Downtown Soccer Girls 03 Team Needs YOUR Help!

GOAL!

Downtown LA Soccer Club, Girls ’03, Wins the Cal South US Youth Soccer National Cup Tournament

— Need Your Support to Move on to the Western Regional Tournament

 

As you may know, for the past decade, I have been deeply involved with youth soccer programs in Los Angeles’ underserved urban communities. I have dedicated these years to helping young athletes with the commitment and skill set, but not the economic means, to play soccer at an elite level.

 

Last Saturday, the Downtown LA Soccer Club G03, a team of mostly Latina athletes I have coached for the past seven years, WON THE U.S. YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CUP CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT! Now, they are invited to represent Southern California in the prestigious USYS Western Regional Tournament in Boise, Idaho, next month.

 

This remarkable team has been featured in the LA Times and documented in the international press for its against-all-odds successes, standing up to racism and personal hardship, and persevering with an unfailing drive for excellence. They have worked unbelievably hard throughout their middle and high school years. Winning the National Cup Championship is a tremendous honor for them and their community. NOW, we must find ways to cover the costs of flights, hotels, food, and tournament fees and get them to Idaho!

 

Frankly, I need your help. Club Soccer is very expensive. Teams like ours, with players from challenging socio-economic backgrounds, are a rarity and require arduous fundraising and the unshakable commitment of volunteer coaches and administrators. Going to the Regional Championships means the world to these young women. The tournament runs from June 19 to 26, and the winning team will progress to the USYS National Championship tournament in Orlando, Florida, later in Summer.

 

This is the girls’ final year playing club soccer. Almost all will start college in Fall, and most will continue playing at a colligate level. For many, no one in their family has gone to college, and women playing sports wasn’t even a consideration. Playing soccer has been a life-changer for each of them.

 

Please help me fulfill a dream come true for these extraordinary young athletes. Any donation will help support our ability to send them to the tournament in Boise. 

Enormous appreciation to all  who have already contributed. We're a third of the way to our goal ! With your help, we'll make it all the way! 

 

With much gratitude, 

 

Coach Mick

 

The Downtown LA Soccer Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and all contributions are tax-deductible.