Help a Child Develop their Talent
Donation protected
I'm often asked WHY I do what I do. For me, the answer is simple: I love it! But when I think about it more, the answer to that question actually goes much deeper than that.
Growing up as a youth player in Dallas, I always had a lot of natural ability. I understood the game well and had the creativity to do things that other players couldn't. But I could never really explain how or why I was able to do those things because I lacked the technical knowledge and training necessary to grasp the finer details. This holds true with most American players, including some that have made it to the highest level.
I played collegiately at West Texas A&M, an NCAA II university known for its dominant athletic programs. During my four-year term there, my realization of unfulfilled potential was confirmed when I saw the level of the European players on the team and the backgrounds they were all coming from. It wasn't until after this time that I really began to grow as a player, but by then it was already too late for me.
Having identified this major player development issue in US youth soccer, my priorities started to change. Now my focus had shifted from chasing my own dreams, to filling that void and giving the next generation an opportunity to chase theirs.
Due to my family's financial situation, the current pay-to-play system in the US made it impossible for me to get the proper training and experience when I was younger to fulfill my potential as a player. It really bothered me that I didn't get a fair chance at success in the sport that I love so much.
There is a massive pool of untapped talent in America. Too many youth players are eliminated by default and eventually slip through the cracks because they simply can't afford to play.
When I started Footy Factory on January 27, 2014, I made it my personal mission to create everything I never had as a player in order to give kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds an equal opportunity to develop their talents.
Now, just over three years later, we have four full Academy teams, a men's semi-professional/amateur team, plus numerous training programs and camps running year-round.
My vision for Footy Factory is to one day have a fully-funded Academy so that when a player is promoted, they no longer pay any dues to the club. The only way for us to accomplish that is by generating revenue via donations and corporate sponsorships to contribute to our Scholarship Fund.
The $10,000 we are trying to raise will provide four full scholarships for the 2017-18 season. Obviously we are still a very long way from making any kind of significant impact on US Soccer as a whole, but this would be a big step in the right direction for us.
Until we are able to eliminate the pay-to-play model in America, our country can never claim to be in the business of long-term player development and our National Team will continue to suffer as a result.
Help us change footy in America forever!
#FootyFund
www.footyfactorydallas.com
http://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/a-new-soccer-school-is-redirecting-the-focus-from-winning-to-technique-to-the-dismay-of-some-8951088
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Growing up as a youth player in Dallas, I always had a lot of natural ability. I understood the game well and had the creativity to do things that other players couldn't. But I could never really explain how or why I was able to do those things because I lacked the technical knowledge and training necessary to grasp the finer details. This holds true with most American players, including some that have made it to the highest level.
I played collegiately at West Texas A&M, an NCAA II university known for its dominant athletic programs. During my four-year term there, my realization of unfulfilled potential was confirmed when I saw the level of the European players on the team and the backgrounds they were all coming from. It wasn't until after this time that I really began to grow as a player, but by then it was already too late for me.
Having identified this major player development issue in US youth soccer, my priorities started to change. Now my focus had shifted from chasing my own dreams, to filling that void and giving the next generation an opportunity to chase theirs.
Due to my family's financial situation, the current pay-to-play system in the US made it impossible for me to get the proper training and experience when I was younger to fulfill my potential as a player. It really bothered me that I didn't get a fair chance at success in the sport that I love so much.
There is a massive pool of untapped talent in America. Too many youth players are eliminated by default and eventually slip through the cracks because they simply can't afford to play.
When I started Footy Factory on January 27, 2014, I made it my personal mission to create everything I never had as a player in order to give kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds an equal opportunity to develop their talents.
Now, just over three years later, we have four full Academy teams, a men's semi-professional/amateur team, plus numerous training programs and camps running year-round.
My vision for Footy Factory is to one day have a fully-funded Academy so that when a player is promoted, they no longer pay any dues to the club. The only way for us to accomplish that is by generating revenue via donations and corporate sponsorships to contribute to our Scholarship Fund.
The $10,000 we are trying to raise will provide four full scholarships for the 2017-18 season. Obviously we are still a very long way from making any kind of significant impact on US Soccer as a whole, but this would be a big step in the right direction for us.
Until we are able to eliminate the pay-to-play model in America, our country can never claim to be in the business of long-term player development and our National Team will continue to suffer as a result.
Help us change footy in America forever!
#FootyFund
www.footyfactorydallas.com
http://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/a-new-soccer-school-is-redirecting-the-focus-from-winning-to-technique-to-the-dismay-of-some-8951088
Organizer and beneficiary
Sean Afkhaminia
Organizer
Dallas, TX
Footy Factory
Beneficiary