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WORCESTER – With some of the world's greatest soccer players playing above them on the big screen, the next generation took the field at Worcester Common during the city's World Cup watch party Tuesday afternoon, July 14.
Well, it wasn't exactly a field as much as a makeshift training ground, complete with drill areas, practice stations and a tiny pitch, as Worcester Common was transformed into the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Festival. The festival has been traveling to watch parties across the state to offer free games and instruction to youth players as a way to tie into the excitement of the World Cup with development of the world's most popular sport in Massachusetts.
"We want to bring awareness to youth soccer across the state," Tamie Endow, a Worcester resident and director of community engagement for Massachusetts Youth Soccer that produced the festival, said. "This summer we are getting out and doing a lot of traveling across the state."
The festival was in Pittsfield June 12 and will be in Leominster July 15 and July 19. Tuesday, July 14, local children were encouraged to participate in games set up by the organization including a small pitch that had been set up on the common.
"Showing up and getting kids together to have fun is the best way. We are so lucky to have such a great community that supports the youth in a way," Natalie Dellecese, a Holden mother who had two children playing on the pitch on Tuesday afternoon, July 14, said. "Soccer is probably the most accessible sport in terms of what you actually need. My boys play in the backyard barefoot with just a ball and making goals out of frisbees."
Jorge Landeo, a Worcester native who lives in Rutland, brought his son and nephews to the festivities Tuesday, July 14.
"We went to the watch part at Rockefeller Center in New York and that was really cool, but this is more of our hometown event. My son and my nephews love soccer. I've kind of brainwashed them," Landeo said. "When they get to be this age, they need to be moving. Sitting for even an hour is difficult, so something like this is perfect where they can watch the game but also move around."
The watch party took place during the semi-final game of the World Cup between Spain and France. The streets around Worcester Common were closed off, with police monitoring the perimeter and Department of Public Works vehicles used to block access on Front Street.
Alongside Massachusetts Youth Soccer, several local sports groups were also part of the event including Worcester Youth Soccer, Worcester Fuel Football Club, that sold refreshments, the Worcester Railers and the Worcester Revolution.
The crowd that gathered saw Spain defeat France to advance to the World Cup final, 2-0. The crowd cheered for both sides as star players, such as France's Kylian Mbappe, raced around the field. Spain's Lamine Yamal, a day after his 19th birthday and thus not much older than the kids on the mini-pitch, drew a critical penalty kick in the first half to lead to Spain's first goal.
Endow said that while Massachusetts Youth Soccer offers numerous organized programs, such as the GOALS program which promotes organized youth soccer in urban communities like Worcester, being able to promote free, accessible soccer like the games on the mini-pitch on Worcester Common were her favorite way to bring the game of soccer to people in Massachusetts.
"The best part is seeing families and kids get involved, getting them on the pitch and start playing. That is the way soccer is like around the world. Here in the United States, soccer is very organized and what we are trying to promote is pick-up soccer. Kids just going out and having fun," Endow said.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Youth soccer festival brings World Cup fever to Worcester Common
Continue reading...
Well, it wasn't exactly a field as much as a makeshift training ground, complete with drill areas, practice stations and a tiny pitch, as Worcester Common was transformed into the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Festival. The festival has been traveling to watch parties across the state to offer free games and instruction to youth players as a way to tie into the excitement of the World Cup with development of the world's most popular sport in Massachusetts.
"We want to bring awareness to youth soccer across the state," Tamie Endow, a Worcester resident and director of community engagement for Massachusetts Youth Soccer that produced the festival, said. "This summer we are getting out and doing a lot of traveling across the state."
The festival was in Pittsfield June 12 and will be in Leominster July 15 and July 19. Tuesday, July 14, local children were encouraged to participate in games set up by the organization including a small pitch that had been set up on the common.
"Showing up and getting kids together to have fun is the best way. We are so lucky to have such a great community that supports the youth in a way," Natalie Dellecese, a Holden mother who had two children playing on the pitch on Tuesday afternoon, July 14, said. "Soccer is probably the most accessible sport in terms of what you actually need. My boys play in the backyard barefoot with just a ball and making goals out of frisbees."
Jorge Landeo, a Worcester native who lives in Rutland, brought his son and nephews to the festivities Tuesday, July 14.
"We went to the watch part at Rockefeller Center in New York and that was really cool, but this is more of our hometown event. My son and my nephews love soccer. I've kind of brainwashed them," Landeo said. "When they get to be this age, they need to be moving. Sitting for even an hour is difficult, so something like this is perfect where they can watch the game but also move around."
The watch party took place during the semi-final game of the World Cup between Spain and France. The streets around Worcester Common were closed off, with police monitoring the perimeter and Department of Public Works vehicles used to block access on Front Street.
Alongside Massachusetts Youth Soccer, several local sports groups were also part of the event including Worcester Youth Soccer, Worcester Fuel Football Club, that sold refreshments, the Worcester Railers and the Worcester Revolution.
The crowd that gathered saw Spain defeat France to advance to the World Cup final, 2-0. The crowd cheered for both sides as star players, such as France's Kylian Mbappe, raced around the field. Spain's Lamine Yamal, a day after his 19th birthday and thus not much older than the kids on the mini-pitch, drew a critical penalty kick in the first half to lead to Spain's first goal.
Endow said that while Massachusetts Youth Soccer offers numerous organized programs, such as the GOALS program which promotes organized youth soccer in urban communities like Worcester, being able to promote free, accessible soccer like the games on the mini-pitch on Worcester Common were her favorite way to bring the game of soccer to people in Massachusetts.
"The best part is seeing families and kids get involved, getting them on the pitch and start playing. That is the way soccer is like around the world. Here in the United States, soccer is very organized and what we are trying to promote is pick-up soccer. Kids just going out and having fun," Endow said.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Youth soccer festival brings World Cup fever to Worcester Common
Continue reading...
