"Playing For Change"
The 2011 Street Soccer USA Cup
At the closing ceremony nearly 20 people were called up in front of the 200 plus homeless players and coaches, male and female, to present the awards. These people were formerly homeless and former participants in the Street Soccer USA program, many of whom had gone on to become coaches or were just back to play and support the current players. The images of them draping metals over the currently participants capture what Street Soccer USA is all about--paying it forward, playing for change. Ending homelessness is a team sport and our players past and present as well fans showed that all weekend. The good news is that over 60% of the player had moved out of shelters and off the street by the time the cup had begun and we'll be stiving for 100% by the end of the year.
The players' efforts to change their lives were affirmed by dignitaries, sponsors, professional athletes and fans. Below you can see the ceremonial opening kick featuring Sheila Johnson, founder of the Lady Salamander Women’s Initiative, Mark Ein, our host at the Washington Kastles, Ed Foster Simeon, President of the US Soccer Foundation, which provided the fields and goals, Neil Donovan, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, Clyde Simms, central midfielder for D.C. United and US National Team player, together with Milton Marquez, Captain of the Washington, D.C. team.
Also, congressional representative from the District Eleanor Holmes Norton who came out to congratulate players on our final day and is pictured here with the DC Team.
Over 3 days 22 teams of people overcoming homelessness from 18 cities played in the 4v4 Street Soccer USA Cup on 3 custom pitches donated by the US Soccer Foundation and set up at Washington Kastles World Team Tennis Stadium in Washington, D.C. with the iconic Washington Monument piercing the sky in the background. Teams shared in fellowship, tourism, solidarity, and a healthy dossage of pure joy, starting with a Parade of States . . .and some breakdancing.
An additional 24 teams featuring corporate groups, local amateur players, as well as coaches and graduates of the Street Soccer USA program competed in the Street Soccer USA Open Cup. The hotly contestd battle was eventually won by Love Futbol who beat Vintage Football in the final. Youth clubs like the local chapeter of FC Barca came to play too. Volunteerism was also a huge part of the cup and we were proud to be a part of Deloitte's Impact day with some 60 volunteers on Friday alone plus a Deloitte team in competition.
In 100 degree heat, amidst intense competition, one idea loomed large both graphically above the field and in the hearts of all participants: That each of us was playing for more than winning or losing, we were playing for pride, for dignity, for sense of community and family and respect. The “I Play For” mantra was emblazoned on the jersey of all the teams, and each participant lived it out.
The weekend featured over 130 matches, over 1,200 goals and fewer that 10 blue cards (the equivalent of a yellow card) and no red cards. In a new rule, green cards were awarded, 55 in total over the course of the tournament. Green cards were issued to player for demonstrations of great sportsmanship in a effort to reward people for positive actions, not just punish them for negative action. Rudi, of the NYC women’s team is pictured below after receiving a a green card from a referee post match. In addition to being a top player, Rudi was also a leader in the tally of green cards. Green cards have a bearing on the final results too—in the case of tie in points at the end of group play, the number one tie breaker was green cards. For a couple teams, their high tally of green cards put them in them in the main competition as opposed to featuring in a second tier cup. In other words, we take sportsmanship very seriously at the Street Soccer USA Cup. The emphasis of the cup was the achievements of the players off the field, and the celebration of these accomplishments manifested in lots of great soccer and friendship on the field. With this in mind, we want to express an huge debt of gratitude to our 25 volunteer certified referees who worked the entire weekend in the heat and ensured professional arbitration for every match! We couldn't have done with out them or other like Carrie, Stephan, Sara, Kate, John, Eliot, Chandrima, Matthew and many others who allowed us to carry out all the logistics of the event. In addition we managed to serve 1800 meals over three days thanks to St. Alban's, Stuart's Eagle Scout Troop, Omar of team DC, Frontpage, Omni Hotel Services, Subway, and Jaleo. Did we mention, ending homelessness is a team sport! As important as any sponsor was Powerade who hydrated everyone in the intense heat. Many thanks to Dee and his team.
In the first ever Street Soccer USA All-Women’s competition, the Lady Salamander Championship Cup was captured by Street Soccer Minneapolis, a.k.a., “Up Top.” Sacramento finished second, followed by New York, followed by Charlotte.
Former player turned coach and 2011 Sport for Social Change Achievement Award Winner, Lisa Wrightsman won the Kastles Coaches Award and will lead the US Team as coach in Paris 2011. For the men's team, San Fran Coach Antoine Lagarde was selected to be coach, making this the first year that both US Coaches will be former program participants.
On the men’s side of the Street Soccer USA Cup it was also Street Soccer Minneapolis who took home the Leonsis Trophy for first place. They did not do so easily, edging out Charlotte in a 6-5 semifinal match, before winning the cup on penalty kicks in a seesaw match against Montgomery Country, MD who once again were painfully denied their first ever championship. Minnesota captured the Cup for the second time after winning the first ever SSUSA Cup in 2008, defeating Los Angeles in an upset. Check out celebrations and the shot that won it from Idris.
The Street Soccer USA Cup for men finished as follows:
Leonsis Trophy
1. Minneapolis, MN (Street Soccer MN) 2. Montgomery Co., MD (Foundation for the Change) 3. San Francisco (St. Vincent de Paul) 4. Charlotte, NC (Urban Ministry Center)
HELP USA CUP
5. New York, NY (HELP USA) 6. Los Angeles (Jovenes Inc.) 7. D.C (Neighbors Consejo) 8. Sacramento (VOA)
District of Columbia Cup
9. Seattle (Street Soccer Seattle) 10. Ft. Worth (Kickin' the Streets) 11. Chicago (La Casa Norte) 12. Portland (Outside In) 13. Richmond (Healing Place).
I Play For Cup
14. Dallas (Lifenet) 15. Denver (Urban Peak) 16. Ann Arbor (Washtenaw Co. Social Services) 17. St. Louis (Peter and Paul's) 18. Louisville
The New York Women’s team from the HELP USA shelter in Brownsville were awarded the prestigious “Praise Great Play” Fair Play Trophy for embodying the positive spirit of the Street Soccer USA Cup.
We also gave out a series of trophies to team and individuals based on our core Street Soccer Skills that we want to emphasize.
The “Build Your Triangle Trophy” went to Ann Arbor
The “Play for Plan Trophy” went to St. Louis
The “Adjust Your Plan Trophy” went to Chicago
The “Show Up and Play with Heart Trophy” went to Joque of Ft. Worth
The “Taking the Space Award” went to Braxton of Denver.
From the women’s competition and from the group of other women playing in the tournament 8 were chosen for the Lady Salamander National Team that will travel abroad to compete in the 64 nation Homeless World Cup this August in Paris, France. These players include: Hani of Minneapolis, Rudi and Melanie of New York, Lisa and Danielle of Sacramento, Cavanda and Lisa of Charlotte, and Lisa of Ann Arbor.
From the men we selected a pool of national team players from which the final 8 players will be selected. These included, Rodney of Richmond, Carlos and Dave of San Francisco, Alvaro and Chamba of Mo. Co., Idris and Hanad of Minneapolis, Julio of New York, Calvin of Seattle, Milton of D.C., Alfredo and Elmer of Los Angeles, Nick from Sacramento, #3 of Portland, and Nick of Charlotte. See all nationals below:
