The short answer: All across Washington, DC, in 7 of the city's 8 wards.
How service-learning works
Here's a step-by-step process of how DC SCORES teams go about creating and implementing service-learning projects in their communities
Step 1: Walk around your school and neighborhood with a clipboard and pencil and write down things you don’t like (trash on the ground, lack of trees and gardens, too many struggling homeless people).
Step 2: Research the topic(s) that you identify as the biggest need. Examples could include looking up statistics about homelessness in DC or depression among middle school youth, among many others.
Step 3: Implement a service-learning project. Take action! Execute a comprehensive plan to make your school and/or greater community better.
Step 4: Spend the last few days reflecting on the project. What did you learn? What else can be done going forward to make a difference?
This all sounds like a lot for a group of adults, but they’re actually often the beneficiaries of the work by 8- 9- and 10-year olds in DC SCORES. Yes, during this spring’s 12-week season, teams at 45 elementary and middle school sites across DC will feel empowered through service-learning and will create change in their communities.
EVENTS
In addition to our biggest, celebratory event, the Jamboree!, the spring season features six weeks of elementary and middle school game days and our annual alumni soccer tournament. Also, the America SCORES National Poetry SLAM! is the premier national showcase of SCORES, which is in 14 cities nationwide!
GAME DAYS
It's no secret -- Game Day is the most fun day for our poet-athletes, kids' families, and our staff! On Thursdays and Fridays throughout the spring, we bus teams throughout DC to visit new neighborhoods, make new friends, and strengthen their communities. Volunteers referee, a staff member supervises each site, and once the whistle is blown, the girls play first followed by the boys.
See this blog and the videos below for more on the game day experience, and find out where the next games are by visiting the soccer schedule page of our website.
GET SOCIAL!
At an event? Taking photos or videos? Connect with us and use #SpringSCORES16!
In recent weeks, even as the weather has gotten chillier, more and more students at Capital City Public Charter School have arrived earlier in the morning before school.
Braving the cold, members of the schools' soccer teams have taken to the new mini pitch built by the U.S. Soccer Foundation to practice — on their own, in addition to their usual after-school practices with DC SCORES.
About 2 miles south of CCPCS at Raymond Education Campus, members of the boys soccer team waited anxiously on practice days to hit the field together. Their leader David Petersen even said something you don't often hear from coaches.
"They practice so hard against each other," Petersen said. "I have to tell them to scale it back a little bit."
At both CCPCS and Raymond, soccer is an embedded strength of the school community. On Tuesday evening, both schools brought out large throngs of fans to watch the CCPCS girls and Raymond boys win their first Capital Cup middle school championships in thrilling fashion.
The CCPCS girls relied on the communication of their star forwards Precious and Tatiana to hold on for an exciting 2-1 victory over Lincoln Middle School. The Raymond boys outlasted Lincoln on penalty kicks to conclude a tremendous fall middle school season.
And across the city, Paul Public Charter School beat Kelly Miller Middle School in an equally competitive co-ed championship game.
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Precious and Tatiana, seventh-graders, have been playing together for several years. So it's no wonder that the pair of forwards communicates well on the field. What impresses one of their coaches, Claudia Rojas, the most is how they verbally also ensure their teammates are in the right positions on the field to be successful.
"They talk, they organize the rest of the team," said Rojas, now in her fourth season coaching. "They've been playing together, they've been working together since way before I met them."
Precious laced a beautiful shot from deep on the right right side into the upper left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead against Lincoln. After the Knights answered to tie up the score, that communication paid off when Precious found Tatiana on a deep ball down the right side for the game-winning goal.
After the final whistle blew, you couldn't remove the smiles from the faces of the CCPCS poet-athletes.
"They're just so proud of being a soccer player, being a school team," Rojas said. "Soccer is a big deal in Capital City."
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The boys game was, simply, great soccer. Petersen marveled at how well Lincoln — winners of three of the last four Capital Cup boys titles — passed the ball and spread the field, a testament to their longtime coach Popsie Lewis.
