Community Soccer

Community Soccer' Mission is . . .

• To promote “Community Soccer” as an integral and “affordable” part of a community enrichment program based on soccer.

What is Community Soccer?

• Community Soccer is a Liverpool based, non-profit organization that develops soccer skills in players and referees through quality coaching and running competition games.
• Through a Community soccer  after school activities with the Australian Sports Commission, we have found that in some communities there are enthusiastic and talented children who are unable to the play structured, club based soccer because of the cost. As a result they have fallen through the cracks and are often miss out on opportunities extended to others.

Our Vision:

• Community Soccer is committed to giving the opportunity for kids through soccer to improving the quality of life in their community by offering an affordable sport to every child, regardless of ethnic or economic background.
• To utilize our expertise to promote Community Soccer as an after school activity to the entire community, including the financially disadvantaged.
• Community Soccer will benefit these children by allowing them to join a soccer program that provides coaching and game situations, where their enthusiasm and talent can be expressed and recognised.

Community Soccer has developed the Liverpool model based upon the following values :

• Consistency - Soccer should not 'blow in, blow up and blow out' like the circus, we're here for the long run, week in and week out
• Sustainability - Soccer becomes a part of a community's culture and is 'owned and operated' by the community
• Quality - Soccer produces measurable outcomes that positively affect a community and is delivered by qualified staff

The Liverpool model incorporates the following essential components:

• Life Skills - A foundation program - Community Soccer , which incorporates life skills with soccer skills, could be of special importance  for disadvantaged  kids
•  Facilities - We require an all-weather "urban soccer" facility, tailored to the needs of a community in the neighbourhood where children live and play, creating a safe place that is a focal point for soccer activities
• Somewhere to Grow - Programs grow with the participants. By participating in games, tournaments,  players  interact with other groups from different backgrounds, providing exposure and reinforcing social skills development; so kids progress and become role models through incentives, rewards, publicity and by taking advantage of advanced opportunities

FC Barcelona Australasia Supporters Club Inc:

• Community Soccer has been granted permission to offer every member Community Soccer a free membership to the FC Barcelona fan Club, which is one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world.
• This club connection will extend to all members the opportunity to be part of regular touring teams that will be in the guests of the FC Barcelona club.

Community Soccer assists in building healthier children, families and neighbourhoods, and has the ability to tailor the program to fit the needs of any community.

Yours in Community Soccer

DENNIS CHURCH
Director of Total Futbol Concepts P/L

“I watched the Monday Sports Magazine Programme on a local TV channel while I was in Europe a few years ago, where a journalist named Graham Spiers of the Herald was talking about the void left after street soccer dwindled in the late 70s.

What he said was that because of the poor social conditions in Scotland until that time, there was a natural conveyor belt of hungry, skilful players developing their skills in the streets. As the British social circumstances have improved (in the main) "street soccer” has dwindled - and the greater concerns for children's safety have forced kids into their homes.

He stated that "the Scottish FA don't seem to have identified how to address this situation, hence the reason that the quality of player available to the national team coach has deteriorated as each generation has matured".

COMMUNITY SOCCER is "street soccer" - or as near as make no difference.

I remember when I was younger that street games were rarely violent as there was an unwritten code amongst the kids about what was and was not acceptable. The game "policed" itself. We usually played with a small ball, which was rarely fully inflated because of the damage it could do to property - giving it similar qualities to a futsal ball. There were no identified goalkeepers - everyone just had a turn in goals. If the ball went out of the imaginary pitch you just kicked it back in and because you just wanted to play there was no offside and time wasting!

Who says the Brazilians had a monopoly on street soccer.

Scotland had players like Gemmill (who scored the wonder goal against Holland in 78) Bremner, Dalglish and latterly Cooper and Souness were all brought up in this way.

What would they give for a player of this calibre now?

COMMUNITY SOCCER is the answer......they just haven't realised the question yet!