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Some young local kids are getting a soccer lesson from the Chicago Stars. Chicago Stars and the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago joined together to host their third annual youth soccer tournament. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7.
Click here to watch "I like that you can meet more people and you can be more active," said participant Julisza Villalobos. Over the past eight weeks, boys and girls from across Chicago have been learning how to play soccer. At the end, they put their skills to the test at the ComEd Recreation Center in Addams Park.
"We work with kids, primarily through the ages of 7 to 13," said Chicago Stars FC Director of Community and Government Relations Noelle Schmitt. "We are starting younger, because we know that when kids start playing younger, they are more inclined to continue to play. We're hoping that they feel comfortable with some ball handling, some basic toe tapping, some dribbling, being able to shoot into the goal.
And, if they're more interested in being a goalie. " Throughout the year, the Chicago Stars also host soccer clinics with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago as the team looks to continue exposing young girls to sports and advocating for women. "We're hoping to continue to grow and get more kids excited about it, specifically girls in sports," Schmitt said.
The sport allows children to learn skills that they can also apply off the field. "First of all, the skill of cooperation, sportsmanship, making new friends, thinking under pressure and handling yourself when there's conflict on the field, those are all things that they're all learning in our clubs, especially when they're playing sports like soccer," said Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago Director of Sports and Youth Leadership Rollie Jones.