Go Outside & Play: Spring Soccer Update

by David Rivera, Enrichment Coordinator & Coach, Discovery Prep

Loads of research shows that when kids are active, it not only helps them maintain healthy bodies, but also healthy minds. When kids participate in sports at a young age, they are eight times more likely to be active when they reach young adulthood. As the founding enrichment coach at Discovery Prep back in 2011, I knew a soccer league designed for our San Jose Rocketeers was a great start to setting our kids up for a healthy lifestyle.

Image Source: The Aspen Institutes Project Play

Growing up in a household where my single mother couldn’t afford to enroll my three siblings or me in sports programs, it’s always been my mission to provide kids the opportunity for a healthy outlet that can also steer them away from some of the negative influences of the neighborhood. While the soccer league is not an official Rocketship program, it’s been an incredible opportunity for Rocketeers across the Bay Area network to come out on Saturdays and learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, persistence and the joys of being active.

This year’s coed league will kick off in March, and luckily there is still time to register. Games will be held most Saturdays from March 14^th through May 16^th at Marijane Hamann Park in San Jose, CA.

While it is my ultimate dream to bring our families together on Saturdays to provide this great experience to our kids for free, this year the fee for the league is $80 per students, which covers eight games, a full uniform and trophy for each participant.

I’m looking for organizations or individuals who may be able to provide short- or long-term support for the program to lower the cost for families. Eventually, we would love to be able to also compensate coaches for their hard work.

Please contact me if you are able to help out as a volunteer or with sponsorship support.

All students are welcome to join the league. Register here.

Email newstarssoccer@gmail.com or call Ana Maria (408) 548-0124 with questions.

Games will be on Saturdays:

K – 1st: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
2nd – 3rd: 10:15 am – 11:15 am
4th – 5th: 11:30 am – 12:30 am

David was a founding member of the Discovery Prep team in 2011 and has been an enrichment coordinator ever since. Before Rocketship, David coached middle school, high school and competitive soccer for nine years.

David is a dedicated member of both the San Jose and Rocketship community. He grew up in west San Jose, close to where Mateo Sheedy is now located, and worked with Father Mateo Sheedy before he passed away. David’s brother, Coach Josh, was the founding enrichment coordinator at Alma Academy and is a current member of the founding team for Fuerza Community Prep. David says he and his family “are passionate about helping those in need, people just like us who are living under the same – if not worse – circumstances, so we carry a personal passion to be there for all of our new generations.” He hopes “to inspire others to rise up and take the challenge to make a difference. “

Published on February 17, 2015