What is Positive-Choice Soccer?

Using soccer as the "tool", Soccer In the Streets® Positive-Choice™ Soccer program teaches inner city kids how to lead a more positive life away from drugs, crime and violence. Through the Positive-Choice™ curriculum, which was successfully piloted in the Atlanta Public School system and the Boys & Girls Club, the program uses trained staff and volunteers to implement the physical, educational and cultural enrichment activities related to the program. Through participation in Positive-Choice™ soccer, kids learn to chart a course for their life away from unhealthy behavior, such as drug use and participation in gangs, and towards a better education, career, and healthier lifestyle and personal growth. In the Positive-Choice™ program, at-risk youth are encouraged to use soccer to examine the choices they make in life and how those choices will impact their future. The Positive-Choice™ program ties life skills with soccer skills teaching young people to associate these fun activities with the skills necessary to be successful.

The Positive-Choice™ is a national program developed in coordination with Atlanta Public Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs through the 2001/ 2002 academic year under the guiding purpose to provide economical sports and life skill programs for low-income communities where after-school programs don't typically exist. Removing financial, racial and gender barriers that prohibit children from being involved in positive activities which not only teach soccer basics, but also life skills such as discipline, responsibility and teamwork, means the kids are less likely to become involved with the destructive influences of drugs, crime and gang activity in their neighborhoods. Positive-Choice was inspired by the acronym: Choose Happiness Over Ignorance, Crime and Evil.

The Positive-Choice Soccer program includes:

• A Positive-Choice™ pledge which, young people sign to acknowledge their commitment to learning how to make positive choice in all facets of life.
• Grassroots life-skills program, which involves tying the 10 life skills with 10 soccer skills (passing/communication, heading/preparation, shooting/goal setting etc.). Kids are also given weekly review assignments at the end of each session, which teaches them to explore what they have learned in writing.
• Positive-Choice™ graduation & mini-tournament at the end of the program. Kids take part in a graduation ceremony and mini team games bringing together everything they have learned.
• Role models and special guest (e.g. professional sports players, TV personalities and community leaders) visit kids to talk about how to make positive choices in life.
• School and community organizations involvement through tie-in with after-school activities.

What some of the Positive-Choice Soccer graduates have to say:

"I'm learning soccer so that I can be somebody when I grow up!" - Nicolas, 9

"The most important rules to remember is always get good grades and never lose your temper." - Antonette, 9

"In order to achieve my goals, school is exactly what I need. and smartness can help." - Earl, 11

"Success is when you do the right thing at all times." - Traymon, 12

"Successful people get where they're at because they believed in learning. They practice and do their best." - Kelsey, 10

"My parents, coaches and friends help me achieve goals by showing that you can do it." - Theodore, 6

"If I could do anything in the world it would be to change the world into a better place." - Orkesha, 12

"My goal is to be a good person." - Drashawnna, 10

"Successful people get there by studying in school, doing all of their work and paying attention in class." - William, 11

"I want to just be a kid, and don't grow up too fast." - Brady, 11