There are just over 7 billion inhabitants on earth. About 3.5 billion of them consider soccer the sport of choice. Soccer is simple, yet complicated all at once. You only require a pair of rolled up socks, or a decent amount of aluminum foil or duct tape to make the coveted sphere that needs to be shared among 22 players. Your goals don’t require much other than two objects a few feet apart to mark the goal. In some countries they use stones, in some parks in inner city Los Angeles they might use trashcans, others even use trees to mark the goal. The simplicity of the sport can draw an American accustomed to cheerleaders, timeouts, advertising, and all the pomp and circumstance that goes with American football or basketball to miss its beauty.
Needing only a ball and a patch of ground, players of humble origins have had access to soccer over the years, allowing them to dream big dreams of playing the sport at a national/international level. While this is often the case in most countries, we in America have a knack for taking something so inexpensive and simple and making it unattainable for many children in our country. Over the past decade, club soccer has become a sport mostly for those of substantial means. Clubs and leagues have become big business as they compete for players, and consequently, have become out of financial reach for many families. Where does that leave kids with all the passion in the world, but no means to pay for the season, uniforms, tournaments and soccer parties?
We don’t need to travel across the world to see the impact the high cost of soccer is having on local families. Take two neighborhoods in the Denver area for example, Elyria Swansea and Westwood. Both communities have less park space per capita than other neighborhoods in Denver. In these neighborhoods, nearly 50% of a family’s’ income is allocated to housing alone. Playing soccer or participating in a team sport becomes a luxury when a combined yearly household income hovers around $37,000 with a family of four to feed.
Skyline International is working hard to give these children an opportunity to remove obstacles that are keeping these potential athletes from participating on the same level playing field. This spring, Skyline will be giving the opportunity to 6 teams (3) from the Swansea area and (3) from southwest Denver to play organized soccer. The families will be paying a reduced registration rate, subsidized by fundraising, grants, and sponsorships.
In my humble opinion, no other sport transcends ethnic, religious, and socio-economic boundaries like soccer does. This June, regardless of the time of day, the majority of the world will find refuge in pubs, living rooms, local cafes and carnicerias to see the World Cup in Brazil. Many will put aside their daily routines to attend this appointment with the rest of the world. My hope, is that as many underprivileged children in Denver do the same, they will watch the World Cup knowing that Skyline International Soccer has given them a platform to live out their soccer dream.
CONTACT
Skyline Soccer
3799 S. Jason St.
Englewood, CO 80110
Office Phone :
303-691-5662
Weather Line:
720-317-2882
Fax: 303-691-5675
Email: info@skylinesoccer.org
Skyline Soccer
3799 S. Jason St.
Englewood, CO 80110
Office Phone : 303-691-5662
Weather Line: 720-317-2882
Email: info@skylinesoccer.org
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