The game is a neighborhood rivalry, with the schools less than a mile apart. Most of the kids know each other and play pick-up games outside of DC SCORES. A few weeks before the game, Raymond scored two late goals to forge a tie with Lincoln that helped them get into the playoffs.
And again, this one came down to the wire — a first-half Raymond goal equaled by Lincoln in the second half. Ultimately, penalty kicks decided a game that both teams deserved to win.
"We're really excited," Petersen said afterward. "The kids came a long way. We lost a lot of eighth-graders last year, so it was cool to see their progress all year. They got a lot better."
After the final kick, Raymond parents, teachers and others from the community rushed the field to celebrate with the kids — one last reminder of just how much soccer and DC SCORES mean to these communities.
"We have great fans," Petersen said. "They come for the away games during the regular season, they bring signs, make posters. It's a fun atmosphere, big soccer atmosphere."
Thanks to all the middle school coaches, parents and communities for another great fall soccer season. We'll see you at the Poetry Slam! Dec. 2-3.
Do you remember your first time on a team? Learning how to play a sport? DC SCORES intern Luiza Kieffer is spending this fall with the Seaton Elementary School Stingers, documenting the team’s progress on a weekly basis as Coach Blake teacher the kids basic skills, the rules of soccer, and how to be on a team. For more, follow @DCSCORESinterns and watch Luiza’s videos on YouTube.
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Written by Luiza Kieffer Digital Media Intern
Nov. 17, 2015
The fall soccer season for the Seaton Stingers is nearing its end. Coach Blake is very impressed with the improvement these young athletes have shown the past couple of weeks, but he is not done with them yet. Starting off the practice with their usual routine of stretching, the Stingers then go straight into practice.
Coach Blake sets up the field with a straight line of cones on either side.
“1, 2, 3, 4...” Blake yells out.
Automatically the kids know it’s time for the Stingers to come together around their coach. Once Coach gets to 10, if the kids aren’t there they must complete 10 push-ups ... “8 .. 9 .. 10." Some of the kids still trickling in, Coach Blake looks at them and they immediately know they have to complete their push-ups.
While the kids are completing their push-ups, Blake starts to explain the first drill of the day.
“Everybody line up with the cones!” he tells the Stingers. “Dribble the ball with your left foot to the cones, then circle around and switch to your right foot.”
All the kids line up, and Blake yells, “Go!” and the kids begin. As the drill began, it was complete chaos, everybody running into each other as though they didn’t know what to do. After a couple of run-throughs, they finally get the hang of it and complete the drill well. One of coach's main focuses for the Stingers is improving their dribbling, so they continue the drill for several minutes.
By the end of practice as light wanes from the field, the kids eagerly wait to scrimmage once again -- it never gets old for them. Coach splits the Stingers into two teams, and assigns each team a different color. Once the scrimmage starts, it's a joy to watch the progress the Stingers have made since mid-September.
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From the very beginning of the season up to these last couple of practices, the kids have not only grown their soccer skills, but also their team bonding.
While they scrimmage, I can hear more communication on the field than from the first couple of weeks -- kids telling their teammates to pass the ball or congratulating each other on scoring. The kids are quick to encourage each other to play better.
The younger kids who have never been on a soccer team before DC SCORES have improved immensely. There's no way you could tell this has been their first real team experience.
“The kids are starting to get soccer, and learn to love soccer," Blake says. "And I’m really proud of them.”
As practice finishes up, Ryan, one of the leaders on the team, screams out, “This is the best soccer team ever!”
Do you remember your first time on a team? Learning how to play a sport? DC SCORES intern Luiza Kieffer is spending this fall with the Seaton Elementary School Stingers, documenting the team’s progress on a weekly basis as Coach Blake teacher the kids basic skills, the rules of soccer, and how to be on a team. For more, follow @DCSCORESinterns and watch Luiza’s videos on YouTube.
