The Washington Freedom Soccer Club has a partnership with Goals for Girls, an international initiative that connects girls from the United States with their peers from around the world through the game of soccer. The Washington Freedom and Goals for Girls will begin recruiting girls’ soccer teams to play for more than trophies during the spring 2008 season and beyond. Goals for Girls clubs will join a network of clubs around the United States that will use the power of soccer to help and support girls worldwide.

Goals for Girls provides disadvantaged girls access to health and education programs taught through the game of soccer. Soccer creates a fun and engaging environment where girls gain confidence and vital life skills that help them face challenges that occur in their daily lives. This partnership between the Washington Freedom and Goals for Girls will provide American girls a way to get involved in making a difference through their local soccer teams.

photos courtesy of www.alicekeeneyphotography.com

Goals for Girls was launched in 2007 when the U-16 DC Blast girls’ soccer team traveled to South Africa to work with their South African counterparts on HIV prevention, life skills, soccer skills, and gender issues all while participating in cultural exchange activities. The group awarded two leave-behind grants to support a full year of Girls Play Too, an effort to encourage more girls to play soccer.

The team was led by Olympic Gold Medalist Tiffany Roberts and the result was lasting friendships between the American and South African participants and a new global platform for empowering girls through soccer.

photos courtesy of www.alicekeeneyphotography.com

“Having experienced the positive benefits of Goals for Girls in South Africa last summer, I was fortunate enough to see the immediate impact of the program on every girl involved. I am proud to be a part of this initiative, and I am excited to know that the Washington Freedom, one of the most recognizable women’s soccer clubs in the world, is on board and in support of the Goals for Girls mission.” -- Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak

Goals for Girls is powered by girls’ soccer. Stay tuned to find out how your team can join the Washington Freedom and become a Goals for Girls club! You and your teammates will be part of a network of clubs from across the country changing the world while playing soccer!

Goals for Girls is a program managed by DC Soccer, a 501 (c)(3) organization.  For more information visit: www.goalsforgirls.org

The Washington Freedom will be partnering with Sports Network and Fitness in Manassas, VA.  The Freedom will host youth and adult camps and clinics throughout the year.

Any team that registers to play in the first Winter session at Sports Network and Fitness, will have a chance to win a guest coaching appearance from a Washington Freedom player.  The winning team will get an autograph session and team picture with a Freedom player and then have the player coach their indoor game...what a great experience!

In order to get your team entered, you can register online at the following link:

for indoor soccer:  http://www.snflive.com/index.aspx?page=youthsoccer

When registering; under notes and comments or How did you hear about us, write down that your team would like to be included in the drawing to have a chance to win the guest coaching experience with a Washington Freedom player.  You can also call Sports Network and Fitness to register at 703-335-1555.