Urban Initiatives’ fall Work to Play soccer season started last week, and for our players on the team at National Teachers Academy (NTA), the first week of Work to Play was capped with a Friday game day with 10 new friends from GrubHub!
Heavy cloud cover and the threat of rain did nothing to dampen NTA’s spirits as the players took the field in their brand new Nike uniforms. Most of our Work to Play teams have 30 players on their rosters, but at NTA, soccer fever has really taken hold–63 players turned out for Friday’s game! As the team lined up to be split into smaller groups, the players made a point of thanking their new coaches for spending the afternoon with them.
After quick introductions and team cheers, GrubHub’s volunteers got their players positioned and ready for kickoff. As the first whistle blew, NTA’s players took off at full speed, eager to show off all they remembered from last year. Passing was a little rusty during the first game, but as the players warmed up, their passes got crisper, and they started looking for open space. Coaches cheered from the sidelines for great saves in front of the goal, and parents clapped for a well-timed header by an NTA fourth grader.
With 10 minutes to go, the skies opened, and everyone ran for cover in NTA’s gym. GrubHub’s volunteers immediately grabbed soccer balls and continued passing and dribbling with NTA’s players. Impromptu games started all over the gym, and the players took turns trying to dribble around GrubHub defenders.
“GrubHub made it to the semifinals in Urban Initiatives’ inaugural Corporate Challenge Cup in July,” said Urban Initiatives’ Executive Director, Jim Dower. “With all that talent on the field, they were the perfect group of Corporate Coaches to host at our opening game of the 2015-16 school year! We can’t thank their team enough for coming out and supporting our players.”
It was an amazing day, and Urban Initiatives would like to send a huge thank you to GrubHub’s volunteers for joining us for opening day! We can’t wait to have you join us again.
