| NYer Of The Week: Soccer Coach Helps The Homeless Score New Goals
The latest New Yorker of the Week is a former professional soccer player who is leveling the playing field by coaching for a team of homeless players. NY1's Rita Nissan filed the following report. Lawrence Cann coaches at the indoor soccer fields at Chelsea Piers. His players on the Street Soccer NYC team are quick, communicate well and score goals. But they are also homeless or formerly homeless. "For a lot of our folks who are traumatized and who have grown up with a lot of static and a lot of abuse, learning to manage [themselves] on a sports field is a great practical application to their lives," says Cann. Cann, a former professional soccer player, founded Street Soccer USA five years ago with the help of HELP USA, and now has teams in 16 cities across the country.
Saturday's scoreboard
The GA-SC Bulls 2009 ProXtreme Soccer Camp will be for ages 5-17 and will be held in North Augusta at the Hammond's Ferry Soccer Complex July 26-29. The sessions will feature professional soccer players from MLS, WPS, and USL soccer teams, including former South Aiken High School standout Mike Gustavson. Check-in for Sunday's session will begin at 2 p.m. - which will follow with the actual session from 3-6 p.m. Sessions from Monday-Wednesday will be from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration fee for camp is $150. The second player in the household will receives a $15 discount. A military discount is also available. The first 100 players to register for the camp will be entered into a raffle for an autographed WPS Boston Breakers jersey. All campers need to bring their own water bottle, light snack and lunch.
Recreation location: Challenger Sports British Soccer Summer Camp
Students learn from former or current professional soccer players from the United Kingdom. The program, based in Lenexa, Kan., was founded by a former professional British soccer player. They now hold camps all over the country. This is the second year the camp has come to Springfield. Where: Lake Country Soccer, 2334 Pythian St. Dates: July 27-31 Time: Varies depending on age group, but all times are between 9 a.m.-noon or 5 p.m.-8 p.m. each day. Who it's for: Boys and girls between the ages of 3-16. Cost: Varies depending on age and skill set, between $78-$150. How to take part: For more information, call Lake Country Soccer at 862-3211 or visit www.challengesports.com. Register on the Web site.
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