For many people, soccer is more than just a game. In thousands of schools, towns, and countries throughout the world, the sport provides a way for players, coaches, and families to work together to build communities and empower youths. As part of the worldwide soccer community, Farpost Soccer Company is always looking for ways to support organizations that promote soccer’s positive influence. For this reason, Farpost is proud to provide portable soccer goals and nets to Coaches Across Continents (CAC).
The vision of former soccer executive Nick Gates, Coaches Across Continents offers more than just a sports training program. Using their specially designed soccer education curriculum, the coaches and educators of CAC have been using soccer as a vehicle for social change since the non-profit’s inception in 2008. The curriculum focuses on integrating on-field coaching and classroom activities into lessons that focus on issues like conflict resolution, female empowerment, conservation, and health and wellness (and, of course, lots of fun!).
In 2009, CAC launched their Hat Trick Initiative, a three year plan to grow the program by focusing on three key goals (hence the name):
- Coaches and local volunteers commit to building a sustainable, locally-driven education program that meets the particular needs of each community.
- Through the Community Impact Coach program, select community leaders will train with CAC coaches in developing communities around the world.
- CAC will provide soccer kit and education supplies to help communities build and sustain their programs over the long term.
This last goal is where Farpost steps in to help. As a supplier of adjustable, portable soccer goals, Farpost is uniquely placed to provide Coaches Across Continents with the equipment they need to get their community projects up and running. And, after CAC has completed their curriculum, Farpost’s portable goals are left behind to help communities continue using what they’ve learned. Farpost’s Sharpshooter goals are already being used in Kigoma, Tanzania, and more goals will be distributed to developing communities in Uganda in 2013.
Since 2008, Coaches Across Continents has worked with dozens of communities in twenty different countries, and with the help of local partnerships and sponsors like Farpost, is continuing to grow every year.