SYS Partnerships

The Native American Soccer Project

Southwest Youth Services

Soccer for healthy children, youth, and communities.

SYS Partnerships

SYS and the NMFYC: In February, 2006, SYS received its first two AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) workers through a

partnership with the New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community VISTA Cadre Project. In 2007, four VISTAs will serve SYS as Program Coordinators working to develop the Native American Soccer Project. As this partnership continues to grow, VISTAs will establish SYS worksites throughout New Mexico.

2006 VISTAs Diana Aranda and Jack Simons with a group of second graders at Santo Domingo Pueblo.

SYS and the NSCAA: At the request of the executive board of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), SYS is helping

to coordinate the Native American Soccer Coaches Committee. SYS is honored to have the opportunity to facilitate the formation of this committee, which will offer coaching education and support for Native soccer coaches across America’s Indian Country.

NSCAA instructor Lance Noble (third from right) led an NSCAA state certification course at the 2006 North American Indigenous Games.

SYS and NMYSA Soccer Start: In 2007, SYS will partner with the New Mexico Youth Soccer Association (NMYSA) Soccer Start program to offer youth soccer skills and coaching clinics. Soccer Start is a program designed to introduce the sport of soccer to youths living in communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making soccer available to lower-income children in underserved communities, Soccer Start provides soccer training and administrative guidance to players and organizations that might otherwise not be exposed to the sport.

P.O. Box 82624 Albuquerque, NM, USA 87198-2624

Phone: 505.265.4300 - Fax: 505.792.1659 - Email: info@sysnm.org

SYS and NACA: SYS operations are based at Albuquerque’s

innovative new charter middle school, the Native American

Community Academy (NACA). SYS board member Kara

Bobroff founded NACA in 2006 as an alternative middle sch-

ool for Albuquerque-area students of American Indian descent.

NACA’s educational philosophy is grounded in both the traditions of Native American people and a rigorous, modern approach to college-preparatory education.