Experiences and opinions
Jayla's Experience
Jayla Rose is a 3rd Grader who never enjoyed exercising. All she wanted to do was sit around her house off Field Street on the outskirts of downtown Rochester, NY watching TV. This attitude changed when she began going to GR Soccer Soccer practices.
“Soccer is my new favorite sport. It’s fun, and it makes me active,” she says while eager to get back involved with the practice. “Though I really enjoy Phineas and Ferb and SpongeBob, I like spending time with my classmates and learning to play soccer.”
GR Soccer is non-profit organization that allows a safe and fun environment for the youth of inner city Rochester. They strive to provide an enjoyable learning experience for the children by playing games with them. They also intend to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS to these children and lead healthy lives while teaching critical-thinking, resiliency, and so much more.
Soccer is not the only activity Jayla has gotten more involved in since joining the GR Soccer program. She has begun to take her studies more seriously, particularly her reading outside of class. This is due to the coaches encouraging the kids to keep up with their schoolwork.
“If you would have told me that I’d be reading those books they assign us and actually enjoy them, I would have said you were crazy,” chuckles Jayla. “I really like the Frog and Toad books!”
This is an encouraging story to GR Soccer Soccer who emphasize soccer, but also full-roundedness. They encourage the kids to do well in school, be respectful and kind to others, as well as teach the wonderful game of soccer.
“GR Soccer has shown a significant change of mindset in my daughter,” tells Anita Rose, Jayla’s motsher. “It’s great to see her up and playing sports and enjoying school rather than sitting in front of a TV all day.”
This is one of many of the success stories of GR Soccer Soccer. So many of the current children have been impacted and positively influenced by the strong leadership and perseverance of the GR Soccer family. They are seeking to expand whenever they can and are in search of possible collaborations with similar organizations as well as larger communities in the Rochester area.
“GR Soccer is a game changer,” states Matt Trombley, Vice President of GR Soccer Soccer. “We hope to expand the program in the future so that our impact on the Rochester community is even greater than it already is.”
“Soccer is my new favorite sport. It’s fun, and it makes me active,” she says while eager to get back involved with the practice. “Though I really enjoy Phineas and Ferb and SpongeBob, I like spending time with my classmates and learning to play soccer.”
GR Soccer is non-profit organization that allows a safe and fun environment for the youth of inner city Rochester. They strive to provide an enjoyable learning experience for the children by playing games with them. They also intend to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS to these children and lead healthy lives while teaching critical-thinking, resiliency, and so much more.
Soccer is not the only activity Jayla has gotten more involved in since joining the GR Soccer program. She has begun to take her studies more seriously, particularly her reading outside of class. This is due to the coaches encouraging the kids to keep up with their schoolwork.
“If you would have told me that I’d be reading those books they assign us and actually enjoy them, I would have said you were crazy,” chuckles Jayla. “I really like the Frog and Toad books!”
This is an encouraging story to GR Soccer Soccer who emphasize soccer, but also full-roundedness. They encourage the kids to do well in school, be respectful and kind to others, as well as teach the wonderful game of soccer.
“GR Soccer has shown a significant change of mindset in my daughter,” tells Anita Rose, Jayla’s motsher. “It’s great to see her up and playing sports and enjoying school rather than sitting in front of a TV all day.”
This is one of many of the success stories of GR Soccer Soccer. So many of the current children have been impacted and positively influenced by the strong leadership and perseverance of the GR Soccer family. They are seeking to expand whenever they can and are in search of possible collaborations with similar organizations as well as larger communities in the Rochester area.
“GR Soccer is a game changer,” states Matt Trombley, Vice President of GR Soccer Soccer. “We hope to expand the program in the future so that our impact on the Rochester community is even greater than it already is.”
Ally Abel's Experience
Vol·un·teer (noun), a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task; A person who works for an organization without being paid.
Volunteering is seen in many ways, be it through time, money, or physical labor. Some may say that it takes a special kind of person to help someone they have never met before, but for GR Soccer coaches it is first instinct.
Ally Abel, 24, from Brighton, NY, first got involved with GR Soccer as an undergrad on the Women’s Soccer team at the University of Rochester in 2013. Once she retired from competitive soccer she felt as though a piece of her was missing. She had a passion for the game and loved coaching, so began to volunteer. However, she soon realized that GR Soccer was more than a coaching opportunity, it was an opportunity to harness the power of sport and use it for the greater good of the community.
“Alongside several other UR students, I was able to become a role model for Rochester youth, inspire confidence and self-efficacy, and empower participants to read more.” Abel said. “Little did I know at the time that I joined GR Soccer, but this experience would eventually grant me the chance to move to Cape Town, South Africa to work at Grassroot Soccer’s international headquarters office.”
When Abel volunteered for GR Soccer in 2013 and 2014 it was a relatively young organization. She was able to serve as both Vice President and Director of Curriculum & Innovation along with being a coach. While holding these positions, Abel heard about a similar organization called Grassroot Soccer which uses sports-based interventions to educate youth in South Africa. She quickly became intrigued by this NGO and applied for an internship in South Africa.
“I had never studied abroad, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for me to gain some ‘hands-on’ and ‘real world’ international experience. I applied, was interviewed, and was excited to find out that I was one of 12 new interns to be placed in Cape Town, South Africa for the year.”
