Sockers Celebrate Red Ribbon Week
October 16, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers help kickoff Del Mar Union School District Red Ribbon Week celebrations with a series of school assemblies this Monday. Red Ribbon Week is a commemorative event where students wear red ribbons to demonstrate their commitment to drug and alcohol prevention.
Practice on Monday morning is cancelled so that 15 players and coaches can speak at 10 assemblies throughout the Del Mar Union School District. The assemblies are part of an already existing Sockers program called "Kickin' It With The Sockers" where players teach students basic soccer skills and relate the skills to life lessons. Students first learn how to pass, juggle head and shoot a ball and then learn how to pass on drugs, juggle school, friends and family, use their head to make smart decisions and shoot for their goals.
"Kickin' It With The Sockers provides a wonderful avenue for our players to pass on a positive life message by using skills associated with our sport," said Sockers Head Coach Brian Quinn. "We realize the influence athletes have on young people within our society and if we can provide some guidance along the way, then we have succeeded in our goal of using sport and education as tools for personal growth for kids in San Diego."
The importance of programs like "Kickin' It With The Sockers" has special significance in light of a survey released last September. The Ninth Biennial California Survey found that an increased number of seventh graders reported that alcohol or other drug education "helped them avoid or reduce alcohol and other drug use, resist pressure from others, deal with feelings, seek treatment or counseling and talk to parents." This same age group stated that the number one reason for experimenting with alcohol or drugs was "because friends use."
"Kickin' It With The Sockers" gives students positive role models and encourages them to pursue a healthy and fun lifestyle that does not include alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. The elementary schools participating include Torrey Hills, Del Mar Hills, Del Mar Heights, Ashley Falls and Carmel Del Mar. Each school will hold assemblies at 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.. for students from kindergarten to sixth grade. The Sockers have raised more than $20,000 this season for various organizations in the San Diego community.
The Sockers return to the field against the Cleveland Force at home on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from October 16, 2003
- Comets sign Ryan Dinunzio - Kansas City Comets
- Force Signs Local Standouts To Contracts - Cleveland Force
- Sidekicks Host Cleveland Force - Sun. 6:05 pm - Dallas Sidekicks
- MISL Injury Report - MISL 2
- Sockers Celebrate Red Ribbon Week - San Diego Sockers
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