Also, for the first time, Chris launched a Winter Vacation Program, a six-hour-a-day camp-like experience benefiting 25 fourth-graders. In addition to improving foot skills, participants engaged in many team-building activities and shared healthy meals together. It was a powerful reminder that our programs are about so much more than soccer. 

This winter, we even squeezed in a few sessions on the Pavilion outdoor field for older high school youth before the snow arrived.

And of course, none of this happens without an incredibly committed team. 350+ hours of activities were led by our dedicated coach mentors, many supported through the MassHire Youth Works partnership, alongside our Jr. coaches, who stepped up in big ways this “off-season.” (more below!)

While hundreds of young people were building their skills on the court, another group was building something just as important: leadership.

Our first formal off-season Junior Coach Leadership through Sports Training program wrapped up after 10 weeks of learning, leading, and pushing beyond their comfort zones.

As a final project, each Jr. Coach created a personal bio completely on their own — writing, designing, printing, and laminating it. One session focused on learning Canva, which definitely helped. They shared what motivates them, along with favorite quotes, including one that stood out: “Talent without working hard is nothing.” And the work did not stop there.

Recently, Jr. Coaches Anthony and Justin, along with experienced Coach Mentor Issandel, represented us at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School Summer Experiences Fair for 6th and 7th-graders. They talked with families about our programs, had registration forms ready, and even did a little juggling to bring people over.

It was a great example of what this leadership work looks like in practice: communicating confidently with families, thinking on the spot, and representing Beyond in a real community setting.

With Impact Coordinator Declan helping lead the way, this group has strengthened its leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in ways that will carry into spring and summer, including stepping into first-time paid roles as Summer Coach Mentors.

We have been doing this work for a long time, but the pathway is now becoming more formalized, which will help us do an even better job of giving young people real opportunities to grow into responsibility and leadership over time.

💼︎ MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Board, through its Youth Works program, helped make our off-season work possible by supporting the wages of 6 youth hires.

🤝︎ Our team joined hundreds of coaches, referees, and youth sports leaders at Gillette Stadium for the Massachusetts Youth Soccer workshop with the New England Revolution.

🏫︎ We brought soccer back into schools, including a return to Bellesini Academy and a new partnership this year with Guilmette Middle School.

🎉︎ Salem Five Charitable joined our team again, stopping by to share the good news with a grant award.

❄︎ When winter weather got in the way, a play-in-the-snow contest kept the fun going. Players shared tons of videos through WhatsApp, and New Balance gift certificates went to some especially creative entries.