Partners in play – how international and hyperlocal organizations collaborated to promote play in one Memphis neighborhood

By |2024-07-05T19:32:23+00:00July 5th, 2024|News, Soccer|

Nestled in the Heights community between Treadwell Elementary and Middle Schools and the surrounding neighborhood sits a large park. It boasts ample green space with designated sports fields and space for community gatherings. There was also a large unstructured blacktop, primarily used by the schools, with the potential for organized and organic play. But it needed refinement to become a meaningful place for games and activities. Recognizing this opportunity for investment in play led us to partner with the Heights CDC,  Memphis Shelby County Schools, love.fútbol, Project Backboard, ESPN and Nike to create a beautiful set of sports courts that will be used for generations to come. In late 2023, the organizations gathered to create a blacktop plan. With investment from Nike and ESPN, they would refinish the surface and commission an artist to design two locally relevant sports-court murals. The basketball court would feature warm, inviting colors and the school’s mascot. They would also add a futsal court, creating opportunities to learn a court-based, soccer-adjacent game. Volunteers from the neighborhood would then use the remaining blacktop space to paint playground and recess games like hopscotch and foursquare, creating outdoor places for kids and families to get active and build

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K-5 Spring Schedule 2024

By |2024-05-17T19:30:31+00:00April 18th, 2024|News|

K-5 SPRING SOCCER SCHEDULE 2024 Stay up to date on Play Where You Stay's upcoming games and practices in your area! As a reminder, school practice fields are only available to students enrolled in that school. Want to play with us? Click here to sign up!   CANCELED FOR WEATHER GAME DAY – May 18 We look forward to seeing you at practice next week!   Practices during the week of May 20 School Field Willow Oaks Elementary School 4417 Willow Rd, Memphis, TN 38117 K, 1st, 2nd Grades – 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday 3rd, 4th, 5th, Grades – 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday Neighborhood Fields Kroc Center – 4 to 5 p.m. 800 E Pkwy S, Memphis, TN 38104 Second Baptist Church – 4 to 5 p.m. 4680 Walnut Grove, Memphis, TN, 38117 Treadwell Park – 4 to 5 p.m. Guernsey Ave, Memphis, TN 38122

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Celebrate soccer with PWYS and Celtic Crossing!

By |2024-04-16T15:08:16+00:00April 16th, 2024|News|

Soccer culture is alive and well in Memphis, and Celtic Crossing is one of the preeminent places to catch a game any time of year. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our technical director in residence, Jesús "Jesule" Barbadilla, during the April 21 Real Madrid vs. Barcelona match!  Here’s what you need to know!  Our friends at Celtic Crossing are partnering with us to support the development of exceptional soccer programming in Memphis by offering beer deals throughout the game. Starting at 2 p.m. when the match begins, $1 of every Auld Bog by Soul & Spirits purchased will go toward Play Where You Stays’ K-5 developmental and competitive programs, ensuring Memphis children have access to high-quality soccer coaching. They’ll also pass the hat throughout the game, allowing diners to invest in the joy of sport by supporting PWYS. This event is open to the public and is kid-friendly. We encourage everyone to come out and celebrate soccer, watch an incredible match, have a beer and enjoy one of the most beloved patios in the city. This is your opportunity to meet a professional soccer player.  One of the best parts of this event is the rare opportunity to engage

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Play Where You Stay partners with Street Soccer USA

By |2024-04-16T18:02:15+00:00April 15th, 2024|News, Soccer|

Street Soccer USA Announces Affiliate Partnership with Play Where You Stay – Memphis  To Send Spanish Professional Player and Coach, Jesús “Jesule” Barbadilla to Serve as PWYS Technical Director in Residence for 2 months Memphis, TN – Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to using soccer as a tool for social change, is thrilled to announce today its official affiliate partnership with Play Where Your Stay (PWYS), a Memphis initiative focused on providing soccer programs to underserved youth in Memphis. The partnership aims to strengthen PWYS’s efforts to fight poverty and strengthen community through top quality soccer programs. The collaboration between SSUSA and PWYS began when former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper, Tim Howard, asked SSUSA to explore the possibility of developing street soccer programs in Memphis. SSUSA’s founder, Lawrence Cann, quickly identified the standout work already taking place at PWYS.  PWYS’s founders, Ellen Roberds and Jarad Bingham  saw the value in bringing increased resources and expertise to their already successful player development and competitive programs. SSUSA-PWYS’ collaboration immediately impacted the lives of Marlene Casas Reyes, Brenda Gonzalez, and Yessica Munoz, women in PWYS’s competitive program. SSUSA selected them as part of its United States National team which

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The importance of increasing soccer access to children in the United States

By |2023-01-27T21:57:23+00:00January 27th, 2023|News, Soccer|

Soccer, also known as football, is the world's most popular sport and has a long history of fostering teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. Despite its global popularity, soccer has yet to gain the same level of popularity in the United States. However, there are many reasons why it is important to increase the participation of children in soccer in the United States. Soccer is an excellent form of exercise and can help children develop physical fitness and coordination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Soccer provides an enjoyable way for children to meet this recommendation and promote a healthy lifestyle. Soccer is an excellent form of exercise for children as it involves a wide range of physical movements, including running, sprinting, jumping, and changing direction, which can help to improve cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and overall physical fitness. Additionally, soccer is a team sport, which can help to promote teamwork, social interaction, and a sense of community. Furthermore, it is widely played and enjoyed all over the world, making it easy for children to find opportunities to play and enjoy the

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From Memphis to Qatar: Neighborhood soccer program scores big again