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Written by Luiza Kieffer Digital Media Intern
Nov. 3, 2015
This week Coach Blake’s main goal is focusing on transitioning and being aware on the field. Coach starts the practice with playing a game of “Harvest soccer," which requires everybody to be a different vegetable. So Blake starts yelling out vegetable to different kids
“Lorenzo you’re a carrot, Gabby you’re a squash!” After everybody receives their vegetable name, Coach Blake explains the game to them. Setting up the cones in a rectangle, he then puts a goal on the side and everybody grabs a soccer ball. The instructions: Everyone starts running and then when Blake calls out a vegetable, whoever that vegetable is must use their techniques to run around other players and shoot in the net. This helps the kids improve on looking up before shooting and paying attention to their surroundings.
After playing a couple games of Harvest soccer, they start a new drill of small-sided soccer. Coach splits up the team into girls and boys, and they both have their own scrimmages so Blake can really help individual kids when needed. And of course at the end of the practice, he brings the team back in for a big game of scrimmage -- boys and girls.
Throughout the scrimmage whenever someone makes a goal, everybody screams out, “Goal, goal!” -- happy for whichever team scores.
In just the span of a couple weeks, the Seaton Stingers have transformed into a wonderful team and it has shown through their hard work and improved skills.
“My team is really good at playing, we win almost every game," says Taylor, 10. "I think it’s because of how we are working together and the positions we play. And we’re really good at defense.”
“They're getting a lot more aware of where their teammates are,” says Coach Blake, talking about the little improvements they are making that will affect games in positive ways.
After the game, I ask Lorenzo, 10, “Why do you like playing soccer so much?”
“I always wanted to play because my cousin and my friends play," he responds.
The community that these kids are building through playing soccer goes far outside the games and practices. It translates to their homes as well.
I can’t wait to see how much more these kids will improve in the last few weeks of the fall season.
Do you remember your first time on a team? Learning how to play a sport? DC SCORES intern Luiza Kieffer is spending this fall with the Seaton Elementary School Stingers, documenting the team’s progress on a weekly basis as Coach Blake teacher the kids basic skills, the rules of soccer, and how to be on a team. For more, follow @DCSCORESinterns and watch Luiza’s videos on YouTube.
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Written by Luiza Kieffer Digital Media Intern
October 6, 2015
With the first game of the season for the Seaton Stingers just days away, Coach Blake has the kids working hard to prepare. Several DC SCORES participants last year were fifth-graders, so Blake is working with a very young team made up of many third-graders. For most of the younger kids, this is their first time playing on a team and learning how to work together with peers on the field.
Mere seconds after taking the field for Tuesday practice, the kids are off kicking the soccer balls and shooting on net. The first order of business? Blake calls everyone in for a huddle to explain the rules of the drill we are about to begin.
I can see the eagerness and impatience of the kids wanting to get back on the field; it’s fun to just kick the ball, and listening to coach isn’t that -- but it’s needed.
Coach Blake demonstrates the drill of shielding and ball control by calling up a child to assist him. Immediately after asking for a volunteer, all hands shoot up. These kids, even if inexperienced, aren’t shy.
After picking a volunteer, Blake tells him what to do, then proceeds to demonstrate. As soon as the ball hits the ground, though, he loses it and everybody starts laughing. Hey, humor is a part of having fun, right?
“Learning as a team the general behaviors and rules of the game,” Blake says afterward in summarizing this early season practice. “And how to be on a team.
“A lot of the kids on this team are pretty young compared to the players from last year, and they are going to need more help with the basic rules of soccer.”
With only about half of the kids playing on a team before now, Blake’s main focus is teaching the kids what it means to be on a team while learning good sportsmanship and how to help out.
Before the end of practice, the Seaton Stingers begin to scrimmage in preparation for the first DC SCORES Game Day. This is easily the part of practice when the kids have the most fun while exercising. The beautiful thing about this game is how creativity is encouraged and there’s a role for everyone.
Turning around for about a minute, all of a sudden I start hearing screaming and cheering as if it’s the World Cup. Everybody's going wild because one of the teams made a goal!
