What are your favorite soccer memories?
Remembering the fun we have had together can help us build a brighter future.
Families, coaches and alumni: please click here to share your favorite photos and stories about your experiences with CUYS. (If your children have participated in our program, please help them document their memories.)
We would appreciate as much detail as you can provide, as a story told well can make a reader feel like they were there, sharing in the fun. Thank you!
We’ll add your stories and photos to this page as they come in.
From Tahkir, 11-year old soccer player:
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.
From Teria, mother of two soccer players
It just seems like everybody has the children’s best interest at heart, I would say they really care about the children.
First ever Soccer Saturday!
From Data Coordinator Intern Amanda:
The kids always show so much excitement every time I come to take their height and weight. Lots of them refer to me as "Nurse Amanda," because I am a nursing student. Hearing that always brings a huge smile to my face!
From Coach Chris:
I love being able to inspire students and staff by just being myself. The funniest thing that happened at CUYS was a dance-off suggestion from my players at FDCS to choose team captains for a game day.
From Jeannine:
Do you remember how windy it was at last spring’s playday? Granola bars were almost blowing away!
From Coach Kate:
My favorite thing about being a part of CUYS is how accepting all the coaches and players are. Everyone is there for the same reasons. The coaches come to teach, be a good role model and to have fun. The players show up eager to learn, socialize with their friends and coaches and to also have fun. CUYS is a safe and welcoming environment for all and it enabled myself and others to be able to have a great time with all of the players.
The funniest thing that happened at CUYS was on a Soccer Saturday. Myself and the other coaches were setting up the fields and getting ready for the players to come. This was a special Saturday because the players had a moon bounce and a DJ to took forward to. However, it was a very windy day. This caused the moon bounce to go flying down the street and over the fence. Luckily, we were all there to help carry the moon bounce back and over the fence.
CUYS taught me how to be a better teammate, role model and teacher. I developed a relationship with each of the players at WPCS, as well as Stetser. I even was able to get to know other players from other schools during the Saturday scrimmages. CUYS also taught me how to think on my feet and create new games for if the original plan didn’t end up working out.
Do you remember THE TIME…?
From parent of Courtney, 7-year old soccer player:
This program is so good for them. The after-school exercise and the homework program helped keep her busy and she made many new friends. I love seeing them out there; the coaches are so good with them. She got to attend three Union games with her dad and me. She was so excited to have such a special experience!
From Site Director Mrs. Zamonski:
I love walking down the school hallway and hear “There’s the soccer lady!” My heart just fills.
One of my favorite memories was when we took a busload of kids to the co-ed Friendship Cup Tournament in Downingtown. Besides having fun with all the soccer, the kids loved picnicking on the side of the field and spinning the prize wheel to win sweatbands, cup and bracelets.
Soccer for Success allows me to build relationships with kids way before they come to my class in 5th grade, and that makes my job so much easier in the classroom because of having the existing relationships with kids and their families. I just want to thank them for the joy of sharing their children with me.
From Coach Sarah:
I love seeing the kids get really excited and grow throughout the season. It makes me feel good to be a positive role model, especially since I know they really need it.
From Coach Daphne:
Kids need to get their energy out and escape any negative things in their environment. Soccer brightens their mood and removes them from hard things that are happening in their lives. It makes me happy to see them enjoying sports the way that I enjoy sports. One little boy was so excited to make a goal that he ran right over to his parents. They were so happy for him to be able to accomplish something.
From Site Director Dr. Greene:
It’s an awesome opportunity for parents and children to have a free program after school and come together on weekends to play together. They can meet and make friends from other neighborhoods in a positive setting. This is my fourth year and I’ve seen a lot of growth. So many parents come cheer on their students. It really brings together the community. The kids learn about healthy living and bring it home. The program is badly needed and the kids love it. It’s not just about learning the sport. They gain self-esteem, sportsmanship, pride in teamwork, healthy lifestyles and they learn to treat other people fairly and kindly.
First Sweet Potato Dinner
From Brent, Founder and CEO:
My favorite thing about being a part of CUYS is providing opportunities to youth that looking back I took for granted throughout my own childhood. One of my most cherished memories was when we hosted our first Sweet Potato Dinner at Stetser Elementary School.
From Coach Harry:
My favorite thing about being with the team is seeing the smiles on the players' faces, whether they scored a goal, got new cleats, or chose fresh fruit to take home.
From Site Director Ms. Jackson:
I love children, I love helping others and I’m a team player. That’s why I love this job. The kids know my tough love is love. I stay until the last kid leaves from Soccer Saturdays. I love watching them have so much fun. Everybody comes together, getting along, having a great time. It’s not who wins, or who loses. It makes me feel good because the kids know that we care. They also love their free snacks!
One of my favorite memories was when I got to send three girls who love soccer to play in an all-girl tournament at Villanova University. I was so proud of them and it made me so happy to hear how much fun they had.
From Coach Elyse B.:
Getting to coach the Main Street Elementary soccer students was great. Their enthusiasm and energy was my favorite part of the day! We all worked together as a team to do warmups and play games together. It felt really special when we came up with alterations to the plan and made the games more personal to the kids. CUYS taught me that it doesn’t matter where you come from, we are all a big family!
From Coach Noah:
I loved the time at CUYS when I had my first practice at Stetser and everyone was so inviting and excited to play.
Being a part of CUYS made me feel really good when the final Design FC event was midway done. The community coming together was a great sight to see.
From Coach Chris:
Like many journeys, it all began with a question. I was approached by my mentor at the time Evan Nesterak and asked very frankly, "Would you like to coach soccer?" With my ninth caramel in my mouth and no fear of the tooth fairy, I responded with the glee as if I was offered a lifetime supply of caramel creams, "Of course!" Though I was still very young and figuring myself out, I had answers to questions that have never changed. Soccer For Success encourages coaches to share their “Why” statement with coaches and other staff. “Why do you do it?” “Why soccer?” “Why coach?” My reason has always been simple to me.
I grew up with many challenges that didn't get any easier once I was adopted. I, fortunately, had the opportunity to learn many tools that many did not. Taught to me by the very limited roles models I had in hopes of me being the best version of myself possible. To someday be a star shining bright whether amongst other stars or even in an otherwise dark sky, if you will. I want the future generations to be able to do the same. I strive to give the future generations access to those same tools. Not for them to be like. No, I want them to surpass me. To aim to be better. Over the years of watching the students and program grow, my “Why” statement was able to become two words. "Why not?"
From my first day at Frederick Douglass Christian School many things have changed. Where I was confused for “a parent that always looked lost,” I am now the go-to coach greeted with open arms and warm words. Once a mobile climbing wall for the kindergartners and first graders, now a reliable source for talking through issues from homework to resolving conflicts... that is occasionally the target for the students to try tackle and surprise. At one point I was even someone who constantly nervous concerned that I was going to mess up, now I can't help but be excited looking forward to each practice and training knowing that what I'm doing is making a difference.
Being with Soccer For Success, I have many memories of learning who I am. From having coach trainers helping me through very hard times, to my students reminding me of why I shouldn't give up. William Shakespeare would call striving to continue to get better, especially when expected to fail, as "High hopes for a low heaven." I call it, "Seeking answer to know self."