By |2022-11-11T23:20:27+00:00November 11th, 2022|News|

It’s a soccer story only the irrepressible Ted Lasso, TV’s likeable and unlikely soccer coach, would think was possible. Teenage sons and daughters of immigrants and refugees in Memphis form makeshift neighborhood soccer teams that win a state championship and then a World Cup. “Well, you say impossible, but all I hear is, ‘I’m possible,’ ” Lasso, the American football coach who moves to England to coach a multicultural pro soccer team, would say. Improbable, yes, but not impossible. The boys’ team from Play Where You Stay (PWYS), an inclusive, inexpensive, neighborhood-based soccer program, did win the 2021 Division 2 State Cup last fall. Now, three members of the PWYS girls team are flying to Qatar Thursday, Oct. 6, to play for Team USA in the Street Child World Cup. Yessica Muñoz, Brenda Gonzalez and Marlene Casas Reyes will join three teenagers from Chicago and four from New York to compete for the cup with girls teams from 12 others countries. The Memphis girls, all U.S.-born daughters of Mexican immigrants, will play at some of the same facilities that will host the 2022 World Cup, which kicks off in late November. They also will participate in a General Assembly organized to call attention to

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Tryouts for our competitive boys teams will be May 30th – June 10th!

By |2022-05-10T14:54:01+00:00May 10th, 2022|News|

Come join our Competitive Boys teams this Fall! We're excited to announce that we will be having tryouts for our three boys competitive teams soon! While Fall seems like a long time away, now is the time to plan and prepare for the 2022 Fall soccer season. With each season we work to improve our program and increase the opportunities to expose players to high-quality training and competition. We will have three teams! Please fill out our player interest form at playwhereyoustay.org/competitive and we will get back to you with tryouts' location and time for your team. Tryouts will go from May 30th until June 10th. Check out all the info below and share it with your friends, families, and soccer fans. Our programming is free/low cost and our mission is to create a future in which every child has a chance to grow up with the world’s game. Questions? Contact us at (901)864-2800 or at learn@playwhereyoustay.org Interest Form Your donations support our coaches! If you wish to donate to Play Where You Stay and help us cover coaching and equipment costs, please do it by using the button below. Donate here

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Expanding and Keeping Up the Great Work

By |2022-05-10T14:50:14+00:00May 9th, 2022|News|

New updates on your impact As one of Play Where You Stay's most impactful supporters, your past contributions have allowed PWYS to grow into a premier sports organization that makes soccer in Memphis more accessible, inclusive, competitive, and joyful. To share our appreciation, we will be reaching out four times per year to share details of PWYS news, programs, and initiatives. Thank you for being a part! In March, players from our Boys and Girls Middle School teams joined a private practice session with former professional Soccer player, Tim Howard. Play Where You Stay's Work with Schools When Play Where You Stay was founded in 2018, programming focused on bringing soccer to Memphis neighborhoods for children ages 5 to 11 by creating an after-school barrier-free opportunity to learn, play, and exercise in nearby lots and parks. In 2019, we launched a competitive program for children ages 12 to 18 to supplement middle and high school team sport experiences with skilled off-season “club” play and competitive training. In the fall of 2021, Play Where You Stay supported Snowden's Middle School girl's team. We learned that school teams face challenges finding skilled soccer coaches and accessing appropriate equipment to ensure players maximize their

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2021 was amazing! Help us grow in 2022!

By |2024-04-16T17:05:41+00:00May 9th, 2022|News|

PWYS UPDATE Thank you for sharing this incredible past year with us. During this holiday season, join us in reflecting on some of our favorite moments of the last year. Instructional Soccer This year we brought the world's greatest game to parks and greenspaces all around the city. Special thanks to our partners at Klondike Park, Gaston Park, Chandler Park, For The Kingdom, Binghampton Park, Parkway Village Elementary, Gaisman Park, and 2nd Baptist Church. Game Day Our Game Days were a great opportunity for all our players ages 5-11 to put into action all the skills learned during our instructional seasons! 3v3 Adult Fundraiser Tournament We hosted a 3v3 adult tournament at Klondike Park to raise funds for our Instructional program for kids ages 5-11. It was an amazing day with a lot of 3v3 soccer! We welcomed our first Intern from Christian Brothers University! Jacob assisted in all program daily operations, communications with parents, coaches, and partners and helped develop strategies for growing the organization. PWYS Competitive We had a break-out year for our State Cup Winners and we look forward to more seasons with all of our players. Read more about the season in the Daily Memphian. High School Boys Team Middle School Boys Team

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Soccer for Everyone, PWYS wins state cup

By |2021-12-08T01:48:58+00:00December 8th, 2021|News|

The quarter-final soccer match for the 2021 Fall State Cup was about to begin in Murfreesboro, and the team from Memphis had a problem. Tennessee State Soccer Association rules require players to wear socks that match the color of their jerseys. That helps referees keep watch over a game played primarily with legs and feet. The team of teenagers from Memphis, Play Where You Stay, or PWYS, wore black jerseys, but only seven players were wearing black socks. So PWYS, competing in its first state cup tournament, had to start the match on that cold, rainy last Saturday in October four players short. They put seven players on the field instead of the normal 11. No matter. This is a team organized to counter the “pay-to-play” youth sports machine that favors kids with more family resources. This is a team that includes players from 14 Shelby County schools, with links to 10 countries on four continents. This is a team of Black, brown and white sons of refugees and immigrants as well as a few middle-class parents. This is a team of young men who have endured and overcome events exceedingly more traumatic than starting a big soccer match short-footed. “These kids have met every

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