Soccer Inspires Kids in Crown Heights
Violence erupts randomly on the streets of Crown Heights. What has remained consistent is the need for children to get out and play.
The violence has been a subject of recent community board and precinct meetings. Nancie Katz, however, seeks to remind people about the good things that also happen in the neighborhood. One of them is the participation by local kids in her soccer program.
This fall, four afternoons a week, just past the gates of Hamilton Metz Field between Albany and Lefferts Avenue, children between the ages of 5 and 11 can be found practicing as part of Brooklyn Crown Heights Soccer Eagles. Homework is put off as the kids focus on teamwork and discipline.
Katz founded the sports program two years ago after seeing how soccer benefited her own children as they went to school in Manhattan.
“I have two daughters, and they both played soccer since they were very young,” said Katz. “It was an important part of [their] life.”
One recent afternoon at Hamilton Metz Field, the kids begin with a running exercise to get their adrenaline up under the direction of a trainer. Next, they are partnered with another kid, and begin passing the ball back and forth. Then they graduate to learning ball control as they run and kick the ball. These activities change weekly to help make the kids become better players. Practice ends each day with a scrimmage.
Katz looks on in satisfaction as she takes pictures. From being a reporter to now running a soccer program, Katz has had a long journey.
Katz worked for 11 years as an investigative reporter for the New York Daily News. It was not until Katz started covering schools in Crown Heights that she realized how different it was for children there compared to what her daughters had. There was a “devastating lack for arts and recreation” in Crown Heights, she said.
Upon leaving the Daily News in 2008, Katz formed a program called Seeds in The Middle, which its goal is to inspire social change through sustainable health in low-income areas in New York. One of the programs Katz wanted to emphasize was the soccer program because it would bring kids from around the neighborhood together. Since then, the program has been a hit, as parents from throughout the area bring their children to play soccer.
“When I found out they had this, I said I had to sign up,” said parent Nigel Shallow, 37, who was cheering for his daughter Taylor, 7, a second grader from P.S. 241 on a weekend afternoon. “It’s in the community, and it’s convenient for me. When she’s at home, she busy. But at the same time, she needs to be outside.”
“I was so excited that they were offering soccer, because my daughter wanted to do it,” said Colleen Galy, 39, parent of Allycia Austin, 7, from P.S. 22. “She’s a fan of Dora [The Explorer], and she’s always playing soccer, so she took a liking to it. They have another program [like this], but that one is too far.”
With success has come a problem for Katz: finding coaches. She charges the children between $50 and $75 each for the season. She must pay for uniforms, and equipment. That leaves little for paying a coaches. She often relies on volunteers though she recently hired a new coach.
“I see some great potential in them (children). They have a passion for the game and it is crucial to succeed,” said new lead coach Joseph Cabral, who has played professionally in Portugal.
Another season of soccer will begin in December, but indoors. Overall, she wants the soccer program to be fun for both parents and kids—an outlet that was not available before, she said.
“Parents want kids to be healthy,” Katz said. “There were no options for kids. I’m providing options for kids that were never there.”
nice guy
awesome idea!!!!
y dont we know about this stuff?
how can I sign up my son?
Nechama Deena
http://www.seedsinthemiddle…
You can also find them in Facebook
They have separate boys and girls groups!!
Nancie Katz
INDOOR SOCCER FOR KIDS!
Seeds in the Middle Crown Heights Soccer Eagles, under the leadership of former Portuguese pro player Joe Cabral, will be starting indoor winter soccer next week for ages 3 to 12 at PS 221, 791 Empire Boulevard, between Troy and Schenectady. We will offer boys and girls only on Sundays and one day during the week. Girls soccer will be led by a female coach!
SOCCER FOR HARMONY EVENT!
Adults! Want to play? Play at our Soccer for Harmony event on Hamilton Metz (Lefferts Park) on Sunday, Dec. 18. All funds for this festive day of flea markets, cook-offs and soccer will support neighborhood kids so we can keep our fees very low.
Soccer for Harmony is supported by the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council along with the 71st Precinct Community Council, Crown Heights Mediation Center, NYPD 71st Community Affairs Officer Vincent Martinos and many more of our neighbors!
We welcome all artists, craftspeople, chefs and more to sell at the first-ever Soccer for Harmony flea market and cook-off inside PS 221 on Dec. 18 from 1 to 6 pm. We welcome volunteer help. We’re looking for puppet shows for the kids!
How to find out? All updates posted!
Go to:
seedsinthemiddle.org
Facebook – Seeds in the Middle
Facebook – Brooklyn Crown Heights Soccer Eagles
Friend our facebook: Brooklyn-Crown Heights-Soccer
FYI – Seeds in the Middle opened the Crown Heights Farmers Market this fall at Hamilton Metz (Lefferts Park). We’ll return in the spring.
mordechai roth
Good job nancie….job well done to u…Erol…and Joseph and the others not yet mentioned…including all the children from the crown heights community.
soccer mom
It’s very nice that Ms. Katz recognizes our religious/cultural needs & is accommodating them. I wish her much success in this project, which is desperately needed. Our kids don’t get any chance for exercise & this will be a very good way to learn sportsmanship at the same time.
Nancie
Crown Heights Soccer Eagles indoor program starts Sunday, Dec. 11 at 1 pm at Public School 221, 791 Empire Boulevard btw Troy and Schenectady.
See seedsinthemiddle.org
Girls Only/Boys Only and adding an hour-long clinic for childre 2.5 to 4 years old.