AmeriCorps/ AmeriCorps VISTA Project

 

 An AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) site since 2005, SYS was designated an AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor in 2009 by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Native Youth Wellness Corps service projects focus on positive youthdevelopment, prevention and wellness with a broad anti-poverty focus, granting Native young people one-year service contracts, including a monthly stipend, health insurance, and an educational stipend. The SYS current three-year contract (2009-2011) will develop this A*VISTA Project aligning SYS initiatives and components of the Native American Soccer Project (NASP).

                                                                                

 

The Native American Soccer Project (NASP):

SYS has partnered with 20 Tribal communities in New Mexico and internationally to provide soccer curriculum. Our soccer curriculum is modeled after the United States Youth Soccer Association of America, the largest soccer organization in the world. SYS is a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and oversees the Native American Soccer Coaches Committee (NASCC), which is a sub-committee of the NSCAA. The NSCAA offers coaching education and support for Native soccer coaches across Indian Country. These partnerships and our love for soccer  had led to the formation and support of the Native American Soccer Project (NASP). NASP includes the following initiatives, all three of which also provide leverage and community support for the Indigenous Soccer Cup (ISC):

• Native American Soccer Start (NASS): SYS partnered with the New Mexico Youth Soccer Association to form NASS. Through NASS we are able to provide soccer skills clinics to youth ages 4-18 years old and coaching education for those with little of no experience. The over-arching goal of NASS is to introduce the sport of soccer to youth living in communities who do not have access to clubs or leagues. NASS is focused on making soccer available to low-income children in undererved communities, providing soccer training, administrative guidance and equipment support to players and organizations that might not be exposed to the sport. Through NASS, SYS has been able to reach over 1,000 children in 20 Native communities.
•  The Native American Soccer Coaches Committee (NASCC): The Native American Soccer Project includes 4 major components: Native American Soccer Coaches Committee, Native American Soccer Start, Summer Soccer Clinics and the Indigenous Soccer Cup.  As mentioned previously, SYS formed NASCC in efforts to provide quality coaching education, networking and community outreach support on a national level. There are currently over 200 members on NASCC and the organization is always seeking motivated community members, Native and non-Native to join. SYS offers several coaching diploma courses through NASCC that are tailored to a range of ages and skill levels. 
• SYS Summer Soccer Clinics: During the spring and summer months SYS maintains a busy schedule of soccer clinics targeting Native youth ages 4-17. These camps are designed to create a fun learning environment that allows children of all ages and abilities to grow and succeed. These camps are divided into age groups and consist of small sided games that improve skills & tactics, flexibility, agility, team building skills, cognitive thinking and leadership skills. Each camp can be tailored to length, dates and location depending on the needs of the each community.

 

The Indigenous Soccer Cup (ISC):

The ISC is a National Native Youth Leadership Conference, which is a culmination of SYS programming and efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle. Participants from local, national and international Native communities join us for a week of soccer, culture, youth leadership training, life skills and college prep workshops. More than 300 Native youth soccer players from Tribes across New Mexico and Indian Country will join in a celebration of  Native culture, wellness, youth leadership and sport. The ISC is for Native youth participants ages 10-19 years old. If you would like more information about this event, please visit the Contact page and send us an email.