80 likes | 286 Views
U.S. Soccer Foundation. Our Role The Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States About us: Our goal is to improve social and health outcomes among youth in underserved urban communities through soccer.
E N D
U.S. Soccer Foundation Our Role The Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States About us: Our goal is to improve social and health outcomes among youth in underserved urban communities through soccer. Since 1995, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has awarded almost $60 million in grants to more than 600 organizations in all 50 states.
“The Game is in US” • 24 million total participants in U.S. • 4 million registered youth players – the largest organized youth sport • 60% boys, 40% girls • Girls and women make up 50% high-school and 50% college players • U.S. Women’s Olympic team just won 3rd consecutive Gold medal
The World’s Game • 265 Million Players Worldwide • 3.2 Billion watched the 2010 World Cup final, almost half the global population. • 2010 World Cup was televised in every country on earth, including Antarctica. • 118 million: cumulative USA TV audience (42% of population) • Manchester United Valued at $2.3 billion. Ranks #1 in the World
Reaching Immigrants through Soccer • There are 196 countries in the world • There are thousands of languages in the world • You can go to almost any country, no matter what language you speak and play soccer. • Immigrants understand soccer, even if they do not understand English. • Using Soccer as a hook, you can engage immigrants and provide additional benefits like nutrition education through soccer.
Challenges for Immigrant Youth • 34% of kindergarten immigrant boys are obese or overweight, compared with 25% of native-born Americans, according to the Education Department. By eighth grade, that number rises to 49%, compared with 33% among natives. • Immigrants youth from underserved communities lack safe places to play in out of school time • Children receive only 6% of recommended Moderate to Vigorous Activity in school PE * Sources: The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, Department of Health and Human Services 2006 School Health Policies and Programs Study, Department of Education report, “After School Programs: Keeping Children Safe and Smart” by An-Me Chung; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Education Week, June 10, 2010.
Health Benefits of Soccer Stanford University Sports to Prevent Obesity Randomized Trial (SPORT) Study Found: • Children who play soccer had: • significant decreases in Body Mass • significant increases in daily moderate and vigorous physical activity. • “An after-school soccer program for overweight children can be a feasible, acceptable, and efficacious intervention for weight control.” Stanford University SPORT study, ARCH PEDIATR ADOLESC MED/VOL 162 (NO. 3), MAR 2008
Soccer for Success: Overview After-School Soccer-Based Youth Development Program for Children in Grades K-8 • FREE to participants • 3 sessions/week delivering 60 minutes of exercise • 24 weeks a year • Run by trained coaches & volunteers • 15:1 Child to Mentor Ratio • Children receive uniforms, equipment and soccer balls • 89% reduce their BMI Program Goals • Maintenance of a healthy BMI • Meet CDC daily physical activity requirements • Increase children’s knowledge of nutrition • Improve academic and social outcomes • Parental engagement