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Youth sports programs, when properly designed and managed, can play an important role in helping young people achieve life-long success. Successful sports programs don’t just prevent truancy and drop-outs; they enhance the likelihood of success. Recent large, longitudinal studies establish a positive synergy between sports and academic achievement in which athletes earn better grades, as well as higher rates of enrollment in advanced placement courses, high school graduation and college attendance. Additionally, sports participation is associated with positive public health, improvement in self-confidence as well as goal-setting, leadership, cooperation, teamwork, friendship, self-discipline, communications, respect for team mates/opponents/officials, time management skills, and resilience. These successful traits develop regardless of the score on the pitch. The best youth sports programs consciously teach non-sports skills and we do!
Therefore, from this program we expect to see the following changes among all of our players including those from low-income, at-risk neighborhoods:
1. Players lead productive and healthy lifestyles with increased physical health.
2. Players show improvement in self-confidence, goal-setting, leadership, cooperation, teamwork, friendship, self-control, communications, respect for team mates/opponents/officials, time management skills, and resilience.
3. Players work hard in school and graduate from their middle schools with an awareness that LAUFA and various Los Angeles high-schools give scholarships to scholar-athletes. With this foundation, our players understand this pathway to gain admittance to a four-year college.
4. Players strive to be the center of excellence in support of the US National Teams in one of the top target areas of the country, Los Angeles.
5. And, for those who don’t rise to the standard of elite professional/international play that we provide players an alternative and the proper preparation for them to attend some of the finest collegiate academic and soccer programs in the United States.
6. Participants develop a sense of commitment to their communities and engage in civic enterprise.
7. Participants learn to dream big, work hard and never give up!
2014-2015Program For the 2014-2015 year, LAFA has eleven teams U-8 through U-14. We are supporting team-training of approximately 200 players this first year. The majority of our players are low-income and considered at-risk. Additionally we plan to provide training open to the public that will touch hundreds of players throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
While each team has a specific age and skill-appropriate development philosophy, there are generalizations that apply. The teams will play a 10-month schedule in the greater Los Angeles Area. They will practice 2 to 4 days a week. They customarily play one game per weekend. They will play a handful of competitive tournaments. Starting at U-12, the older teams will also play across the country if they advance in tournaments based on success. Also we are estimating five international trips. These invitational only international tournaments give our elite teams the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Some of the tournaments will be held in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Additionally, we have identified at least ten players within the organization that are superb athletes that are in need of academic intervention and scholarships for the 2014-2015 school year. These are disciplined athletes who deserve a positive academic environment. We are committed to developing scholar-athletes. Each has gained entrance in private Catholic schools in their neighborhoods and are in need of the financial support to attend.
2014-2015 Budget LAUFA is a need-blind organization that does not discriminate based on socio-economic standards. We are therefore dependent on corporate, private foundation, and donor involvement.
Our total 2014-2015 Annual Budget is approximately $500,000. We have secured half of the projected budget from a generous private donor that will match dollar-for-dollar every donation obtained this year. Additionally we have secured 50% of our Academic Scholarship costs through the Catholic Schools Foundation. It will also match dollar-for dollar every donation obtained this year.
Therefore we would like to ask you to partner with us and financially support this endeavor. These scholar-athletes will not achieve their full potential if they do not get the support they need now.
I have dedicated much of my life to improving the lives of families in poor neighborhoods. I have never experienced the power that elite soccer holds over our young men. We intend to use this power to change the lives of many Los Angeles families and I hope you will join us to inspire great change in our community and greatness in our young men.
Every good wish,
Rocky Delgadillo (Former L.A. City Attorney)
President
Los Angeles Futbol Academy
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
LA UNITED FUTBOL ACADEMY