More than 100 kids gathered on the soccer fields at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex on Saturday to play the sport they love with professional players. The event was part of a two-day free soccer clinic hosted by Chevron and Alianza de Football. “We know soccer is important in this community. It's important to us. We want to provide access to the sport. This is a free event, but a lot of times advanced training isn't free,” said Chevron's Jenny McIntosh. Saturday's event, aimed at kids ages 9 to 15, was designed to allow them to hone their skills and practice with professional athletes like former U.S. Men's National Team player Heath Pierce. “We want kids to come out of here with a love for the sport and some skill and a passion to come back and participate,” Pierce said. There's also a team of professional players for the San Jose Earthquakes who help kids improve their skills, making it a big draw for young soccer fans. “It's really fun because they get to do drills and shark and minnow drills,” Dylan Quirarte said. Quirarte has been playing soccer for six years and his favorite team is Real Madrid CF, but he was excited to hear the Earthquakes players' stories of making it to the professional level. On Sunday, more than 100 young people between the ages of 15 and 17 will get their first chance to go pro. Chevron and Alianza de Football are bringing in scouts from the San Jose Earthquakes, the U.S. Men's National Team and Mexico's professional teams. The players will have the opportunity to get a tryout in front of the scouts, which is a rare opportunity for many. “I think it's a unique opportunity to have professional and college scouts in one place and be a part of a free program that again provides pathways and career opportunities for players,” Pierce said. 2024 will be the sixth year of the event, and Chevron said it plans to hold it again next year. More Top Central Coast Stories | Download the App | Download Very Local
More than 100 kids enjoyed the sport they love with professional players on the soccer fields at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex on Saturday. The event was part of a free, two-day soccer clinic hosted by Chevron and Alianza de Futbol.
“We know football is important to this community and it's important to us and we want to provide access to the sport. This is a free event but often advanced training isn't free,” Chevron's Jenny McIntosh said.
The event, held on Saturday for ages 9 to 15, is designed to allow them to hone their skills and practice alongside professional athletes such as former U.S. men's national team player Heath Pierce.
“We want our players to come away from this with an even greater love for the sport, improved skills and a desire to come back and participate again,” Pierce said.
The organization also works to help children from the San Jose Earthquakes improve their game skills, making it a big draw for young soccer fans.
“They let us do the training, catch the sharks and the little fish, it was a lot of fun,” Dylan Quilarte said.
Quirate has played soccer for six years and his favorite team is Real Madrid CF, but he was still excited to hear the Earthquake players share their stories of making it to the professional level.
On Sunday, more than 100 young players between the ages of 15 and 17 will get their first chance to go pro. Chevron and Alianza de Fútbol will host scouts from the San Jose Earthquakes, the U.S. Men's National Team and Mexico's professional teams. The players will have the opportunity to sit in front of the scouts for a tryout, an opportunity that many of them rarely get.
“We see this as a unique opportunity to bring so many professional and college scouts together in one area with a free program that provides pathways and career opportunities for our players,” Pierce said.
2024 will mark the event's sixth year, and Chevron says it plans to hold it again next year.
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