GRASSP Continues to Grow - Expanding into 18 Elementary Schools and 11 Middle Schools
SALEM, Ore. – The Grassroots After School Soccer Program has grown exponentially since the start of the year, expanding from four Salem/Keizer elementary schools to now serving a total of 29 elementary and middle schools. Between the 29 schools, nearly 1,000 youth are participating in the program.
One school in particular has seen a drastic change in their student body since joining GRASSP.
Just 5 months into the program, Yoshikai Elementary is now leading the District in attendance and inspiring success for all schools.
With over 60 students signed up in the first week, it was clear GRASSP was going to be a success. Yoshikai's coach, Freddy, is a 5th grade teacher, former soccer player, husband, and father. Having been at Yoshikai for a couple of years, he had heard about GRASSP because his wife is a volunteer coach for the GRASSP team at Harritt Elementary in West Salem. The program has since been supported by 3-4 coaches from the school staff, and the principal, Zan, has been present and supportive each time the program has been visited.
The students at Yoshikai have been enthusiastic about the program, and it has shown in their attendance numbers.
According to attendance data provided by Zan, Yoshikai is leading the district in attendance for 4th and 5th graders, and the biggest attendance day of the week is on Wednesday, which is their soccer training day.
The data also indicates that Yoshikai could benefit from a 3rd-grade GRASSP program to increase attendance numbers even further.
The success of the Yoshikai program is not just limited to attendance numbers. The school has arranged to bring two separate teams to the tournaments for the first time ever, allowing more students to participate in the program. This flexibility has opened up game time and play space for another 30 kids. Yoshikai is bringing two different 30-person teams to the upcoming GRASSP jamboree, one on both nights. While their teams are huge, it is making a difference to the families at Yoshikai.
Program Director, Mike Cowan, says that the GRASSP team as a whole is incredibly thankful and inspired by how much the adults care about soccer and the kids in their classroom at Yoshikai.
GRASSP’s last tournament of the season is set for the weekend of May 19 and 20, with 8 teams playing on one night, and 12 teams playing the other.
If you’re interested in getting involved with GRASSP, please contact Mike at mike.c@cfcsalem.com.
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