CHICAGO(April 28, 2016) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that it has extended its Soccer in the Community partnership with YESsoccer through 2018. The youth programming initiative engages 45,000 players and families annually by focusing on grassroots outreach.
“This relationship has been an important piece of the Chicago Fire’s youth development program, and we are excited to have extended our relationship with YESsoccer,” said Paul Cadwell, director of youth programming.
YESsoccer, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Penn., will continue to provide staff and operational support for the Soccer In The Community initiative.
Soccer in the Community (SITC) provides services and resources to youth soccer organizations, as well as year-round, professional programming for players and coaches. SITC encompasses five different grassroots efforts by the Fire. In addition to Summer Camps, SITC includes Little Sparks, an introduction to soccer for kids ages 2- to 5-years old; Seasonal Training, which offers professional coaches to youth soccer organizations; Community Ambassador, a free program delivering coaching clinics and training sessions for youth soccer organizations; and Soccer Schools, a supplemental training program.
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“We are very proud that the Fire have once again chosen us to be their long-term youth soccer partner. Grassroots soccer is something we are very passionate about and we are looking forward to working closely with the Fire to support their growth in the Midwest,” said Matt Brown, COO of YESsoccer.
Valspar will be the presenting sponsor of SITC and will collaborate across its programs to connect with Chicagoland families. SITC will also work with the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) as it’s the official recreational Summer Camp provider. The summer lineup includes more than 100 camp locations.
For more information on Chicago Fire Soccer In The Community or any of its programs, contact Lee Hannant at lhannant@chicago-fire.com or call 708-496-6774. Fans can also visit the 2016 Summer Camps page at Chicago-Fire.com.
