Author: Chris Burfeind

Teammates That Share Your Struggles – William

by Chris Burfeind

“It’s Rocky! He never gave up. He was getting his butt kicked and like nah. Made a punching bag of him and he never gave up.”

In August William’s step dad passed away and it affected him to the point where he wanted to comit suicide. It tore a hole in him, but he didn’t know what was missing and how to cope.

Luckily, with the motivation and confident William attributes to his involvement with Street Soccer Seattle, instead of excluding himself in his room, he took it upon himself to be around people that motivate you, looking to his Street Soccer team. He states the two Street Soccer Skills: Take the Space and Look up, have been a huge foundation for getting through the hard time.

A teammate had been through a similar situation before and helped William to understand what he was feeling and how to cope.

“Street Soccer Seattle was the best way to cope with it, helping me to be better.”

When asked about his Street Soccer experience, William immediately responded, “Best experience of my life!”

“The whole thing. Playing in highschool, it wasn’t as impactful as being able to play with people who knew what you were going through. In high school I wasn’t going home to a family, I was going home to a dad that was cracked out and my mother was in a similar state. Other players where going home to something better.

“Now my teammates have felt the same way I felt. Like I would go home and get a whooping for no reason and players on SSS know that feeling and I can relate.”

“I Play For motivation and confidence”

Before Street Soccer Seattle, William had no motivation to do anything besides just going to work and going home. With that, his social life was so bad. “I had no confidence to talk to no body” he reveals.

“After this I feel cofident to talk to people and have more friend. I’m much happier.”

 

“I Learned to Laugh” – Elena’s Street Soccer Seattle Story

by Chris Burfeind

Last night at the tournament welcome dinner, Street Soccer Seattle’s very own Elena shared some of her Street Soccer Seattle story. We are very proud of Elena’s bravery to share in front of players and supporters, as well as her continued progress towards her goals even amongst obstacles. Take a chance to hear how Street Soccer Seattle has made an impact on Elena’s life.

“Street Soccer is not just a game of soccer, it is way much more than that. It’s a place to grow, a place to make changes. a place to be safe and a place to build a community. When I first joined street soccer Seattle I was homeless and I didn’t have really any much hope in my future. I had never really played any soccer prior to joining Street Soccer Seattle, nor knew much about the game of soccer in itself.

I remember showing up to practice scared and nervous, not sure of what I was getting myself into. Feeling very intimidated when I looked around and saw that it was mostly guys and the skills they had with the ball. Yet still very intimidated I stuck around. And I am proud that I did.

Through Street Soccer I have learned to build a community through my teammates and coaches. I have learned to laugh and trust my coaches as well as my teammates. Street Soccer isn’t just about kicking a ball around on a field and winning the matches that we play. It is about communicating and working together.

I started using Street Soccer as something to look forward to at the end of my week. It gave me hope and a goal to work towards while being homeless. I used Street Soccer to release my stress. Every time I kicked the ball I felt my anger disappear. I learned to laugh and be myself. I learned that Street Soccer was a place to have fun. Through the skills of Look Up, Adjust Your Play and Take the Space, I learned that those skills were not just applied on the field but they were used in my everyday life.

Street Soccer has taught me more then just about soccer it has taught me a lot about myself. My first tournament with my team was to San Francisco, California. When we arrive to San Francisco, California I was very scared and nervous but very surprised at how welcoming everyone was to each other.

I remember the first night where we had dinner together and when a young gal stood up and talked about Street Soccer and the changes it had made in her life. I remember listening and realizing that I could relate to her story. Through out the tournament I met some awesome people, as well as, made some great friends. I realized that everyone was in a similar situation that I was in and that Street Soccer was in fact more than just a game of ball. It was a family inside itself.

Street Soccer has this phrase ‘I Play For’. When I first was asked what I play for, I thought health and hope. If you were to ask me that question now my answer would be for motivation and community. Motivation to change my life, motivation to learn, and continue to build healthy communities, motivation to spread the word around in my community about Street Soccer and what it has to offer and what an impact it has made in my life!”

– Elena (Street Soccer Seattle Player)

Introducing Seattle’s National Cup Team for Philadelphia 2016!!

by Chris Burfeind

Street Soccer Seattle has landed in Philadelphia for our seventh Street Soccer USA Cup and it is with great excitement that we introduce the five deserving players and our two coaches!

