With the COVID pandemic impacting the ability of elementary aged children to participate in organized athletics, ABC and Cincinnati Public Schools were determined to offer a soccer program after students returned in person during the second semester of the 2020-21 school year. While ABC and CPS were not able to offer this program to students during the previous school year, and numerous changes needed to be made to make the program COVID-compliant, elementary soccer at CPS made a triumphant return, thanks largely to the support of FC Cincinnati.
Beginning in April, students from 6 CPS elementary schools were taught the basics of soccer in a fun and interactive program. For six weeks, students were able to go outside afterschool and play soccer for an hour. When weather didn’t permit playing outside, students were able to play in their school’s gymnasiums. In addition to their normal practices and clinics, certain days featured the inclusion of instruction from a former-professional soccer player, Omar Cummings.