While soccer is the most played sport in the world, each day still more children kick a soccer ball for the first time. Bethlehem Steel FC has joined in the effort to introduce the sport to new fans throughout the Lehigh Valley by starting the Steel Soccer School program in local elementary schools.

“In our inaugural season, we had the dual goal of establishing ourselves as the area’s professional soccer club and building a foundation on which to grow,” head coach Brendan Burke said. “Now, in advance of our second season, bringing Steel Soccer Schools to a variety of schools in the valley, it enables thousands of young people to interact with pros, exposing them to a sport that millions in the world love, while also growing the game in our community.”

The program allows members of the club to take over physical education classes for all grades. Mixing exercise with a new sport, Steel Soccer School shows kids not only the basics of soccer, but how much fun the sport is. Recently one of those stops was at Central Elementary School.

“The students are able to listen and follow directions and learn foot skills and basics of the game,” Principal Rebecca Bodnar said. “I have kindergarten students learning how to use all surfaces of their feet to learn to dribble and control the ball, which I think is pretty amazing. Soccer is near and dear to many of our families and so the students were ecstatic when they learned ‘real live’ people from the club were coming to work with them.”

Each session of Steel Soccer School is molded to each class’s level, with younger students learning to dribble slowly while older students expand with coned dribbling drills and even full-sided games.

Aside from teaching, the program shows Steel FC’s connection with the local community. Thus far, the team has made 20 appearances at six different schools with many more planned as the program grows and expands in the Lehigh Valley.

“Steel Soccer School is great for us since we get out in the community and give an equal opportunity to a lot of different schools across the Lehigh Valley,” Steel FC’s marketing manager Justen Braddock said. “Not everyone has had a soccer experience and we’ve even met children who haven’t touched a soccer ball prior to our class. It allows us the opportunity to introduce the game to the next generation of fans while also letting them know that there is a professional club in their backyard.”