Street Soccer USA Announces Affiliate Partnership with Play Where You Stay – Memphis
To Send Spanish Professional Player and Coach, Jesús “Jesule” Barbadilla to Serve as PWYS Technical Director in Residence for 2 months
Memphis, TN – Street Soccer USA (SSUSA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to using soccer as a tool for social change, is thrilled to announce today its official affiliate partnership with Play Where Your Stay (PWYS), a Memphis initiative focused on providing soccer programs to underserved youth in Memphis. The partnership aims to strengthen PWYS’s efforts to fight poverty and strengthen community through top quality soccer programs.
The collaboration between SSUSA and PWYS began when former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper, Tim Howard, asked SSUSA to explore the possibility of developing street soccer programs in Memphis. SSUSA’s founder, Lawrence Cann, quickly identified the standout work already taking place at PWYS. PWYS’s founders, Ellen Roberds and Jarad Bingham saw the value in bringing increased resources and expertise to their already successful player development and competitive programs.
SSUSA-PWYS’ collaboration immediately impacted the lives of Marlene Casas Reyes, Brenda Gonzalez, and Yessica Munoz, women in PWYS’s competitive program. SSUSA selected them as part of its United States National team which traveled to the Street Child World Cup, held on the eve of FIFA’s World Cup 2022 in Doha, Qatar. From there, the two organizations continued discussions to determine how their partnership could support their shared goal of promoting soccer development and increasing access to the sport. Thus, the formal partnership was born.
“Forming an official collaboration with PWYS was a clear next step in supporting the development of meaningful soccer education and play in Memphis, one of our target communities,”Cann said. “PWYS will strengthen Street Soccer USA’s 12-city network of programs on day one. We are excited to offer our support, initially through our expert-in-residence program, to the mission and vision we share with PWYS.”
From April 6 through June 4, 2024, as the first action of the official affiliation with PWYS, SSUSA is sending Jesús “Jesule” Barbadilla, a former Spanish first division player and director of the Spanish Football Players Association’s Soccer Schools, to Memphis. Jesule, a UEFA Pro licensed coach, will spend two months as Technical Director in residence at PWYS, reviewing and enhancing PWYS’s soccer pedagogy and coach training model, ensuring that the program provides the highest quality soccer experiences for youth in the community.
Ellen Roberds and Jarad Bingham, Co-Founders of Play Where Your Stay, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership.
“Bringing quality soccer programming to Memphis requires we simultaneously develop local resources, while seeking input from outside experts. Becoming Street Soccer USA’s official Memphis partner ensures a pipeline for world-class resources that will support programmatic and player development into the future,” Roberds said. “We hope as many people as possible will come out to meet Jesule, our players and families during his stay.”
For more information about Street Soccer USA and Play Where You Stay, please visit streetsoccerusa.org and playwhereyoustay.org.
About Street Soccer USA
Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) is a national nonprofit organization that uses soccer as a tool for social change in 12 U.S. cities and growing. Learn more about our Street Soccer Programs, Street Soccer Parks, and the Street Soccer USA Cup Series at www.streetsoccerusa.org
About Play Where You Stay
Play Where Your Stay (PWYS) is a Memphis-based initiative dedicated to providing soccer programs and opportunities to underserved youth in the community. Through its innovative approach, PWYS aims to break down barriers to access and create a supportive environment where all young people can enjoy the benefits of playing soccer. With a focus on skill development, teamwork, and community engagement, PWYS is making soccer accessible and inclusive for youth in Memphis.