Both GR Soccer and Grassroot Soccer work in a very innovative and dynamic ways, and employ local community role models as coaches to deliver curricula that use soccer to engage youth in games and conversations about a variety of health topics.
Nelson Mendella once said, “Sport has the power to change the world… It was the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in break down racial barriers.”
This is what exactly what GR Soccer does; It is empowering the next generation, one participant at a time.
Volunteering is seen in many ways, be it through time, money, or physical labor. Some may say that it takes a special kind of person to help someone they have never met before, but for GR Soccer coaches it is first instinct.
Ally Abel, 24, from Brighton, NY, first got involved with GR Soccer as an undergrad on the Women’s Soccer team at the University of Rochester in 2013. Once she retired from competitive soccer she felt as though a piece of her was missing. She had a passion for the game and loved coaching, so began to volunteer. However, she soon realized that GR Soccer was more than a coaching opportunity, it was an opportunity to harness the power of sport and use it for the greater good of the community.
“Alongside several other UR students, I was able to become a role model for Rochester youth, inspire confidence and self-efficacy, and empower participants to read more.” Abel said. “Little did I know at the time that I joined GR Soccer, but this experience would eventually grant me the chance to move to Cape Town, South Africa to work at Grassroot Soccer’s international headquarters office.”
When Abel volunteered for GR Soccer in 2013 and 2014 it was a relatively young organization. She was able to serve as both Vice President and Director of Curriculum & Innovation along with being a coach. While holding these positions, Abel heard about a similar organization called Grassroot Soccer which uses sports-based interventions to educate youth in South Africa. She quickly became intrigued by this NGO and applied for an internship in South Africa.
“I had never studied abroad, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for me to gain some ‘hands-on’ and ‘real world’ international experience. I applied, was interviewed, and was excited to find out that I was one of 12 new interns to be placed in Cape Town, South Africa for the year.”
Both GR Soccer and Grassroot Soccer work in a very innovative and dynamic ways, and employ local community role models as coaches to deliver curricula that use soccer to engage youth in games and conversations about a variety of health topics.
Nelson Mendella once said, “Sport has the power to change the world… It was the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in break down racial barriers.”
This is what exactly what GR Soccer does; It is empowering the next generation, one participant at a time.
When asked about what they think about Grassroot Rochester, Here is what people had to say....
“Love it!!! My daughter has had a great time and learned a lot,” -Tonya Matthews, mother of GR Soccer participant
"I got my kids involved in GR Soccer when it was first getting started. I've been able to see the program grow and the positive effects that its had on so many kids, including my own" -Jenea Williams, mother of GR Soccer participant
"My experience as a volunteer has been a very eye-opening and humbling one thus far". -Alyssa Abel
"I love Soccer Girls Rule! Last year I won the award for reading the most minutes in a season!" -GR Soccer participant
"I feel like we have had a pretty big impact on the kids. I have seen the kids become more empowered, more confident, better reading skills, more physically fit, and better social skills." -Matt Trombley, former GR Soccer President
"I like GR Soccer because my coaches teach me. I play soccer all the time now!" - GR Soccer participant
"Being involved in GR Soccer has brought me a lot closer to the community around UR and opened my eyes to the issues we face in the Rochester area. Being a part of GR Soccer has been a wonderful experience because I have gotten to work with great people and help our community." - Brian Kee, GR Soccer coach
"Before GR Soccer I could never get my daughter to read, but knowing that her coaches and teammates expect her to, she finally reads and actually enjoys it." - GR Soccer parent
"I've been volunteering with GR Soccer for three years now and every year I see more kids becoming interested in learning to play soccer, increasing the amount they read, or asking for a healthy snack after a hard game." - Gabby Goddette, GR Soccer President
"I love the amount of free clinics they hold and the one-on-one attention that my child gets." - GR Soccer parent
"I got my kids involved in GR Soccer when it was first getting started. I've been able to see the program grow and the positive effects that its had on so many kids, including my own" -Jenea Williams, mother of GR Soccer participant
"My experience as a volunteer has been a very eye-opening and humbling one thus far". -Alyssa Abel
"I love Soccer Girls Rule! Last year I won the award for reading the most minutes in a season!" -GR Soccer participant
"I feel like we have had a pretty big impact on the kids. I have seen the kids become more empowered, more confident, better reading skills, more physically fit, and better social skills." -Matt Trombley, former GR Soccer President
"I like GR Soccer because my coaches teach me. I play soccer all the time now!" - GR Soccer participant
"Being involved in GR Soccer has brought me a lot closer to the community around UR and opened my eyes to the issues we face in the Rochester area. Being a part of GR Soccer has been a wonderful experience because I have gotten to work with great people and help our community." - Brian Kee, GR Soccer coach
"Before GR Soccer I could never get my daughter to read, but knowing that her coaches and teammates expect her to, she finally reads and actually enjoys it." - GR Soccer parent
"I've been volunteering with GR Soccer for three years now and every year I see more kids becoming interested in learning to play soccer, increasing the amount they read, or asking for a healthy snack after a hard game." - Gabby Goddette, GR Soccer President
"I love the amount of free clinics they hold and the one-on-one attention that my child gets." - GR Soccer parent