KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 16, 2019) – United Soccer Coaches is excited to announce that the Third Annual Play with Pride Week will take place Sept. 16-22, 2019. The initiative was developed in 2017 by the association’s LGBT & Allies Coaches Advocacy Group.
Teams across the country can show their support for athletes and coaches in the LGBTQ+ community by wearing rainbow laces. Laces are available upon request for all United Soccer Coaches members at the club, high school or collegiate level.
Teams wanting to participate are encouraged to order their laces early as the supply is limited and the inventory of laces was exhausted during each of the first two years of the initiative. This year, a $5 fee is being added to each request to offset shipping costs and to allow more laces to be provided.
From Sept. 16-22, players and coaches are encouraged to wear rainbow laces during matches and post on social media with the hashtag #PlayWithPride to promote their team’s participation in Play with Pride Week. In addition, United Soccer Coaches will provide a toolkit to all participants to help each team promote their participation in this nationwide effort.
New this year, the LGBT & Allies Advocacy Group will be conducting a “Proudest Program” social media contest. The winner will be selected from teams that tag United Soccer Coaches and use #PlayWithPride on social media.
Support for Play with Pride comes from a variety of locations, including the United Soccer Coaches Foundation. Sustainability for this event is imperative for diversity and inclusion of coaches and players alike. Please consider a donation to Play with Pride to ensure its longevity in the future and to assist United Soccer Coaches with developing additional diversity and inclusion resources like our LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion Diploma.
You can find out more information and take United Soccer Coaches LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion Diploma at UnitedSoccerCoaches.org/eLearning.
For more information regarding United Soccer Coaches Foundation, our initiatives, and to apply for grants and scholarships, please visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org/coachesgive.
For more information on Play with Pride, contact United Soccer Coaches Operations Coordinator Andrew Dahir or Advocacy Relations Manager Lee Jarrell. To register your team, click here.