Whether on or off the pitch, youth in Vancouver FC’s communities is a key pillar to the club. As an organization, VFC has committed to uplifting youth and providing opportunities to inspire the next generation to achieve what they set their minds to. One way Vancouver has combined the club’s nature of being a professional soccer team and being accessible to youth in our communities is through the VFC School Outreach Program!
The initiative launched at the beginning of this year with the goals of breaking down barriers of access, providing knowledge and guidance from VFC players to students, and engaging in yet another way with those in our community. The School Outreach Program featured players visiting schools in the afternoon for about an hour to assist in various initiatives set out by the principals and/or teachers.
The most common, and what the players were most well equipped to run, were skills and drills clinics focusing on entry-level dribbling and passing. More often than not, the whole session would wrap up with exciting small-sided matches where those students can attempt to put into practice what they’d just learned. However, VFC players also assisted in storytime with younger age groups and also presented on various topics surrounding respect in sport and overcoming setbacks.
VFC made visits from February to June in School District 35 – Langley, School District 36 – Surrey, and School District 42 – Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. The club was welcomed into 15 schools across those districts for a total of 37 visits in the second half of the 2023/24 school year. The best part of those visits was being able to connect with approximately 3,000 students and seeing their faces light up when the players would sign autographs at the end of the sessions.
Every visit that Vancouver FC made to a school was a special one, and an experience that the club is honoured to have participated in. However, the club’s second ever visit to Alex Hope Elementary for Pink Shirt Day held important meaning to VFC. Although the Cherry Blossom Kit had yet to be launched to the public, the hindsight of creating VFC’s version of a “Pink Shirt” to support the Pink Shirt Day campaign and anti-bullying helped to demonstrate the commitment of Vancouver FC to the community. Midfielder Ben Fisk and goalkeeper Callum Irving led a presentation to the older classes on respect in sport regarding bullying and discrimination while defenders Rocco Romeo, Anthony White, and Kadin Chung visited individual classrooms to read to those students.
VFC is so thankful to the principals, teachers, and schools we’ve been able to connect with through the School Outreach Program and are excited to continue meeting the next generation of soccer players, health care workers, engineers, trades people, politicians, or whatever the students we meet want to be. For more information about VFC’s School Outreach Program, or to request a visit to your school, please email memberservices@vancouverfc.com.
To celebrate all the hardworking students from kindergarten all the way up to post secondary, VFC is excited to host their Back to School match on Saturday, Sept. 21 when the team takes on Forge FC. Kick off to the match is set for 3 p.m. PT and fans can find a special ticket price for the game online here.
