{"id":279,"date":"2022-10-14T13:58:50","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T13:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/?p=279"},"modified":"2022-12-26T15:01:12","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T15:01:12","slug":"heres-why-were-helping-children-and-youth-get-their-kicks-in-the-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/14\/heres-why-were-helping-children-and-youth-get-their-kicks-in-the-grass\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s why we\u2019re helping children and youth get their kicks in the grass"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As we near the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month, I have my mind on f\u00fatbol (or, \u201csoccer\u201d in American English). To be honest, this isn\u2019t very unusual, as we are approaching the FIFA World Cup (la Copa Mundial), the quadrennial sporting event for soccer that the whole world – myself included – will be watching. More locally, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina\u2019s (Blue Cross NC) key support for several community-based organizations provides children and youth greater access to this sport that I love dearly.<\/p>\n

Soccer isn\u2019t a uniquely Hispanic fixation. But passion for the game is so thoroughly engrained in Hispanic cultures around the globe that it certainly feels <\/em>like ours. Viewership data suggests that 84% of Hispanic people follow the sport<\/a>. Love for soccer spans and unites generations within families and communities. The game helps shape national and cultural identities<\/a> among fan groups and players. It fosters a sense of connection and builds community.<\/p>\n

Here in the States, youth participation<\/a> across demographics is strong, in part because the sport invites everyone to participate. Unlike American football, for example, the sport\u2019s most fundamental skill of \u201ctouch\u201d can be mastered by just about anybody, no matter their physique or body type. Blue Cross NC\u2019s investments help ensure that youth soccer in North Carolina remains just as accessible to players of every color and every background.<\/p>\n

Who Pays When a Low-Cost Sport Becomes Very Expensive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One explanation for soccer\u2019s enduring popularity is its democratic spirit. Anyone can play. In theory, the only thing kids need to strike up a game is a ball and a flat space for kicking it around.<\/p>\n

But, as soccer has become more popular and formalized as a youth activity in the United States, athletics fees, transportation costs and parental time commitments associated with league sports have made it more challenging for families on tight budgets to support their child\u2019s interest competitive play. Even starting up an informal neighborhood game or kicking a ball around can be difficult for children who don\u2019t have access to a safe space to play<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blue Cross NC supports several unique community-based programs that help children and their families overcome pay-to-play barriers to participation, including Charlotte NC\u2019s Creative Player Foundation<\/a>, the youth soccer academy<\/a> affiliated with the Charlotte Independence professional team, and North Carolina FC Youth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These investments give North Carolinians something far more significant than leisurely diversion.<\/p>\n

The Physical, Mental and Social Benefits of Play<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The physical benefits of exercise<\/a> are well-documented. Team activities are also social, strengthening the mind as well as the body. Research shows that regular, vigorous exercise is associated with improved academic performance<\/a>. Sport provides opportunities for youth to experience social inclusion and build social capital<\/a>, especially when team activities focus more on individual skills development rather than competition. Studies<\/a> suggest that playing soccer can calm stress, build social support networks and reduce a child\u2019s odds of being bullied.<\/p>\n

Blue Cross NC\u2019s investments do more than give youth a chance to play \u2013 \u00a0they support a variety of innovative activities that harness soccer\u2019s unique capacity to build such a wide range of physical, emotional, social and intellectual skills, including:<\/p>\n