The Youth Advancement Program (YAP) has resulted in an innovative collaboration between Spokane Youth Sports Association, Spokane Soccer Academy and the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club. Over 500 children, ages 6 to 10, have participated in YAP’s spring and fall, 2008 training sessions, with rave reviews for more from both players and parents.
Each five-week YAP program was run by adult and teen volunteers. The teen volunteers served as Junior Coaches, mentoring these young players each week. YAP’s Junior Coaches include male and female soccer players in grades 7 through 12 from around the Spokane area. Many began playing soccer in Kindergarten; all play premier-level soccer for the Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club - the highest level of competitive soccer in Washington State. Several represent Washington State in the Olympic Development Program and all 9-12th grade Junior Coaches play for their respective high school soccer teams. We are pleased to nominate the Youth Advancement Program Junior Coaches for the Teen Group Division / Leadership Category of the 2009 Chase Youth Awards.
Youth Advancement Junior Coaches:
Colleen Gravelle, Kenzie Grow, Shannon McFaul, Brennan Schon, Kylie Schatz, Mikayla Anderson, Kasey Rubosky, Lauren Hamilton, Megan Dempsey, Asia Porter, Cody Lang, Trevor Bigelow, Austin Giem, Farin Nikdel, Ali Wells, McKenzie Flynn, Shelby Lambdin, Josie Duff, Damien Lawson, Megan Bech, Polly Blakely, Corbin Bronsch, Blake Smith, Evan Cook, Corey Taisey, Tony Buckley-Jones, Henry Smaldon, Peter Sokolis, Katie Bischoff, Ricky Carroll, Clay Paull, Adam Talley, Stan Dombrowski, and Parker Wilson.
The Chase Youth Leadership Award is to honor young people who have made special contributions to the Spokane Community, recognizing them as community role models.
Award categories highlight strengths of character valued by our community including courage, community service, creativity, personal growth, leadership, and diversity.
Approximately 2,000 youth and family members attend the awards ceremony held each March at the Whitworth University Cowles Auditorium. This
year the ceremony is March 26th from 7:30-9 p.m.
