Resource Center
Soccer and Health
America SCORES has created a unique soccer, physical activity, and health curriculum used exclusively in America SCORES elementary and middle schools after-school soccer practices. The Soccer Coach Manual, with two full-season planners and enough drills, scrimmages, and other activities to engage coaches and players throughout their entire America SCORES careers, is based on our organization’s commitment to using soccer as a tool for positive youth development. The curriculum is grounded in teaching students the fundamentals of soccer while emphasizing healthy competition and inclusiveness. Skill-building on the field is guided by the principals of teamwork, leadership, and commitment, without an obsessive focus on winning. In addition to team practices, our students also participate in a non-results-oriented soccer league with other America SCORES schools in their city.
The Soccer Coach Manual also includes a comprehensive health education curriculum developed by America SCORES staff and an advisory board of experts in various fields. Through physical activity, nutrition, and safety-focused games, our coaches and students work together to develop a lasting commitment to healthy living. These activities, incorporated into weekly soccer practices, ensure that America SCORES students have the ability and comfort to make informed decisions about their health.
The Soccer Coach Manual addresses all of the National Health Education Standards — developed by health organizations in 1994 and updated in 2007—and the National Standards for Physical Activity — developed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) in 1995 and updated in 2002.
Please click on the links below to see a detailed description of how America SCORES’ health curriculum aligns with these standards.
