STREET SOCCER USA 2019 NATIONAL CUP Capitol Mall - Sacramento Sept. 6-8 streetsoccerusa.org STREET SOCCER USA NATIONAL CUP 2019 Galvanized by the Cup Series, Street Soccer USA is building a nation-wide network of street leagues providing community level solutions for fighting poverty 365 days a year. SSUSA mobilizes public, private, and community resources to bring our vision to life. The National Cup, sponsored by UC Davis Health and Sacramento Republic FC, was held for the second straight year in Sacramento right on Capitol Mall on two specially-made fields in the heart of the city. Capitol Mall was bustling with 315 players during the three-day event participating in the SSUSA Social, Open, Corporate and Youth Cups. The soccer community in Sacramento came together with program participants, government supporters, sponsors, and partners to #PlayforMore. The tournament was made possible by: ✦ Co-Title Sponsors UC Davis Health and Sacramento Republic FC ✦ Official apparel provider UNIQLO ✦ National partners Senda Athletics, Kwik Goal, ESPN Corporate Citizenship, Help USA ✦ Media Partner Fox 40 ✦ Government Supporters Mayor Darrell Steinberg, City Councilmember Steven Hansen, State Senator Dr. Richard Pan and the ongoing support from our Sacramento board, community-based program partners and private donors. Thank you for making the Cup a success as we work towards a more level playing field for all! Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org OPENING CEREMONIES The National Cup began on Friday with Opening Ceremonies, kicked off by the Parade of States. Players from 12 different cities competing in the National Social Change Cup marched from the Capitol to the Street Soccer Stadium waving their program and state flags and chanting all the way, announcing themselves to #Soccermento. Participants in the Social Change Cup have overcome various forms of adversity using soccer as a vehicle for personal development. The Ceremony featured remarks from: ✦ California State Senator Dr. Richard Pan ✦ Sacramento Councilmember Steve Hansen ✦ Sacramento Republic FC President Ben Gumpert ✦ UC Davis Health Interim CEO Brad Simmons ✦ Street Soccer USA Founder Lawrence Cann ✦ Former SSUSA player and current SSUSA coach Moustapha Bangoura whose messages included remarks on teamwork, community, hard work and the power of sports to bring people together. Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org SOCIAL CHANGE CUP More than 100 players joined by 33 supportive coaches competed in a 70-match competitive and well-natured tournament. Charlote walked away as National Champions, winning both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. Cities represented: Charlote, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seatle, St. Louis, Twin Cities, Washington DC 2019 marked the highest-ever number of female teams, with seven cities bringing women’s participants. 2019 Men’s Champions - Charlote, NC Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org Kevin Polk Memorial Shield Match Alumnae of Street Soccer USA’s Homeless World Cup program played the first match of the National Cup. More than 25 players who have competed at the Homeless World Cup participated in memory of longtime Street Soccer USA participant Kevin Polk who died LIMA in 2012. Street Soccer USA is the exclusive U.S. partner of the Homeless World Cup, bringing teams to the international tournament annually. Sacramento Program Manager Lisa Wrightsman and Tiffany Fraser won 2019 Coaches of the Tournament for the women for leading the Street Soccer USA team to 9th place at the tournament in Cardiff, Wales earlier in the summer. The SSUSA team won the Celtic Cup, and 9th is their highest-ever finish! Participants in the SSUSA Social Change tournament at the National Cup are nominated to the selection pool for the Homeless World Cup. Players who participated this year in Sacramento will be hoping to earn their place on the team representing the United States and Street Soccer USA at the 2020 Homeless World Cup in Tampere, Finland next June. Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org OPEN AND CORPORATE CUPS The Open and Corporate Cup competitions raise funds for Street Soccer USA’s programs and establish relationships with socially conscious businesses that are gateways to internships, job training and job opportunities for our players. 16 teams competed in the Corporate Cup and 12 teams competed in the Open Cup. 3.14 Communications brought home the coveted title of Corporate Cup Champions! Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org YOUTH SHOWCASE The Youth Showcase hosted teams from SSUSA free afer-school and community club programs. The players, aged 9-12, had an opportunity to show their talent, heart, and skills on a city-wide stage. The participants live in low income neighborhoods with limited resources and a lack of access to affordable or free soccer programs. Teams participated from SSUSA programs at: ✦ Oak Ridge Elementary ✦ Oak Park CC ✦ PS7 Elementary ✦ PS7 Middle ✦ Dyer Kelly Elementary - sponsored by Global Shapers, who won the Youth Showcase Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org ACTIVATIONS AND ACTIVITIES The lively, festival atmosphere was enhanced by local sponsors and organizations activating alongside the closed off Capitol Mall area between 9th and 10th Streets. UC Davis Health and Sacramento Republic FC kept stations open all weekend with free giveaways, street games, and even a mobile health truck. Popular local food trucks Cali Pop’N, Nasty Sauce, What’s Happenin’ Italian ice, Hello-Halo, and Casa Jalisco kept players and spectators well-fed throughout the weekend. West Elm provided comfortable lounge furniture for players to relax in between games, and Gather event group took over DJ’ing all day Saturday. Athlete wellbeing was considered as participants were invited to practice yoga on the field following their Day 1 matches. Title sponsors Sacramento Republic FC provided tickets for all Social Change participants to atend a match. The SSUSA family witnessed a resounding 3-0 win against Seatles Sounders FC 2 at Papa Murphy’s Park. Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org CLOSING CEREMONY Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg closed out the SSUSA National Cup 2019 by congratulating all of the participants and emphasizing Sacramento as a national hub for soccer and confirming his staunch support of Street Soccer USA and our work to strengthen communities and improve lives through soccer. Awards Presentation Street Soccer USA’s curriculum is based on eight fundamental Street Soccer Skills, created to serve as progressive building blocks for players to master on the field and off. Social Change Cup participants and coaches voted on players deserving of awards for each of the skills, based on their behavior through the weekend. Awards were presented by UC Davis Health Director of Community Hospital Partnerships and Affiliations, Khanh-Nhat Tran-Viet. Award Winners: ✦ Show Up: Blake Macierez (Sacramento) ✦ Play with Heart: Juliete Pena (Oakland) ✦ Look Up: Carlos Huang Wu (San Fransisco) ✦ Take the Space: Evan Harris (Portland) ✦ Build Your Triangle: Leslie Hernandez (San Fransisco) ✦ Praise Great Play: Juan Carlos Bossio (New York) ✦ Play the Plan: Zowdie Ali (Charlote) ✦ Adjust the Plan: Vince Marcote (Chicago) Trophies were also presented to Social Change Cup winners for both men and women, Charlote, as well as Tower Bridge Champions for the runners-up bracket, St. Louis. Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org MEDIA Local media, including official media partner Fox 40 captured the magnitude of the event with press in the lead-up, during, and afer the weekend. MARTINO LIMA Chairman of the SSUSA Board Kyle Martino Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org THANK YOU for supporting STREET SOCCER USA NATIONAL CUP 2019 at CAPITOL MALL We are a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty and strengthening communities through soccer. We believe everyone deserves to grow and develop within the supportive context of a team. Our city-wide street leagues, community engagement methodology, and curriculum use soccer to help youth and families with education and employment. IMPACT • Independent research has proven that SSUSA engages the lowest income, highest need students in each school district it serves. • 95% of participants improve social emotional learning skills through our curriculum • Chronic absenteeism drops among SSUSA participants by 2/3rds • SSUSA participants improve their math and English language arts year over year versus their peer group not engaged in SSUSA programming. #PlayForMore Street Soccer USA National Cup 2019 streetsoccerusa.org.