Practice ends, and I can see that while it will take time, this group of children spanning three grades has already begun the process of building a team. With Blake’s leadership, the rate of progress will only increase.
Yes, the first day of fall is still one day away. Yet the DC SCORES fall season is in full throttle, with kids all over Washington, DC, learning soccer skills and opening up their poetry notebooks for the first time. Teams are being built by incredible, inspiring, trusting coaches! Soccer uniforms are being distributed!
Game days are almost just a week away. We're only a month away from the first premier event. And before you know it, full-fledged Poetry Slam! prep will be underway in classrooms from Ward 8 to Ward 4.
But enough writing. Check out the infographics and video below for your primer on the fall season, and visit www.DCSCORES.org to learn more.
If you had to guess, what would you expect a bunch of third- to eighth-graders to be doing on one of the hottest and steamiest afternoons of the summer?
a) Enjoying a cold lemonade in the shade
b) Bathing in a local pool or friend’s sprinkler
c) Playing video games in front of a fan or air conditioner
d) Outside playing 5 hours of soccer with friends
Believe it or not, more than 70 young students from the DC area beat the odds and made their way to DC SCORES’ Summer SCORES soccer camp at Kelly Miller Middle School this past week.
Sweat-drenched T-shirts and frequent water breaks were the theme for the first part of the week as temperatures reached the mid 90’s, but the heat wave proved no match for the little warriors who continued to come out and even completed the more technical aspect of camp – drills which included dribbling, passing and heading exercises – during the hottest stretch.
Mid-week cooler temperatures weren’t the only reward for campers’ hard work. Wednesday brought a large donation of soccer cleats provided by local partner Leveling the Playing Field, which allowed each camper to find their own new pair to keep.
Each camper received a pair of cleats thanks to a donation from Leveling the Playing Field
Smiles were ignited as kids dug through the containers looking for their right size – or the most trendy and stylish pair.
After everyone was satisfied with their pick, the teams got back on the field to show off both their skills and their new studs in the game-oriented second half of camp. Some exhilarating matches took place between the boys and girls in the older groups, while the youngest group enjoyed some hotly contested games of every kid’s favorite shooting game: Power Finesse.
Another highlight was when campers formed their own teams and had the opportunity to face the staff in the annual Staff vs. Campers game. Despite a slew of good matches – and laughs – the campers were unable to defeat their older rivals. The challenge remains for next year.
To culminate such a successful first week of Summer SCORES, the a large group from Mintz Levin – a charitable partner and friend of DC SCORES – came out to play and help out with the camp-culminating barbecue Friday.
Some Mintz Levin employees not only joined the kids, but surprised them with their talents in scrimmages and kickball games, while others took a more stationary – but very important -- role behind the grill and serving food.
A large group of energized employees from DC SCORES partner Mintz Levin came to the camp-culminating BBQ!
Now, with the first week wrapped up at Kelly Miller, the five-week Arts & Soccer Camp at Marie Reed is already under way, keeping kids engaged both physically and mentally during the critical summer months.
Thanks again to our incredibly dedicated and always-handy volunteers, especially the huge and engaged group from Mintz Levin. Special thanks are also owed to Kelly Miller Middle School for hosting us – the impact we strive to make wouldn’t be possible without your help!
How did you feel when you put on a sports uniform for the first time? When you got to represent your school with a a shirt bearing your very own number?
Excited.
Proud.
Like you belonged.
These -- and many more emotions -- are all right answers and they're the feeling kids in DC SCORES get to experience each year. Every poet-athlete in our program, all 1,500 of them, receives a soccer uniform -- a jersey, shorts, socks and shinguards -- upon beginning DC SCORES. They become part of a team.
Unfortunately, there are hundred of kids in DC who lack a team -- who haven't experienced the feelings expressed by the kids in the video above. This is where you come in.
