The Science of Sport develops STEM curriculum and provides programming for all learners. We bring math and science to life through hands-on learning activities using sports examples and provide direct services to teachers and students. The different services including Youth Summer Camps, Field Trip Days, STEM Showcases, After School Programs, Teacher Kits, STEM Activity Bags for Students, Teacher Workshops and Virtual programming.
The Kickstart STEM Program, presented by ConocoPhillips, provides a mechanism for students to improve their academic performance. Our goal is to translate the love of soccer into an appreciation, understanding, and passion for the science and mathematics underlying the sport. This approach aims to empower students who may be underperforming academically by relating core curriculum topics to their athletic strengths, capabilities, and interests. By demonstrating the natural connection between soccer, science, and mathematics, students are encouraged to define and pursue better life choices, including the continuation of their education and even attending college.
Increase Student Awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Fields as a Future Education and Career Option
Soccer is the world’s game and has been shown to be an effective subject to expose children to math and science. In this same spirit, this program gives students the ability to learn and apply basic academic concepts through hands-on application on the soccer field. We strive to not only expose students to STEM fields, but to help them understand, visualize, and integrate the connection between soccer, science, and mathematics through a variety of learning styles (i.e., visual, kinesthetic, auditory). These hands-on experiences encourage continued involvement and enrollment in math and science classes that will promote academic and career pursuits in related fields.
Motivate Students to Excel Despite Obstacles
In addition to the academic objectives of the program, a parallel objective is to motivate students to excel despite social, economic, and cultural obstacles (either real or imaginary) that may prevent them from advancing their education. The Science of Soccer program could include motivational “pep talks” by players who provide their compelling stories to describe their experiences in overcoming adversity that provides real-world encouragement for students pursuing their dreams.
Provide a Measurable Opportunity for Individual Transformation
We strive to provide a life-changing transformative experience for students in elementary school. Many of the targeted students could be the first in their family to pursue a college education. As such, participation in the program provides an ideal opportunity to encourage an educational path that might be unimaginable or perceived as impossible. A specific objective is to measure the impact of the program of students’ academic performance and life choices. This goal is accomplished by assessing each student’s math and science comprehension levels at the beginning of the program, at the end of the program, and six months after the program. We also interview the students, their teachers, and their families to determine other intangible impacts resulting from their participation in the program.
Establish a Framework for Sustainable Change
In order to reinforce the lessons learned through the Science of Soccer program and maximize the likelihood for improved academic achievement, each participant is assigned a mentor. The mentor engages the student in dialog about academic and personal achievement facilitated through participation in reunion games, held every three months.
