Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU partners with Arizona Youth Soccer Association on After-School Program
6/17/2016 2:53:00β―PM | General, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
PHOENIX β Grand Canyon University and the Arizona Youth Soccer Association will be "kickin' it after school" as official partners on AYSA's K-6 After School Program.
AYSA players will have the opportunity to attend GCU camps, clinics and other programs that promote achieving success on the soccer field as well as the classroom. GCU student-athletes, coaches and staff will support the after-school program while also promoting fitness activities for children.
"This is another opportunity for Grand Canyon University to partner with groups in our community and make a difference in young people's lives," said Brian Mueller, president of GCU. "Soccer is an incredibly popular sport in Arizona and GCU has the only NCAA Division I men's soccer program in the state, so we look forward to partnering with AYSA and being an ambassador for the sport, especially among children and their families."
AYSA, which has nearly 50,000 players and 4,000 coaches in Arizona, will also have a presence at GCU's new state-of-the-art soccer stadium, as children ages 12 and younger will have the opportunity to serve as ball kids during soccer games and also walk the players out during the starting lineup introductions. Youth soccer players will also be involved with pregame and halftime activities.
"AYSA began the after-school program about five years ago to introduce the game of soccer to children who might not have the opportunity to play organized sports," AYSA Executive Director Leslie Johnson said. "Grand Canyon University has an excellent reputation and I feel they will be a great partner to the program. We look forward to working with GCU and bringing the game of soccer to children throughout our community."
The goal of the K-6 After School Program is to provide a safe activity and environment for participants while promoting the philosophy of personal and community respect.Β Β Β
"We are thrilled to have our university partner with Arizona Youth Soccer Association on this after-school initiative," GCU men's soccer coach Schellas Hyndman said. "GCU strives in every way to be a positive member of our community and our state and we hope soccer is a wonderful way to welcome people to GCU. Austin Daniels from Arizona Youth Soccer has done a wonderful job designing this program for the kids in the Valley."
GCU will be featured in AYSA's bimonthly email that will announce promotional events and news regarding GCU and the K-6 After School Program.
"Building relationships and partnering with the Arizona Youth Soccer Association is very positive for both Grand Canyon University and AYSA," GCU women's soccer coach Derek Leader said. "At GCU, we strive to have our teams be ambassadors for their sport and this gives our soccer teams, players and staff a way to make our community better.Β Arizona Youth Soccer continues to impress with their programming and we are glad to create a partnership with them."
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About the Arizona Youth Soccer Association: Founded in 1974, the Arizona Youth Soccer Association has played a significant role in expanding youth soccer throughout the state of Arizona.Β During that time, AYSA has moved from an organization operated specifically by its Board of Directors from their homes, to a Phoenix based office with five full-time and one part-time staff members.Β AYSA has realized a significant growth rate during the past four years of well over 100% from less than 25,000 in 2010/11 to over 44,000 in 2015/16. For more information about the AYSA and GCU's involvement, please visit www.azyouthsoccer.org
About Grand Canyon University: Β Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited and offers more than 190 academic programs for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University's curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.
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AYSA players will have the opportunity to attend GCU camps, clinics and other programs that promote achieving success on the soccer field as well as the classroom. GCU student-athletes, coaches and staff will support the after-school program while also promoting fitness activities for children.
"This is another opportunity for Grand Canyon University to partner with groups in our community and make a difference in young people's lives," said Brian Mueller, president of GCU. "Soccer is an incredibly popular sport in Arizona and GCU has the only NCAA Division I men's soccer program in the state, so we look forward to partnering with AYSA and being an ambassador for the sport, especially among children and their families."
AYSA, which has nearly 50,000 players and 4,000 coaches in Arizona, will also have a presence at GCU's new state-of-the-art soccer stadium, as children ages 12 and younger will have the opportunity to serve as ball kids during soccer games and also walk the players out during the starting lineup introductions. Youth soccer players will also be involved with pregame and halftime activities.
"AYSA began the after-school program about five years ago to introduce the game of soccer to children who might not have the opportunity to play organized sports," AYSA Executive Director Leslie Johnson said. "Grand Canyon University has an excellent reputation and I feel they will be a great partner to the program. We look forward to working with GCU and bringing the game of soccer to children throughout our community."
The goal of the K-6 After School Program is to provide a safe activity and environment for participants while promoting the philosophy of personal and community respect.Β Β Β
"We are thrilled to have our university partner with Arizona Youth Soccer Association on this after-school initiative," GCU men's soccer coach Schellas Hyndman said. "GCU strives in every way to be a positive member of our community and our state and we hope soccer is a wonderful way to welcome people to GCU. Austin Daniels from Arizona Youth Soccer has done a wonderful job designing this program for the kids in the Valley."
GCU will be featured in AYSA's bimonthly email that will announce promotional events and news regarding GCU and the K-6 After School Program.
"Building relationships and partnering with the Arizona Youth Soccer Association is very positive for both Grand Canyon University and AYSA," GCU women's soccer coach Derek Leader said. "At GCU, we strive to have our teams be ambassadors for their sport and this gives our soccer teams, players and staff a way to make our community better.Β Arizona Youth Soccer continues to impress with their programming and we are glad to create a partnership with them."
Β
About the Arizona Youth Soccer Association: Founded in 1974, the Arizona Youth Soccer Association has played a significant role in expanding youth soccer throughout the state of Arizona.Β During that time, AYSA has moved from an organization operated specifically by its Board of Directors from their homes, to a Phoenix based office with five full-time and one part-time staff members.Β AYSA has realized a significant growth rate during the past four years of well over 100% from less than 25,000 in 2010/11 to over 44,000 in 2015/16. For more information about the AYSA and GCU's involvement, please visit www.azyouthsoccer.org
About Grand Canyon University: Β Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona's premier private Christian university. GCU is regionally accredited and offers more than 190 academic programs for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University's curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.
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