Stone Lakes Elementary trains on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Avalon area. Their program coach, Jose Lopez, has seen firsthand the influence that soccer can have on elementary students. "Seeing these kids develop proper fundamentals, sportsmanship, and integrity is why I devote my time to this program."
Nicole Labosco, a UCF graduate with multiple seasons of experience under the Foundation's programs, agrees with Jose. She believes that the potential in the area is limitless, stating "It's always amazing to me to see just how willing these young kids are to learn. For the majority of the kids who had no idea how to play, they were the ones asking me the first day, 'When do we play other schools?' They're ready to take their new skills to the pitch and show off a bit and that's pretty rewarding."
Their students positivity and willingness to participate have produced a handful of promising individuals. They plan to hone the skills learned, continuing their soccer careers post-programs. For a majority of the players, completing the program is their first big step into the soccer world!
