On Feb. 19, 67 physical educators at 72 schools districtwide partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation for Soccer for Success curriculum training, training designed to help educators to teach the fundamentals of soccer as well as activities that will help students develop healthy habits and improve their physical and health literacy. More than 29,000 students throughout HISD will enjoy this new soccer-specific unit as part of their PE classes in the coming months.

The Soccer for Success curriculum is designed for grades K-8, and can be used by physical and health educators and classroom teachers alike. It includes five grade levels with 10 lesson plans per grade level and was developed by physical education experts, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and US Youth Soccer.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation also donated 1,200 soccer balls to the HISD schools represented at the training.

“The training was very impactful for our teachers, and we know that impact will carry over to our students,” said HISD Health and Physical Education Curriculum Coordinator Felicia Ceaser-White. “Our teachers now have additional soccer expertise. The lessons in the curriculum will help us engage our students in a way that they will not only grow their soccer skills, but other skills as well. And the donation of the 1,200 soccer balls will equip our schools and help us implement the curriculum.”

In addition to Houston ISD, other school districts utilizing the Soccer for Success curriculum include NYC Public Schools, the School District of Philadelphia, Yakima School District (WA), Richland 1 School District (SC) and Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and others.

“We want the kids in Houston to understand what the World Cup is and why soccer is such a beautiful and important game not only to us, but around the world,” said Lisa Perry, Director of Soccer for Success at the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “And what we want the students to get out of it is a better ability to be able to play soccer not just on a team, but play in their neighborhoods, play on a local mini pitch, or maybe just in their own backyards or around with friends. They don’t have to play competitive soccer. They can just play it and have fun.”

To learn more about the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the work they do in service of underserved communities, visit their website here, or follow them on X @ussoccerfndn.

For more about HISD’s Health and Physical Education Department, visit their website here.