free footie - what's it all about

7/29/2019 Free Footie - What's it all about

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Good thinGs happenwhen kids arefree to play.


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speCial thanks to the followinG CoMpanies for their ContriBUtions to this paCkaGe.

www.kapercreative.com www.word-monkey.net


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taBle of Contents 0103

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what is free footie?

the free footie story

free to play

free to Grow

free sUpport for sChoolsaBoUt the foUnder

Board of direCtors

freedoM in nUMBers

freedoM of speeCh

Get inVolVed


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free footie is a totallyfree after sChoolsoCCer leaGUe for kidsin the hiGhest needs

neiGhBoUrhoodsof edMontonkidswho haVe Barriers to

the reGUlar leaGUes.

with free footie,eVery kid is free to play.


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the free

footie storyIt began, appropriately enough, with a group of kids kicking around a soccer ball

at an inner city high school. Tim Adams was there doing a story at the school

for CBC radio and he stopped to watch. The kids had a lot of enthusiasm but no

structurenobody to give them the guidance and support that many other kids

get to develop their skills. The principal noticed his interest and invited him to

start a team.

This was a very high-needs school, and many of the kids had horric life stories.

One had been a child soldier in his homeland. Another was abandoned by hisparents. Some were spending their nights on the streets or in drug houses.

All of them wanted to playall they needed was a role model and some support.

When we started playing we lost every game and got in ghts with every team,

Tim remembers. Eventually though, my players would pick up an opponent

if they slipped on the eld. And we won everything there was to win.

Then the younger ones wanted to get involvedthe little brothers and sisters who

were watching from the sidelines as their older siblings took to the eld to play.

Tim formed a second team for these youngsters and gave them coaching, but they

needed someone to play against. So he went to the other schools in the inner

city neighborhood and got three more teams organized. Free Footie was born.

FREE FOOTIE


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free to play

Free Footie targets the highest needs elementary schools in Edmonton.

The schools are in neighborhoods, that according to census studies,

have the highest poverty rates, most subsidized housing, least access

to transportation, largest population of newcomers and refuges and

highest proportions of lone parent families. Our mission is to ensure

that every kid in those schools who wants to play soccer, can.

Free Footie ensures that any girl or boy in Grades 4, 5, and 6 who attends schools

in the areas we serve and wants to play soccer, can. Every child gets equal

playing time and girls and boys play together. There are no registration fees

and every child is given a pair of shin pads, soccer socks, shorts, and a jersey.

But fees and equipment are often not the only barriers to play. Many of these

children come from challenging home environments and have limited access to

transportation. Thats why we made Free Footie a program that takes place right

after classes, and games are usually scheduled so teams play against teams

from schools right in their neighbourhoods, so access and transportation issues

are minimized. Free Footie makes it easy for any child to get in the game.

Being on the team

changed the social

interaction of students

at each grade level.

Students who were

on the peripherybefore were now very

much included. It

was great to see.

REE FOOTIE | 4


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free to GrowThis is about much more than soccer. An opportunity to participate in

organized sports can also be a pathway to a better life for those who need

it most. For many kids, this is an opportunity to get relief from often-stressful home situations, to get off the streets, and onto a playing eld

where their energy and ambitions can be directed in positive ways.

In this program, they learn about teamwork and sportsmanship. They

feel the thrill of pulling on a jersey to represent their school in weekly

local games and at the end-of-season city-wide tournament. They

quickly develop a sense of belonging, something many of them

have never truly felt before. They get to grow in many ways.

As a league we have grown quickly, too. We started with four teams. As

of this last season, there are 30. Thats 600 kids now who are beneting

from the Free Footie experienceand that proves that the need is there.

Some of our students

have never had the

opportunity to play orshowed an interest in

team sports. It was

wonderful to see them

playing, smiling, and

showing sportsmanship.

REE FOOTIE | 6


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free sUpport

for sChoolsSchools in high-need neighbourhoods are typically over-burdened andunder-funded, so this program is designed to bring benets such as

increased school spirit and greater options for deserving kids while

making it as simple as possible for schools to participate.

Free Footie organizes the schedule, marks the elds, recruits and

manages volunteer referees, and takes care of all equipment needs

including nding funding, ordering, and delivering it to schools.

