September 17, 2013-American soccer legend Brandi Chastain, who scored the winning shootout goal in the 1999 Women’s World Cup, came to Chelsea Waterside Park in Manhattan on September 10 to meet players and give a clinic to the Manhattan Soccer Club of the Westchester Youth Soccer League (WYSL).
"On behalf of our players, coaches and parents, the Manhattan Soccer Club appreciated Brandi’s energy, enthusiasm and genuine focus on the development of our young players," commented Manhattan Soccer Club Vice President Eddie Sutton. "Brandi mentioned beforehand that she truly wanted to ‘get in there’ with the kids and she did exactly that with every single practice group. She is a fantastic role model, and a great reminder of the positive and lasting power of youth sports."
The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) thanks Brandi for taking the time out from her busy schedule in "Play for a Change," which is sponsored by the international pharmaceutical company Merck and US Youth Soccer.
"It’s about taking your family out to the field, having a great time, being great examples of not only health and wellness and, for me, loving soccer and being an agent for change for somebody else in a community that has not been as fortunate," Brandi said. "And perhaps changing a life. Maybe we find the next National Team player out there."
"Merck gets that it’s important for families together to go out and play and they’re truly making a difference through these kits that they’re donating across the country," Brandi added. "My advice for parents is to laugh, cheer, enjoy, forget about the score and have fun. Encourage your kids to fall down and to get up and do their best, encourage their teammates and be supportive. There are so many great values and virtues that sports give us and I think that the idea of winning sometimes stunts what’s really important like their personal development and growth not only as a player but as a human being."
You can like "Play for a Change" with the Active Family Project on Facebook by logging on to https://www.facebook.com/activefamilyproject
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.