Thursday, June 4, 2015, is Do More 24, a one-day giveathon celebrating nonprofits in the greater DC area. Our goal is to provide uniforms for 500 DC kids currently without a team. Can you help us reach our goal by making a donation of a uniform ($24) or more?
1) Go HERE between 12am-11:59pm on June 4 to join our effort.
2) Then share your gift and tag friends and family, asking them to do the same. This is easy to do on social media. We've even created a Tweet you can use; just click HERE. Or share our Facebook post with your own customized message.
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Because we understand the impact each and every donor is making by providing a uniform, throughout the day we will keep a running list below of High Fives -- we LOVE high fives at DC SCORES -- for those who give. We hope your name makes the list!
That was the line of the day from Madalin G. at The Aspen Institute Project Play Summit on Feb. 25. Madalin, 13, an eighth-grader at Lincoln Middle School, was responding to a question from panel moderator Allyson Felix, an Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter, about showing people that she can play soccer as a girl.
It was just one highlight from the day, during which Madalin and Erin B., a DC SCORES alumna, spoke alongside other youth sports participants as well as policy experts. The goal of the summit was to share ideas about how to get more youth engaged positively in sport and stay involved. Having kids speak about their ongoing experiences was a great idea.
Madalin and Erin had plenty to share.
Madalin, speaking on the panel 'What Good Looks Like in Youth Sports' alongside Little League World Series star Mo'ne Davis and two other youth, spoke about the importance of her coaches and peers. She told the audience that she was nervous when she first joined the DC SCORES team was ridiculed for being a girl and playing soccer.
The support her coaches and peers provided helped Madalin overcome that obstacle, and now everyone knows she can play. All they have to do is watch her.
"It's always that one person that's going to help you out, that's going to teach you," Madalin said, "and most of that time, that is your coach or best friend that is on the team."
Erin, who participated in DC SCORES for six years -- beginning in third grade at Arts and Technology Academy and continuing through eighth grade at Cesar Chavez Parkside Charter School -- was on a panel called 'Ask Kids What They Want.' Erin was the only kid on the panel, sharing the stage with policy expert Amanda Visek of George Washington Public Health, John West of Whistle Sports, and Eli Wolff of the Inclusive Sports Initiative.
Moderator Gary Hall Jr., a 10-time Olympic gold medalist, asked Erin what she wants in a sports program.
"What I want is a program that is going to be engaging and show (me) more beneficial things I can do in my life," Erin said. "I want to see what college opportunities they can give me and what social opportunities they can give me, like what other kids outside of my school I can talk to, what other programs are out there for me."
Erin took advantage of the opportunities to discover new interests and grow through DC SCORES and believes more program that are available for all youth are needed.
Erin was asked to describe her experience in DC SCORES, and she talked about how she joined the program in third grade and not only began playing soccer regularly but discovered a passion for poetry.
"It helped me become a better scholar because in class they set certain standards for you to have certain grades and to stay focused," Erin said of her DC SCORES coaches.
Both poet-athletes were engaging on their respective panels and made a tremendous impression on audience members. They were heard, and their ideas won't be forgotten as policy decisions are made going forward about how to get more youth involved and enjoying playing sports.
The weather outside was freezing cold, but inside the Marie Reed gym, things were just warming up.
The Panthers gathered in small circles, playing a game called “Head or Catch” with DC SCORES staff members Carlos Fonesca and Zachary Gomes. The students caught or headed soccer balls thrown to them — with only a second to decide! — based on instructions shouted by the coach in the middle of the circle.
As Marie Reed warmed up for its final soccer session of the six-week Winter SCORES season, the kids knew this one would be a bit different. The Panthers would be joined by Seaton Elementary School for a scrimmage. There was a catch, though.
The scrimmage was not going to be Reed vs. Seaton. Instead, the students were all mixed up and put onto multiple teams comprised of players from both school.
“What does 'clinic' mean?” Carlos asked the assembled soccer players, “It means we’re going to have fun!”
Each team took a moment for students from the schools to introduce themselves and pick a team name. Though the students seemed a little hesitant initially to play with teammates they had never met before, that quickly melted away when the whistle was blown and the first ball rolled out.
