Levesque details the thorough preparations that went into this fall soccer season. Mask wearing coaches, no handshakes, no huddles, pre-workout temperature checks, and no shared clothing and equipment are the bulk of new protocols in place to keep families safe. “We continue to preach social distancing -even on the sidelines- and are proud of the effort put forth by everyone to ensure we are healthy going into the season,” says Levesque.
The kids race back and forth on the field in drills, fine-tuning their skills. The emotions are that of enormous appreciation and optimism. Children, parents, and coaches alike are so grateful for the resemblance of normalcy to return to their lives, and the positive effects are all-encompassing. Getting out of the house and being active in a team sport has a tremendous impact on the children’s mental and physical health, as is evident by all the smiling faces.
Earlier this summer, the YMCA and Harbin Clinic announced Team Up for Health, an initiative focused on the health and well-being of children and youth in the community. Harbin Clinic has been a long-time supporter of the Rome YMCA, and the expanded partnership affords new opportunities for young athletes to participate in youth team-based programming, such as the Arsenal Rome soccer program.
“Through our Team up for Health partnership, we are committing to work collaboratively in support of a shared mission for a healthier community,” says Kenna Stock, chief executive officer of Harbin Clinic. “Ensuring sports like soccer and basketball are accessible for children of all backgrounds is incredibly important. Involvement in sports not only provides benefits to physical health – like lower obesity rates and improved cardiovascular and pulmonary function – it also improves overall well-being.”