It had been a while since I dropped by for a program run by our trusty domestic partners, the Hartford Lions Soccer Academy (HLSA), so I was happy to link back up with Kimmy, the organization’s founder, for the start of their summer season.

Recently, the organization had taken on a new challenge on top of their existing core values of vision, discipline and community. This summer season the organization incorporated a new educational element to further HLSA’s contribution to their beneficiaries’ holistic development. In fact, this summer season was being dubbed as a soccer and enrichment program for youth in Hartford and the surrounding area. Most importantly, it was being offered to children at no cost. Tough to say no to that, right?

Kids were set to be led through the basics of the game from experienced players and coaches, while being able to learn about the global culture of soccer. I knew they would be excited, just as I was. Plus, with the three hour time block for each session, twice weekly, I knew that the opportunity to head to a corner of the field for a little educational module would be a much-welcomed break for the kids, especially with the hot summer sun shining down on all of us.

Caught by Hartford rush-hour traffic, I rolled up a few minutes late to our familiar venue at the Annie Fisher Montessori School. Luckily, registration was still going down so programming hadn’t quite yet started up. I greeted Kimmy after a long time away and dropped a box of brand new soccer balls in front of him.

He needed size three footballs for the youngsters since the summer season was open to kids as old as 14, but as young as three years old as well. Lucky for him, I had a few at my disposal, so I excitedly pumped them up and brought them along, while eager to start this summer’s programming. Finally, sign-ups done and dusted, we jumped straight into it. Along with a familiar face from HLSA programming through the years, I led the kids through a small warm-up, where they would be moving their bodies and getting out some pent-up energy from earlier in the day.

Then, we got them into lines for some relay races, pausing periodically to stretch, do jumping-jacks, and to play little games of Simon Says – after all, this first group was the three year olds, so we were just trying to keep them engaged as best as we could. From there, we moved over to Around the Worlds’ listening drill, which the kids had a blast with. As to be expected, by now.

Then, since they were already partnered up, we had one line of kids take a couple steps back so that the kids could work on push-passes. They knocked this one out quickly and with ease, displaying skill and ability well beyond their years. Afterwards, a water break in between, the kids were tasked with finding their own ball as we worked on ball slides and toe-touches. Some were more capable than others, but with the help of our able-bodied coaches, and the help of the youngsters’ partners, everybody quickly got the hang of it by the end.

Before we could switch groups out to an older set, the kids made a mad dash to the center line, with the balls at their feet. Then, they ran towards the enrichment corner and I headed over to a group of middle-aged youth players for the next cycle. Alongside Kimmy, we worked on more advanced techniques, as this group had significantly more knowledge of the game than our first one. We worked on effective communication, on dribbling, one-two passes, layoffs, and more.

Then, they moved into groups of three as we broke into a pass and move drill that, though seemingly difficult at first, was quickly mastered among each of our groups. Nevertheless, Kimmy and I were both on hand to walk the young lions through an example should they have needed it.

It was always rewarding to hear them yelling out “I’m here, I’m here – ball!” to their partners, practicing that effective communication we had touched on earlier. Lastly, we took all the oldest kids and broke into a round robin scrimmage, with winners staying on or teams cycling out if 7 minutes were reached without a goal. I deployed myself to the net as did another coach, Pops his moniker. I wasn’t determined to try too hard in goal to keep the game flowing and to not let the kids get discouraged if no goals were scored. No lie though, I didn’t even need to worry about that as a shot sailed by me and into the upper left corner of the net. No chance I was saving that no matter how hard I tried.

Finally, with each team having gotten a chance to play multiple times over, Kimmy blew his whistle and circled the kids up to congratulate them on a successful first day of the summer season. With a light lion’s roar, they departed to their families as I helped drag some more equipment off to the side. In doing so, I caught up with a familiar face, a talented baller named Gio, one of the OG lions players since first collaborating with them back in 2020.

“What’s up bro! It’s been too long,” I said. “Forreal,” he responded. “It’s been like a year plus, you already got a new hairstyle, as do I!” I said back, as we both chuckled and made our way off the turf field.

It was certainly good to be back with HLSA and their already-familiar beneficiaries. I was excited for the new players too, as they were slowly beginning to understand the ways of the lions’ coaching philosophy. But most of all, I couldn’t wait for these kids to learn and benefit from the enrichment portion of this summer season. Because much like the lions, at the end of the day we’re not just looking to create good soccer players, but good humans as well.