Soccer players throughout most of world, grew up playing soccer in the streets - learning finesse, control and TOUCH
Soccer players throughout most of world, grew up playing soccer in the streets - learning finesse, control and TOUCH – all skills that improve confidence and performance. Here in America, we grow up playing on teams. Teams must focus on team tactics to win the next game. Own Touch turns that philosophy inside out and focuses on individual development. When players learn to develop their touch, they learn precision, which leads to keeping possession of the ball, which leads to opportunities to score, and ultimately... to win.
SOCCER DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS IS BROKEN IN THE U.S.
Can we fix it?
The answer isn’t simple. This is a $30 billion dollar a year industry with the directors and self appointed authorities capitalizing on earnings of hundreds of thousands of dollars… and most of these are propped up behind the protections and marketing of a “nonprofit”. This economy has created large and financially powerful organizations that profit from the control of how and where players access the game.
WE MUST FIX THE CULTURE OF THE SPORT! This means putting the power of the sport BACK into the players. The sport can be played anywhere with a ball and anything that can resemble a place to score a goal. It doesn’t need adults on sidelines, coaches, or referees to be played. It doesn’t need local, state or federal organizations to provide a place to play.
In most areas of the state of North Carolina soccer fields were built as public parks but have been usurped by these non profits and over booked forcing players to use them as gatekeepers to play the game. Most soccer players at a young age only know of this sport as something they have to hop in a car on set times of the week and have permission to play. In almost every other corner of the world, this isn’t the case. Players can go at any time and find a game, jump on a pitch and safely play within their communities, sometimes for hours a day, generating more touches and skill acquisition in a year than most US players will develop in a lifetime.
We want players to have choice and freedom. Choice to play when and where they want, and the freedom to play as who they are, to create and to experience the beautiful game as it was meant to be.
Their team, or club, is where they can put into action what they know.
The street is where they learn it.
If we can take this generation and reconfigure HOW they FIND the sport, then the next generation… These players’ kids and grandkids, WILL make the difference in the world.
But how are WE going to do it?
Well that part IS simple. We will educate and inform parents. We will provide opportunities for players by investing in the communities where they live. We will bring together the communities to enjoy the sport FREE of charge. We will use this movement to build and install Small Sided pitches throughout the greater Charlotte Region. We will EMPOWER and EDUCATE players to take control of when and where they play.
The launch of STRADA will begin with pop up games throughout the Charlotte Region for players between 8 and 16 years of age. These pop up pick up games will be announced via social media, email lists, and word of mouth. There will be no limit, other than any set forth by the location or laws in place, of who can participate.
We will look to host these games at various locations: parking garages, parking lots, fields, our own facilities, small businesses, anyone who will have us.
In exchange for these FREE events all we ask is that if you have the means, to go to our Strada Funding Page and donate. It can be as little as a dollar or as much as you want. 100% of our net donations after transaction fees by the donation platform will go to financing YOUR small sided pitches.
Want to have a pitch in your area?
Want to get more involved with construction or the mission?
What are the rules of the pop up events:
Players will arrive and MUST be pre-registered and SIGNED UP TO ATTEND within the Own Touch Strada System in order to participate. This system is required for waivers to be signed and contact tracing.
Upon arrival players will draw a color/number card to be placed on a team. You can not arrive with pre built or pre selected teams. Players will NOT be divided by age or skill level. ONLY IN THE EVENT OF AN OBVIOUS TEAM DISADVANTAGE, SUCH AS A TEAM WITH ALL 9 YEAR OLD PLAYERS OR A TEAM WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF 16 YEAR OLD PLAYERS, ETC, WILL AN OWN TOUCH REPRESENTATIVE STEP IN AND REDISTRIBUTE TEAMS.
Format will be 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, or 6v6 with NO GOALIES. Format is decided by area of playing surface.
TOUCH LINES WILL BE DECIDED UPON (IF ANY) BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS.
There will be NO REFEREE and NO COACHING allowed. We encourage cheering and support, but no adult interference in the flow of the game.
NO SLIDE TACKLING OR GOING TO GROUND DEFENSIVELY IS ALLOWED! NO PHYSICAL CONTACT ALLOWED ON PLAYERS PLAYING ON HARD SURFACES!!
BALLS COMING BACK INTO PLAY CAN BE DONE SO BY THROW IN OR KICK IN. IT’S UP TO THE PLAYER PERFORMING THE ACTION.
All games will be Winner Stays On, first to 2 Goals or 4 minutes in length. If one team has more goals than another at the end of 4 minutes, the higher scoring team stays on. If it is a tie or a draw, the team with the YOUNGEST PLAYER on the pitch stays on.
Own Touch Strada Representative will be there to ensure fair play and no rough housing is allowed.
NO UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT SUCH AS TRASH TALKING, INSULTING, FOUL LANGUAGE OR FIGHTING IS PERMITTED.
Foul language and insults will have ONE warning. A second offense is a ban from participation on the day. Another offense on another date will result in permanent ban.
INSTIGATING A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION OR STRIKING ANOTHER PLAYER WILL LEAD TO A PERMANENT BAN. IF A PLAYER IS WITNESSED DEFENDING THEMSELVES FROM A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION (CAMERAS WILL BE RUNNING) THEN THAT PLAYER WILL NOT BE BANNED FOR DEFENDING THEMSELF.