The only thing the school needs to do is provide the coaches for

the once-a-week practices and the once-a-week games.

Thank you for according

not only our school but

also so many others

the chance to play. The

practices and games

brought our community

together and was a

great spirit-builder.

FREE FOOTIE


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Tim Adams is a reporter for CBC Edmonton (93.9 FM). He is also a lifelong soccer

nut. In 2003, he launched a program in his hometown in Ontario called Cleats

for Kidsa program that collects used soccer equipment for kids in needthat

continues to this day. Since 2005, he has been an organizer of kids soccer in

inner-city Edmonton. He has earned a commendation from Edmonton City Hall

for his volunteer work and fundraising efforts, was presented the Harry Hole

Community Policing Award for community leadership, and received the Paul Harris

Award from the Rotary Club for child advocacy. Avenue Magazine selected himas one of their Top 40 under 40 for 2011 in recognition of his professional and

community achievements. You can contact Tim directly at [email protected].

I believe every kid should have the chance to play soccer, but Ive learned that

just paying for a kids registration fees does not work. What good are registration

fees if the kid has no means of getting to the game? What good is transportation

if the coach doesnt understand and adjust to the challenges of their home

life? This is why the model of running the program through the schools and

directly after the last bell actually works. The teachers and principals have great

relationships with the kids and likewise the kids trust and respect them. The

schools enjoy it as well because its a great opportunity for teaching leadership,

discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and so many other valuable lessons.

aBoUt the foUnderI believe every kid

should have the chance

to play soccer.

FREE FOOTIE


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Board of direCtors

Mark thiBeaUlt

dana adaMs

akash khokhar

Mark began playing competitive sports from an early age after quickly realizingit was more fun to play than to sit and watch his older sister have all the fun.

After years of hard work, Mark was able to translate his athletic ability into an

opportunity at a long-term career, as he received a scholarship to play volleyball

at the post-secondary level. Now that his playing career is over, Mark has

focused on giving back to sport, hosting volleyball camps in his old hometown,

and most recently joining Free Footie as a director. Marks athletic background,

coupled with his business experience, provide a unique perspective to the

ongoing growth of Free Footie. You can contact Mark at [email protected].

Dana has played soccer ever since she can remember, starting in the

community league in her hometown of Kimberley, B.C., and eventually

playing for the Womens Varsity Soccer Team at Carleton University in

Ottawa. She now works as a lawyer for Field Law in Edmonton, practicing

in the areas of health law and labour and employment. When she is not at

the ofce or helping out with Free Footie, she is busy chasing her 1-year-old

daughter around, or out running with her golden retriever in Edmontons

River Valley. She also has the role of putting up with Tim at homeDana

and Tim are married. You can contact Dana at [email protected].

Akash played soccer throughout elementary and junior high but eventually came

to the realization that his main skill, getting hit in the face with the ball, was

not very valuable to a team. Accordingly, he moved on to other competitive

sports like speech and debate. Akash now works for the Alberta Government as

an advisor to the Minister of Finance and is one half of Free Footies legal team.

