Community Connections Program
The Community Connections Program (CCP) was devised by the Syracuse University women’s soccer program in the fall of 2011. The program has a strong belief that it is our duty to give back and develop meaningful links with the local community.
Using soccer as the vehicle the CCP can offer Elementary and Middle school pupils an enhanced learning experience. Community Connections currently offers schools four sport and education initiatives:
• CURRICULUM COACHING
• AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
• GIRLS ONLY COACHING SESSIONS
• KICK INTO EDUCATION – READING PARTNERS
As our connections with local schools grow and strengthen we would like to expand and offer more opportunities for education through soccer, such as: healthy living, drug awareness, numeracy, literacy, fitness to name a few.
Please note that for all of the four initiatives, our coaches are police/back ground checked and USSF/NSCAA qualified .
CURRICULUM COACHING
Our coaches will come to your school to deliver fun coaching sessions that will be run during physical education class time in conjunction with the teacher. We will be able to take classes or grade groups for single lessons or a whole morning / afternoon. This is a pre-arranged lesson, which will fit into a ‘soccer unit’ being taught currently or recently by the PE teacher.The content of the sessions involve basic space awareness, loco-motor activity, and ball manipulation.
The students will learn from qualified staff the basics of soccer within a safe and fun environment. The service is free of charge and is part of the outreach work performed by SU Women’s Soccer Program.Regardless of ability or interest in soccer, students will have beneficial interactions from the experience.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
Our coaching staff will provide your school with a structured six week program with lessons run on grass, the playground or in the school gymnasium. These sessions are free of charge to the school. The pupils will be charged $15 for the six weeks (1 session per week, 1 hour per session. A minimum of 10 pupils is needed to run the After School Club.
If successful the school can re-book for as many six week periods in the year as they wish. Each child attending will receive a SU goodie.
GIRLS ONLY COACHING SESSIONS
This is the first initiative in our girl’s development program. Girls Only sessions enables us to send SU coaches in to the school during curriculum time, or after school, for the purpose of teaching skills to groups of girls in a relaxed, fun environment. In some cases a number of our University female players may lead the session, which provides an excellent role model for the young girls in your school.
KICK INTO EDUCATION - READING PARTNERS
This initiative is using soccer as a vehicle for learning. The pupils look forward to spending reading time with a coach/SU women’s soccer player, either on a one to one basis or as part of a group. Reading time can be arranged to suit your school and SU player’s schedules. The children benefit from having a friendly adult to provide encouragement and boost self confidence. Aims of the project are to raise standards in literacy in elementary school pupils, and to provide positive young adult role models in an educational environment.
For more information, please contact assistant coach Adam Reekie at amreekie@syr.edu.
