For the third consecutive fall, dozens of Hamilton students are organizing, coaching and refereeing a youth soccer league in Utica. Cornhill Youth Soccer (CYS) is a full-scale soccer league supported completely by Hamilton students.
Erica Colligan '06 and Kristina Carroll '07 founded CYS in the fall of 2005 because they wanted the children from one of Utica's poorest neighborhood to have a safe and organized after-school activity. They chose to start a soccer league because soccer encourages teamwork and exercise, and it also requires very little equipment so it is relatively inexpensive. The league is offered to students from two Utica elementary schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Watson Williams, completely free of charge.
After Colligan graduated, Carroll ran the league by herself in 2006 before passing it on to Anne Evans '09, Bill Getman '09 and Molly Kane '09, all of whom volunteered as coaches for the first two seasons. They divided up responsibilities such as communicating with the elementary schools, ordering equipment and compiling games and practice schedules and worked together on other tasks including recruiting student volunteers. The three organizers were excited to get the league up and running again.
"For these kids, many of whom have never played a sport, this league gives them a chance to have some awesome role models in their coaches and have fun playing soccer," said Getman, a government major and member of the rugby team from Osage, Iowa. "I came back to coach for a second season and now to coordinate because Cornhill Youth Soccer is worth it. As a student-athlete with a job, it takes a lot to get me to donate my time. With CYS even the smallest time commitment for these kids pays off tenfold."
This fall more than 40 Hamilton students have volunteered their time with the league. The 60 participating children are divided into 8 teams, with four Hamilton coaches per team. Each team practices for an hour one afternoon a week, and the teams play games against each other (refereed by Hamilton volunteers) every Sunday.
This season's volunteers range from members of Hamilton's men's and women's varsity soccer teams to students with no previous soccer experience. Some volunteers are returning for their second or third year of coaching. All volunteers, however, share a love of being around the children.
"I wanted to volunteer for Cornhill Youth Soccer because it involved two things I love: soccer and kids!" said Will Gowen '11, who played varsity soccer in high school and now plays on an intramural team at Hamilton. "I love being around these kids because the excitement they have for this program is infectious and everyone has a great time."
Most volunteers agree that the program is as important for the coaches as it is for the players.
"I think the program provides a valuable experience to Hamilton students by giving them the opportunity to leave campus and become involved in a community that many of us would not be involved with outside of the program," said Katy McElroy '08, a second-year volunteer. "The soccer program benefits Cornhill by giving the kids the opportunity to both have fun and compete in a sport they enjoy. The program also provides a structured after-school program in an area where there are not many similar programs."
CYS is a branch of the Utica area American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), which generously donated four portable goals this season. The league receives most of its funding from Hamilton Action Volunteer Outreach Coalition (HAVOC) and buys uniforms, soccer balls, water bottles and shin guards at a discount through Phil Valenti '06 from Valenti Sports in Rochester, N.Y. In September Tau Kappa Epsilon's Chicken Wing Eating Contest raised more than $1,000 for CYS. The fraternity held the fundraiser in memory of Andrew Sheridan '09, a dedicated CYS volunteer and TKE brother.
-- by Molly Kane '09
Erica Colligan '06 and Kristina Carroll '07 founded CYS in the fall of 2005 because they wanted the children from one of Utica's poorest neighborhood to have a safe and organized after-school activity. They chose to start a soccer league because soccer encourages teamwork and exercise, and it also requires very little equipment so it is relatively inexpensive. The league is offered to students from two Utica elementary schools, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Watson Williams, completely free of charge.
After Colligan graduated, Carroll ran the league by herself in 2006 before passing it on to Anne Evans '09, Bill Getman '09 and Molly Kane '09, all of whom volunteered as coaches for the first two seasons. They divided up responsibilities such as communicating with the elementary schools, ordering equipment and compiling games and practice schedules and worked together on other tasks including recruiting student volunteers. The three organizers were excited to get the league up and running again.
"For these kids, many of whom have never played a sport, this league gives them a chance to have some awesome role models in their coaches and have fun playing soccer," said Getman, a government major and member of the rugby team from Osage, Iowa. "I came back to coach for a second season and now to coordinate because Cornhill Youth Soccer is worth it. As a student-athlete with a job, it takes a lot to get me to donate my time. With CYS even the smallest time commitment for these kids pays off tenfold."
This fall more than 40 Hamilton students have volunteered their time with the league. The 60 participating children are divided into 8 teams, with four Hamilton coaches per team. Each team practices for an hour one afternoon a week, and the teams play games against each other (refereed by Hamilton volunteers) every Sunday.
This season's volunteers range from members of Hamilton's men's and women's varsity soccer teams to students with no previous soccer experience. Some volunteers are returning for their second or third year of coaching. All volunteers, however, share a love of being around the children.
"I wanted to volunteer for Cornhill Youth Soccer because it involved two things I love: soccer and kids!" said Will Gowen '11, who played varsity soccer in high school and now plays on an intramural team at Hamilton. "I love being around these kids because the excitement they have for this program is infectious and everyone has a great time."
Most volunteers agree that the program is as important for the coaches as it is for the players.
"I think the program provides a valuable experience to Hamilton students by giving them the opportunity to leave campus and become involved in a community that many of us would not be involved with outside of the program," said Katy McElroy '08, a second-year volunteer. "The soccer program benefits Cornhill by giving the kids the opportunity to both have fun and compete in a sport they enjoy. The program also provides a structured after-school program in an area where there are not many similar programs."
CYS is a branch of the Utica area American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), which generously donated four portable goals this season. The league receives most of its funding from Hamilton Action Volunteer Outreach Coalition (HAVOC) and buys uniforms, soccer balls, water bottles and shin guards at a discount through Phil Valenti '06 from Valenti Sports in Rochester, N.Y. In September Tau Kappa Epsilon's Chicken Wing Eating Contest raised more than $1,000 for CYS. The fraternity held the fundraiser in memory of Andrew Sheridan '09, a dedicated CYS volunteer and TKE brother.
-- by Molly Kane '09
