The excitement starts every Monday a little before 1 p.m.
Inside the Better Living Center in Chester, partners of the Chester Upland Soccer for Success Program will arrive to lead one of the favorite hours of the week for roughly 20 of the community’s youth.
Known as the Rocky Run YMCA Summer Soccer Program, the two month program encompasses many different aspects of soccer.
Naturally, the kids learn how to pass and shoot, but also the “Four Pillars” of the Soccer for Success Program: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Mentorship, and Family Engagement are stressed throughout the hour.
Brent Jacquette, the director of the Chester Upland Soccer for Success Program and the head men’s soccer coach at Widener University said the program is not only off to great success in its inaugural season, but that the demand to extend soccer past the summer months has increased.
"In just one year of operating the Soccer for Success program, there is already an increased demand for soccer programming during the school year and summer months,” said Jacquette. “The collaboration in the Chester-Upland communities is finally allowing for year round soccer being offered by Chester City United and Soccer for Success at a number of locations throughout the community."
Participants are encouraged to have 60 minutes of physical activity a day, followed by making the correct nutritional choices.
Coaches function as mentors to emphasize teamwork and dedication, while also providing a safe and fun setting. When the hour is up, it is almost impossible to get the kids to wind down and head inside.
It’s a program that through soccer has proved to be a success and efforts the Philadelphia Union Foundation is proud to be a partner of.