“I’m kind of shy, so I was nervous,” said Elizabeth M., age 9, of Seaton. “But they’re nice and I’m having fun.”
Orquidea B., age 9 of Reed, said she had similar feelings at first, but thought meeting new people was fun.
“The clinic is cool today because we get to play with Seaton,” Orquidea said.
Each team took the field for 10 minutes, rotating around the gym so they had a chance to play against everyone. The din of soccer balls pounding against walls and players shouting encouragement and directions to each other was so loud, it was often hard to hear when the time period was up.
So though there was no clear winner in the Seaton vs. Marie Reed scrimmage, it was clear that the games they played brought these schools and communities together through something they both love — soccer.
Written by Zach Gomes Soccer Coordinator and Lincoln Middle School coach
The DC SCORES Lincoln Middle School Knights got to meet the MLS Champion, LA Galaxy, and NHL Champion, LA Kings, — and we got to do it at the White House!!!
A couple of weeks ago, I was informed that the White House wanted to invite around 30 middle school-aged kids to join the Galaxy for their championship presentation and, possibly, a soccer clinic. The Lincoln Knights were a perfect fit, so it was decided that we were going.
It takes a lot of work to get 30 kids to the White House. It involves permission slips and a lot of other data collection. After all, the White House isn’t your everyday field trip.
With help from Ms. Pugh (the DC SCORES champion at Lincoln) and my colleagues, we began planning for the trip. I couldn’t have been more excited. I had wanted to bring the kids on a field trip since day one as their coach in the fall, and to finally be going somewhere was awesome; the fact it was the White House was icing on the cake.
I was flabbergasted at the response from some of the kids when I told them we had been selected to go to the White House.
Me: “We’re going to the White House next week, guys!”
Student: “Why?” (Unenthusiastically)
Me: “Why!? Why does it matter!? It’s the White House, people!”
Student: “Hmmmm okay. Well do we get to miss class?”
Me: “Well yes … but that’s not the point! It’s the White House!”
I couldn’t believe some of the kids, but I got over it. After all, they’re kids.
My colleagues and I got all the paperwork in on time. We would go to the White House on Monday.
The Friday night before our trip, I got a call from Soccer Program Manager Carlos Fonseca. Carlos had good news and bad news.
Bad news: The clinic on the White House lawn is canceled!
(My mind at this point: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! NOOOO!!!)
Good news: We are still going to the White House and we are going to watch President Obama congratulate both teams.
(My mind at this point: ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!! YESSSSS!!!!)
Monday came and I wore my best suit (my only suit) and headed to Lincoln to get the kids ready.
We got to the White House right on time and made it through security and into the White House’s East wing (not a bad-looking house).
The students and I were led into a packed room filled with cameras and fancy people. After a little while, the Kings and Galaxy entered the room and filled up the stage. Soon after that, there was an announcement: “And now the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.”
I looked over at the kids. Finally, they were impressed. If only the President could be present at all my classes and practices.
President Obama congratulated both teams and took some pictures. It was a short celebration, but only the beginning for the kids.
After the President exited the room, the entire Lincoln team was led into another room not far away. There was a stage and several chairs set up. Every chair had a Galaxy jersey, a soccer ball and a Galaxy winter hat on it. The kids loved their new gear.
After putting the jerseys on, the kids participated in a Q & A with some of the pros from both the Galaxy and Kings. The kids asked awesome questions.
“Did anybody ever tell you that you couldn’t make it?”
“How did it feel to score your first goal?”
“What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in a game?”
The kids got their jerseys and soccer balls signed and took some pictures with the pros. As we exited the White House and made our way back to the bus, every kid was beaming.
Katie S., an eighth-grader who has been with DC SCORES for three years, walked up to me as we left and said, “Coach Zach, we are really lucky.”
It was a great experience for every kid involved — something they will be able to talk about for the rest of their lives, long after they outgrow the soccer jersey.
