The LA Galaxy Foundation’s Community Clinic Series continued on Saturday, June 2, welcoming members from Children’s Institute, Inc. for a Saturday full of education, activities and most importantly, soccer.
Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII) serves Los Angeles’s most vulnerable children, those harmed by family and community violence, or those coping with the hardships of poverty. Helping over 22,000 children, CII provides professionally accredited training programs and resources for underserved youth and their families.
The community clinic began with an important nutrition lesson from LA Galaxy Nutritionist, Nicolette Leffler. She spoke of the importance of hydration, which was especially important as temperatures were in the 90s throughout the clinic.
Following the nutrition lesson, LA Galaxy Camps and Clinics coaches put the kids to work. The kids were able to show off their soccer skills, participating in dribbling, passing and shooting drills. A guest appearance by LA Galaxy Mascot, Cozmo, halted all activity as kids sprinted to hug and meet the extraterrestrial being.
Dawnie Nishijima from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gathered the kids to discuss injury prevention and the symptoms associated with concussions. Each participant was able to put on “concussion goggles” which mimicked the negative effects associated with concussions. Even simple tasks such as dribbling a soccer ball were extremely difficult to complete due to the disorientation. This activity reinforced the dangers associated with concussions.
The community clinic ended with a discussion led by Jeaney Garcia from Positive Coaching Alliance. Garcia spoke about positive reinforcement and being a role model both on and off the field. Each participant was tasked with doing at least five good deeds for someone else in the following week.
With pizza in hand and a new education on nutrition, soccer, injury prevention and self-confidence, members of Children’s Institute, Inc. were then welcomed to attend the LA Galaxy II match versus Tulsa Roughnecks later that evening. LA Galaxy II won the match 1-0.
The Community Clinic Series will continue to aid organizations who share the LA Galaxy Foundation’s core values of providing youth with opportunities through the pillars of inclusion, education and volunteerism.
