Parents and Players Recall Their Favorite Things About CUYS
by Alexandra Phelan
For some parents, their positive experiences with athletics growing up has meant a desire for their children to have a similar experience. For example, one mother, Shaconda, grew up running track, saying, “It gave me something to do after school and on the weekends,”. Now, her daughter Kamora is able to have a similar experience through Chester Upland Youth Soccer. Although Kamora is unable to make it to soccer events on the weekends due to her mom’s work schedule, the after school component lets her run around and get exercise with her classmates turned teammates. Soccer practice leaves her feeling “Really hot and sweaty,” but satisfied and happy at the same time. The CUYS community is a positive one for Kamora, as she comments, “Coach Chris - he’s a nice coach and teacher, and my teammates and other friends, they’re really fun too, they help me.”
Cedric, whose two sons are active in Chester Upland Youth Soccer, grew up playing all kinds of organized sports, and recognized the importance of getting his kids involved, acknowledging of his own experiences, “socially, it built bonds, and the importance of sportsmanship, you know, it taught me a lot.” Of CUYS, he says, “It gives the kids something to do, especially after school, because there aren’t many extracurricular activities in our neighborhood, you know being a low income section of the city.” Cedric also highlighted the importance of the program being linked with the schools, as it makes for an easy transition between the classroom and the after school practices. He’s noticed a positive change since his children started playing soccer, saying of his sons, “just in the way he interacts with himself, you know what I mean, he’s more … like, he’ll pitch in. For example they’ll clean their room, and they’ll work together, like ‘you get all the trash, I’ll get all the clothes,” you understand what I’m saying? So, I think they got that from playing on a team.” The power of community extends to the parents as well, as Cedric mentioned, “I’ll see someone at the grocery store, you know? We’ll speak and say ‘What’s Up’ because I recognize them from picking their kids up, you know? So overall, like I said it’s a powerful experience for the community, because it gives the kids something to do, and it also teaches them life skills at the same time. So, it’s very powerful.”
His son Tahkir, who has played soccer throughout elementary school through CUYS programs at his school says, “I really have a lot of [memories] with my friends from first grade all the way up to fifth grade. And there were some ups and downs, but we solved them and it was fun.” When playing soccer, he feels “energetic and excited”. Of his coaches, he says, “They’re really nice and friendly, and they really want to help us succeed at soccer.”
Positive experiences with coaches were also echoed by Teria, whose two children Ellis and Elias also participated in CUYS programs, saying, “it just seems like everybody has the children’s best interest at heart, I would say they really care about the children.” One of the most important parts of being a part of the CUYS community for her is, “knowing that my children are in good hands when they play. I don’t worry about the coaches or, you know, who’s taking care of them, so just knowing that they’re in good hands.”
Read more favorite stories - and see photos too - at the CUYS Memory Bank.