Mission statement

At PlaySoccer F.C., we are committed to introducing and teaching the beautiful game of soccer within the urban communities of New Haven. Specifically, our focus is to provide underprivileged youth with proper guidance and an environment to improve their ability to acquire new skills, develop their understanding of how to compete in matches, and strengthen their critical thinking process through playing soccer. Empowering the youth within our communities will build their confidence, creativity and leadership skills, all of which will further contribute to other activities outside of soccer. 

On the pitch, goal setting is one of the most important aspects of playing soccer, and our coaching philosophy will emphasize sharpness, proactive behavior, and interactivity. We want our players to work together with their teammates towards common goals such as keeping possession of the ball, tracking back for defensive work, and building up the play towards scoring goals. Soccer requires physical fitness, technical and tactical awareness, and mental strength, and we believe that it can develop important skills such as working as a team and making quality decisions under pressure. The foundations our players lay through soccer can help them adapt their behavior elsewhere such as school, work, and other extracurricular activities. 

Off the pitch, we want our academy to be a launching pad towards further academic and career opportunities. Through the support of our program, our youth will be able to participate in local and state-wide league matches and sporting events that will open doors in the semi-professional and professional soccer worlds through scouting, sponsorships and networking. Furthermore, our project will implement weekly pre-practice tutoring sessions to help our players excel in scholarly activities, apply for scholarships and college admissions, stay on track in their academic progress, and fulfill their potentials as successful well-rounded individuals in their communities. 

The culture of soccer is growing in New Haven, and we are happy to see that the urban youth are interested and willing to play the game. With the 2026 World Cup set to happen in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we believe that more and more kids will want to play soccer. There is a lack of affordable options for underprivileged youth to learn and develop soccer skills within the greater New Haven area, and no dedicated options at all in the inner city. As such, we want to provide the youth of New Haven with an engaging yet challenging environment that will help them develop important life skills (such as awareness, communication, teamwork, discipline, work ethic and leadership skills) to break socioeconomic barriers and achieve their full potential, while making it local, affordable and integral to our communities.