REE FOOTIE | 12


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2008 2010three eiGht

siXteen

seVenty-fiVe fifty

11,000

three

one hUndred

20092011

PLAN IN MOTION TO INCLUDE

AN ELEMENTARY TEAM FOR

YOUNGER SIBLINGS

NUMBER OF YEARS TIM COACHED A

HIGH NEEDS jUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

TO CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOCCER

THE NUMBER OF TEAMS TO BE INCLUDED

IN THE LEAGUE BY THE NEXT SEASON

NUMBER OF NEW SCHOOLS

ADDED TO THE MINI LEAGUE

PERCENTAGE OF KIDS IN THIS FIRST

SCHOOL NOW PLAYING SOCCER

FREE FOOTIE LEAGUE SEASON MOVED TO

SPRING AMONG CONCERNS FOR PLAYER

SAFETY WITH SHORTENED DAYLIGHT

THE NUMBER OF HIGH NEED SCHOOLS

INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE,

NOW OFFICIAL, FREE FOOTIE LEAGUE

DOLLARS RAISED THROUGH THE KICK

IN FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN ON CBC

NUMBER OF NEW SCHOOLS INVITED

TO PLAY TO CREATE A MINI LEAGUE

PERCENTAGE OF MINI LEAGUE FUNDING

DONATED BY TIM ADAMS & FAMILY

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEAM CREATED

freedoM in nUMBers


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2012

siX hUndred thirty

fiVe

siX

7 hUndred

two

thirteen

twenty-one

nine

foUrteen

500+

seVen

NUMBER OF jERSEYS PURCHASED

FOR FREE FOOTIE PLAYERS BY REACH

EDMONTONS DONATION

NUMBER OF TEAMS AT WHICH THE FREE

FOOTIE LEAGUE WAS CAPPED DUE TO

FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS

VOLUNTEERING FOR FREE FOOTIE, NOW

OFFICIALLY A NON-PROFIT SOCIETY

NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER

PLAYERS SIGNED TO REFEREE GAMES

AND MENTOR FREE FOOTIE TEAMS

NUMBER OF CHILDREN BROUGHT TO AN

FC EDMONTON GAME BY FREE FOOTIE

NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SOCCER LEAGU

FREE FOOTIE HAS HELPED SET-UP

HELP US FIND FREEDOM IN NUMBERS AND

KEEP FREE FOOTIE FREE BY MAKING YOUR

DONATION SO EVERY KID CAN PLAY

NUMBER OF ELECTED OFFICIALS

THAT HONOURED TIM AT CITY HALL

FOR ALL OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE

FREE FOOTIE PROGRAM

THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS THATPARTICIPATED IN FREE FOOTIES FIRST

ALL-DAY SOCCER COACHING COURSE

NUMBER OF GAMES PER WEEK

OFFICIATED BY EDMONTON DISTRICT

REFEREES ASSOCIATION, NOW AN

OFFICIAL FREE FOOTIE SPONSOR

NUMBER OF BUSES PAID FOR BY FREE FOO-

TIE TO TRANSPORT ALL 26 TEAMS TO THEIR

FIRST FREE FOOTIE YEAR END TOURNAMENT

DOLLAR VALUE OF MANY DONATIONS RE-

CEIVED FROM LAW FIRMS, LAWYERS, AND

THE EDMONTON POLICE FOUNDATION

NUMBER OF AWARDS AND HONOURS

TIM AND FREE FOOTIE HAVE RECEIVED


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i loVe free footieCaUse eVeryone Gets

a ChanCe to play andtheres no faVoUrites.

I like the soccer games, thejerseys and the shin guardsreally helped. This is the bestthing ever. I want to join again.

Jordan, Free Footie player

Jordan, Free Footie player

Karen N. B. Craig, Principal

St. Maria Goretti School

Love Tims leadership! I have seen students who would neverever have a chance to be on a team just thrive and not just

in soccer, but behaviour and academics thanks to Tim.

You are truly making a difference for ourstudents. Many would not play organizedsoccer if it wasnt for you. It warms ourhearts and brings tears to our eyes to haveour students compete! It is getting betterand better! Thank you from the bottomof our hearts!

freedoM of eXpression

REE FOOTIE | 16


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this leaGUe is so MUCh fUn.soCCer is now My faVoUritesport. i wish we CoUld keepplayinG throUGh the sUMMer.

Antonio, Free Footie player

Antonio, Free Footie player

Grace, parent of Free Footie player

Free Footie Coach

You have made students in our school feel important and partof a team. They wear their jerseys with pride. We have such adichotomy between students who are fully supported and in allventures at home and play on multiple teams to these students

who have never had this opportunity. You make their year!

This is bringing soccer to the kids, instead of them having to sign

up, instead of parents having to try get there kids here and there.

I dont think people understand how challenging it is to get to

play sports when you dont have access to a vehicle. These kidswould never have a ride, they would never play. We see more kids

from our area getting involved in this than any other program.

This program isand Iam not overstatinga lifealtering experience forseveral of our students.

FREE FOOTIE


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Get inVolVed!Free Footie is run entirely by volunteers and supported by sponsor-

partners and individual donors. There are no administrative costs

every cent of every dollar contributed goes directly to the kids.

For more detailed information including nancial information, please

see the separate insert included in this report or email us for a copy.

To nd out more about how you can help keep this vital program alive

in our communities, contact us at [email protected] or visit

www.freefootie.ca. Your donation will help to ensure that every child

is free to play.

FREE FOOTIE


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free footie - what's it all about

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