Each player has worked extremely hard all year long, on and off the field to earn his or her spot to represent Seattle in Philadelphia. Securing nightly and stable housing, finding and keeping jobs, overcoming mental health obstacles, navigating relationship issues and furthering their education are just a few of the off field goals our players daily strive for and have found success in.

For them, Street Soccer Seattle is a constant in their chaotic world. In Street Soccer, players have found a supportive community, motivation to be their best self. Through Street Soccer we are able to be a vehicle for change directly to people struggling from homelessness and in turn, the players infiltrate change into their communities and beyond.

Throughout the year, we play under the name Momentum FC, building momentum towards life goals. At the SSUSA Cup we play under Empowerment FC and our players show nothing less than that, empowering themselves and empowering everyone else!

They are:

Robert, Carlos, Ryan, Elena, William, Coach Conner, and Coach Chris!
Robert, Carlos, Ryan, Elena, William, Coach Conner, and Coach Chris!

Throughout our weekend, Street Soccer Seattle’s team will get the chance to test our work on the field, but more excitingly, hang out with the greater Street Soccer family and explore a new city. Fallow along with all the action on our website for player interviews and daily updates or on our Facebook page for more frequent access our fun on and off the field.

Ending homelessness is a team effort. If you have any words of encouragement for the team, email chrisburfeind@streetsoccerseattle.org. Thank you for your support, it continues to motivate our players!

Manchester International Street Football Festival

by Chris Burfeind

Header

At Street Soccer Seattle we are committed to improving our soccer based program to empower the homeless in Seattle and beyond. We are happy to work with others who share the same goals as us, such as our friends at England’s Homeless FA.

At the end of last year, during personal vacation in Europe, I attended the Homeless FA’s International Street Football Festival in Manchester, England. It was an amazing opportunity to collaborate and learn from how the English program empowers their players and to network with coaches from England, the Netherlands, Mexico, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Here is a little recap of what I got to experience in Manchester:

Teammates

Teamates

Throughout the week, I spent a lot of my time sharing stories and experiences about homelessness and street soccer programs. Even though I see it through our players in Seattle, it is always extremely motivating to hear about how players are turning their lives around through street soccer. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to network with coaches and mentors from England, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, sharing how we each bring success in our programs and identifying some ways we can be even more successful in Seattle. Weather it is in the Americas, Europe or beyond, ending homelessness is a team sport and I’m glad to have added so many great teammates to the team.

Real Skills FC Workshops

Real Skills

Each day players from England, the Netherlands, and Mexico, as well as referees from Portugal, sat down together to learn about relationships, teamwork, positivity, perspective, and communication. These skills and more are taught through soccer examples and discussions as part of the Homeless FA’s Real Skills For Change (FC) curriculum. It was great to see players share about the skills they could offer and how to improve their impact—even while overcoming language differences! I’m excited to start weaving some of what I learned into practices in Seattle.

Training Sessions

Training

On the pitch, players battled with new friends, applied skills from the workshops, and honed their touches thanks to coaching led by former Homeless FA players who now have their coaching qualifications through Homeless FA programs. These training sessions were held at Floor Heaven of Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs’ Hotel Football, overlooking Manchester United’s Old Trafford, and at the England National Team Headquarters at St. George’s Park, a place many Homeless FA players told me, “felt like home”!

Activities

Activities

Additionally, each day held more excitement for the players. Whether it was the unveiling of Homeless FA players’ recognition in the National Football Museum or walking in the footsteps of legends at Old Trafford or Etihad Stadiums, players experienced football at its finest in England. Furthermore, players had interviews and the opportunity to have their hair cut before a professional portrait in their national team uniforms.

The Tournament

Tourny

Located in a reenergized warehouse in Old Trafford’s shadow, the final day gave players the opportunity to apply everything they have been working on. Although the players were all great friends now, you could see an added element of focus switched on for the tournament. Street Soccer Scotland also made the trip down for the day. After some great competition, Mexico won both the men’s and women’s tournaments. This, of course, was followed by a short dance party of all the teams in the middle of the court.