What you should know
- The program admits high school students ages 15-18.
- The new training season begins in September and costs $10 but space is limited.
- For more information about the program, Click here.
The City of Los Angeles offers a soccer-focused sports program dedicated to young women.
This program is part of “Girls Play LA” (GPLA), in which they not only teach them soccer skills but also develop their personal skills, such as leadership.
“I think of myself as a leader when I can support all my colleagues and we can all learn and improve together,” says one of the participants.
The city of Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympic Games, so sport is one of the free programs that they are promoting among the youth of the city.
At the Soccer Leadership Academy they also learn camaraderie, a staple in sports and in other aspects of their lives.
“We give them this space so that they can see each other and can grow in the sport, on the pitch and off the pitch as well,” says Lizka Mendoza, GPLA director.
Some of these players have spent years in the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation program that admits high school students ages 15 to 18.
“This program changed my life in many ways, I met many friends, many professionals,” says Monique Cerriteno, one of the program participants.
Angel City FC women’s soccer club joined the mission and is now part of this initiative.
“It’s very important to us because it’s really about access to the sport,” says Katherine Dávila, director of community and marketing for Angel City FC.
“(Because) We already know that everyone in our neighborhood doesn’t have equal access to sports.”
But it’s not just the young women who feel that the leadership academy teaches them about sports and other life skills. Some of the mothers see this opportunity as a dream come true that they themselves could not achieve in their countries of origin.
“When I was little, where I lived there was a community where we all got together as children to play soccer, and now I look at this beautiful pitch and I like it because my daughter is here,” says Emma Cifuentes, mother of
The students and athletes of the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) overcome social challenges to demonstrate their capacity and abilities as women.
They are young athletes who are clear that on and off this field, no desire is impossible.
“Angel City has motivated me to be that person that I am going to be able to be something more, like an immigration lawyer and continue playing soccer,” said Monique Cerriteno, one of the Girls Play LA participants.
The new training season begins in September. The Sports Leadership Program is only $10, but space is limited.
For more information about the program, Click here.
For a list of programs offered by the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Click here.
