KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 9, 2018) – After a highly successful debut in 2017, United Soccer Coaches is pleased to announce that the Second Annual Play With Pride Week will take place Sept. 17-23, 2018. The initiative was developed in 2017 by the association’s LGBT Coaches and Allies Advocacy Group.
Teams across the country can show their support for athletes and coaches of all sexual orientations by wearing rainbow laces. Free laces are available upon request for all United Soccer Coaches members at the high school and collegiate level. Non-members interested in taking part in the program can sign up for a six-month introductory membership at no cost.
Teams wanting to participate are encouraged to order their laces early as the supply is limited and the inventory of laces was exhausted during the inaugural campaign last year.
From Sept. 17-23, 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.
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. Donations will be accepted from July 9-September 23, 2018.
You can find out more information and take United Soccer Coaches LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion Diploma at www.unitedsoccercoaches.org/education.
For more information regarding United Soccer Coaches Foundation, our initiatives, and to apply for grants and scholarships, please visit www.unitedsoccercoaches.org/donate.
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.