East Boston Recreational Soccer League Gears Up for Second Season
(9-15-09) Boston, Mass. - The newly formed East Boston Recreation Soccer League, run by Sport in Society’s East Boston Sports Health Coordinator Jenny Molina, kicks off its second season on September 22. The free soccer league works with young people ages 8 to 13 from East Boston. Practices will be held at Memorial Park in East Boston on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 – 7:30 PM with games at 10:00 AM on Saturdays.
According to Molina, the demand for a renewed soccer program was overwhelming. She expects enrollment for the fall session to nearly double.
“I am extremely excited at the sustained excitement for our second season. Last season was more rewarding than I could have imagined for both the volunteers and the kids,” said Molina. “The kids had a blast, got active, learned new skills, and received medals for participation.”
In the first season, more than 50 kids from East Boston attended practice twice a week while their siblings, parents, and other family members looked on.
With the official start of the fall season only days away, Molina is, currently, recruiting volunteers.
When Molina joined the staff at East Boston, she immediately heard from community members about their desire for a youth soccer program. She made the league a priority. Working with a variety of community groups, City of Boston agencies, and parents, the soccer program became a reality in April 09. The four month program was provided free of charge to East Boston residents. Practices were held on the state-of-the-art East Boston Stadium and staffed entirely by volunteers.
One East Boston resident and mother explained that before starting soccer her son was unhappy, had behavioral issues at school, and often wouldn’t leave his room. She said he is now a much happier child and is excited to play this fall!
As a positive, unanticipated offshoot last season, the parents who had convened to watch their children formed a walking group to get healthy and stay in touch with the neighborhood.
The league owes its success to Molina, the Let’s Get Movin’ staff, Sport in Society, The East Boston Neighborhood Community Health Center, committed volunteers, and all the local community members dedicated to creating sustainable sports and fitness programs for East Boston youth and families.
Through the Health Connection, Fitz Urban Youth Sports works with physicians, nutritionists, neighborhood agencies, and schools to customize physical activity, nutrition, and life skills programming for local youth. By placing health coordinators in community health centers, we are able to assess and address a community's specific needs and help its youth make the connection between physical activity and leading a healthy life.