Montgomery Soccer Inc. MSI
MSI is a non-profit youth soccer organization that promotes youth soccer in Montgomery County. MSI emphasizes each child's enjoyment, personal growth, skill development and team experience through excellent leadership, fair play and good sportsmanship.
MSI IN THE COMMUNITY
MSI takes its role as a member of the community very seriously. A variety of MSI programs contribute significantly to the quality of life for all citizens of Montgomery County. Except for the use of County-owned ball fields (school and park locations), MSI does not receive financial support from any government agency. MSI provides services on an equal-access basis to all residents of Montgomery County with no direct expense to the taxpayers.
RECREATIONAL SERVICES FOR 15,000 MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH
MSI is the largest youth sports organization in Montgomery County, and is the only soccer club with a mission to provide playing opportunities for all youth in the County, regardless of age, location, income, ethnicity, religion, or physical ability. Every year, MSI provides soccer participation opportunities for 15,000 Montgomery County youth, nearly 90% of whom participate in both Fall and Spring seasons of league play, and many of whom participate in additional MSI programs.
RECREATIONAL SERVICES FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
MSI sponsors programs for youth with special needs in Montgomery County, via our TOP Soccer program. Our program has been recognized nationally, and our program coordinator, Pam Yerg, has taken over the development and implementation of this program Statewide within Maryland. The MSI TOP Soccer program culminates with a very special TOP Soccer Festival, a terrific day that is a highlight of our year. This program not only provides opportunities for youths with a variety of special needs, but also for those children and adults who volunteer as “buddies”, participating each week to make this program possible.
$80,000 ANNUAL NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH WITH FINANCIAL NEED
MSI has an aggressive financial aid program, designed to ensure that all children are able to participate in recreational programs without regard to ability to pay. MSI provides more than $80,000 in need-based financial aid annually to Montgomery County youths, enabling these children to participate in recreational programs that they may otherwise not be able to.
MSI COMMUNITY SOCCER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH
In partnership with the MCPS “Linkages to Learning” program, MSI has established MSI Community Soccer to expand opportunities for underprivileged youth to play soccer. We started a pilot program at Broad Acres ES in September 2002. Working with the school’s PTA, we registered 100 players, helped recruit and train coaches, provided equipment, and scheduled games at the local school. This initial pilot program was operated at no expense to the players and the local community. In Fall 2003, the program was expanded to Highland ES, with nearly 200 players registering in the first year. The Community Soccer program continues to this day, with many of the children "mainstreamed" into MSI's traditional recreational league environment through the benefit of our financial assistance program.
MSI FAMILIES SUPPORT MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD BANKS
Twice each year, MSI’s Community Service Day provides our families an opportunity to support the underprivileged through donations to community food banks. Each season on Community Service Day, we collect food donations at every field where our teams play; at the end of the day, these donations are taken to the Manna Food Center in Rockville. The generosity of MSI’s families is an essential resource for the local food banks; each year, MSI’s food drive accounts for up to 7 tons of food donations, the Food Center’s second largest source of food donations.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SUPPORT OF THE MARYLAND SOCCERPLEX
MSI was the first and most prominent supporter of the development of the Maryland SoccerPlex. After having donated nearly $1 Million prior to the construction of the facility, MSI has continued to provide $400,000-$500,000 annually towards the development and operation of Soccerplex fields located at South Germantown Recreational Park, managed by the Maryland Soccer Foundation.
EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH
MSI provides employment and personal growth opportunities for the youth of Montgomery County. Specifically, MSI employs several hundred students as clinicians in support of our Player Development Program for 1st Graders, and as junior referees in support of our 3rd and 4th grade leagues. A number of other kids earn community service hours through volunteering as TOPSoccer buddies or soccer team assistant coaches. These programs provide opportunities for our young people to gain employment experience, earn income or Community Service credits, and develop their leadership skills.
MSI SHOE EXCHANGE
The MSI Shoe Exchange is designed to provide players with a source for quality used soccer shoes. The program is intended to help reduce the cost of participating in MSI and is open to all MSI families. The Shoe Exchange is typically scheduled for the Wednesday prior to Opening Weekend. An email is sent to all MSI families with specific date, time and location.Members who bring in used shoes may exchange them for other shoes in MSI’s inventory. Participants are asked for a small donation. Members who do not bring in shoes to exchange may purchase shoes from the exchange for a slightly higher donation. The donation is used to offset the costs of running the exchange and to help support MSI’s Community Soccer Program. Directions to the MSI Office (7650 Standish Place, #108, Rockville, Md, 20855): From 495, take Rockville Pike (Route 355) north to East Gude Drive; right at East Gude Drive 1/3 mile to 1st stoplight, left onto Crabbs Branch Way; Crabbs Branch Way for 1/3 mile (see American Red Cross on right side of Crabbs Branch), left onto Standish Place; immediate right into parking lot. Please note that Standish Place makes a 'horseshoe', and intersects Crabbs Branch twice. The correct turn is located directly across from the American Red Cross building.