BUSC Newsletter

December 16, 2024

As the holiday season is upon us, we want to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. This is a time for reflection, celebration, and connection — all values that we hold dear. We hope your season is filled with joy, peace, and moments of well-deserved rest.

As we look ahead to the new year, we’re excited to share a glimpse of what's up next! From Winter Rec Training to Spring Futsal and more to come...

Newsletter Highlights

• Winter Rec Academy Training
• Spring Futsal Program Registration
• End of Fall Season Coach and Manager social
• Girls Soccer Worldwide/BUSC Impact Leadership - Paraguay
• Stanford Medicine - Snacks

Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. See you on the field!

Tevin Jones, Director of Club Operations, tevinjones@busc.org

Kevin Crow, Executive Director, kevincrow@busc.org

We are excited to hold multiple Rec Academy Training sessions this Winter! We have 5 sessions remaining - and you can still register!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to hit the fields, work on skills, and train for the upcoming seasons.

What is futsal? Futsal is a fast-paced game played on a hard surface with continuous end-to-end action. Each team has five players on the court at a time: one goalkeeper and four court players. Some might liken it to basketball played with a soccer ball and a larger net.

Futsal is an incredibly beneficial component in the development of a soccer player. It offers players the opportunity to enhance their technical ball skills, becoming more comfortable with dribbling and executing skills at high speed. Moreover, it sharpens their insight and accelerates their decision-making abilities in game situations.

As our fall season comes to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible coaches, managers, and support staff. Your dedication, passion, and hard work have made this season a memorable and successful one for all involved.

We hope you take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy a well-deserved winter break. Thank you once again for being an essential part of this unforgettable season. We look forward to even more success and growth in the seasons to come!

Girls Soccer Worldwide departed to Paraguay on Friday, November 22 led by Pamela Jacobsen and Walter Pratte (Co-Founders).  A total of thirteen students traveled this year: eight girls from Girls Soccer Worldwide and five boys from Boys Impact Leadership.  All five of the boys were from the BUSC NPL 08 Premier team: Jacob Pratte, Christopher Pratte, Adam Bernhard, Dawson Weaver, and Kevin Tippit. The most common question asked once the travelers returned home was “How was the trip?” The experience is difficult to put into words but the memories will last a lifetime. 

This year, GSWW visited Pindo, an Indigenous School, on three different days.  When asked what surprised the Boys Impact Leadership members the most when delivering the backpacks, Dawson, Kevin, and Adam all shared similar responses.  They were surprised and humbled to see the excitement of receiving a travel size tube of toothpaste and new toothbrush. It was shocking to see how two small items could bring such joy and gratitude to 5 and 6 year old kids.  Walter shared that each year the trip is different, but this year the extreme poverty and hunger found within Pindo was powerful. Despite the torrential downpour, families came out to receive food kits, some without shoes or jackets. Many men wept with gratitude at being able to feed their families. Sharing food with the people of Pindo was a deeply emotional experience.

Christopher and Jacob Pratte have a unique perspective to the trip because they have gone multiple times. The shock from seeing the poverty is not such an issue for them because they know what to expect.  Jacob explained that this year was different because he was the same age as the Ambassadors and felt like he could integrate and take a more active role in the experience. When asked why it was important to include both boys and girls in the trip to Paraguay, Chris explained the importance of raising up both groups.  Over the years, they noticed that the girls were being empowered while the boys sat on the sideline.  Now, the Boys Impact Leadership can help demonstrate how to work together with girls in a supportive way so both girls and boys can succeed. 

The five players from Ballistic United had the opportunity to experience the trip to Paraguay firsthand, and their involvement highlighted the importance of unity, leadership, and service. Through their efforts, and alongside the girls from Girls Soccer Worldwide, they demonstrated how collaboration between boys and girls can create a lasting impact. This trip was a powerful reminder that even small gestures—like delivering toothpaste or food kits—can bring immense joy and hope to those in need. Guided by the principle 'Change One, Change Thousands,' the journey to Paraguay was not just about giving but also about learning, growing, and creating a brighter future together.

Exciting news! BUSC is now offering exclusive spirit wear, allowing you to showcase your support for your club with pride! Grab your gear and represent your team in style.

Make a gift to BUSC any time to support our important programs. Pick where you want your gift applied, or make a gift to the BUSC General Fund for your gift to be used where it's most needed.

Thank you for supporting BUSC!

Ballistic United Soccer Club Website