Soccer gives students a goal
Teams give players in SR
elementary school league a lesson in sports, reading
Published on May 7, 2004
© 2004- The Press Democrat
By ROBERT DIGITALE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Santa Rosa-area elementary schools are using organized soccer to
stimulate students in their schooling and to provide the fun and
discipline of team sports.
Nine schools in the city's core and west side are working with
the city and community groups to organize school soccer teams.
The nine schools all have large concentrations of economically
disadvantaged children. Community groups have donated about $20,000
to provide what for many students is their first chance to play an
organized team sport.
"I would like these kids to have access to all the
enrichment that a lot of other kids do have access to," said
Brook Hill Principal Karen Arter, who worked with the city to start
a program last year for five Santa Rosa district schools.
On Tuesday at Sports City's indoor soccer arena on Piner Road,
teams combining boys and girls battled for the ball as scores of
parents and siblings cheered each goal. Principals attended and
called encouragement to their students.
Burbank School Principal Marty Cassity said the soccer program
has been a good motivator for the participating students.
Students know "you've got to do your homework" in order
to play, he said. Those who don't keep up academically or exhibit
poor behavior in school lose the privilege of playing.
Around the city more than 300 students are taking part in the
school teams. For many it is their first time in organized sports.
The program's leaders hope it will spark some to eventually advance
to the city's youth leagues, as well as to high school teams.
Indoor soccer is played by teams from five Santa Rosa district
schools: Brook Hill, Burbank, Lehman, Lincoln and Monroe. Four other
schools, Bellevue, Meadow View, Roseland and Sheppard, will play
their first games of the spring Tuesday at Southwest Community Park.
Many of the Santa Rosa district coaches are teachers who
volunteer their time. The coaches in the southwest are provided
through a contract with the soccer organization Atletico Santa Rosa.
The southwest program began three years ago after City Council
members challenged community groups to help provide worthwhile
activities for the area's students. The Santa Rosa district program
started a year later when city staff members went to Arter, the
Brook Hill principal, and asked what kinds of programs would benefit
her students.
In both parts of town, organized soccer was seen as an important
program. A number of community groups and businesses responded with
donations.
This year the southwest program added a new dimension - linking
soccer with literacy. Exchange Bank donated $5,000 to purchase books
specifically about soccer. Some books tell of the game and its
history. Others provide fictional stories for readers of many
abilities.
At Meadow View School, the students practice or play soccer games
two days a week, then read and write about soccer two days a week.
The idea, said reading teacher Marci Murphy, is to take something
that interests the children and connect it to the essential skill of
reading.
"They're all here because they want to be here and they want
to learn more about soccer," she said.
Third-grader Jennifer Yacuta, who Thursday was reading
"Arthur and the Best Coach Ever," said by practicing on
the field the students are getting better at soccer. And as a result
of their time with the soccer books, she said, "we get better
with reading."
At Monroe School, team members said they had learned about
sportsmanship and about the hard work and commitment that comes from
playing on a team.
"The strict discipline makes you a better student,"
said sixth-grader Rodrigo Solorio.
Monroe student Timmy Ireland said, "Being on the team is a
really good privilege because you get to represent your
school."
Monroe coach and first-grade teacher Charlie Seymour said he
knows his students love being on the team. The day after each
competition, he said, "they flock to my room to talk about the
game and how it went."
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