What We Do
Our Impact
New York SCORES empowers youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world.
Through a unique blend of soccer, poetry and service learning, we partner with public schools across Uptown & The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, training Coach-Mentors who help shine a spotlight on our Poet-Athletes.
For our 25th anniversary, our goal is to bring soccer, literacy and community programming to over 500 public school students at 26 different locations across New York City by the end of World Cup 2026.
Our Unique Program
The SCORES Network is a direct legacy of the 1994 World Cup, offering free after-school programs that support whole child development through the teamwork of soccer, the self-expression of poetry, and the community of service-learning. New York SCORES serves 500 public school students across Uptown Manhattan and The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
Core Programming
Health Through Soccer
Our core programs promote physical fitness and healthy habits and strengthen students’ conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, fostering overall well-being on and off the field.
Power Through Poetry
Poetry sessions throughout the Fall season provide poet-athletes with the opportunity to develop the four touchstones of language acquisition --reading, writing, speaking, and listening -- while teaching students positive modes of self-expression and communication.
Writing for the Community
During the spring semester, the Poet-Athletes focus on student directed service-learning projects that address neighborhood issues identified and researched by the students themselves.
Program Events
Fall Frenzy
Our first youth event of the school year, Fall Frenzy brings poet-athletes from elementary schools through New York City for an outdoor celebration of soccer, poetry, and community!
Poetry SLAM
Our annual Poetry SLAM allows our poet-athletes the opportunity to present the individual and team poems that they worked on throughout the Fall season to their peers, family,and community.
Jamboree
Our year-ending, city-wide celebration of soccer and community takes place at Riverbank State Park and brings together hundreds of poet-athletes and their families, coaches, and friends
Family Day
Every summer, we bring our community together for the Voices of New York SCORES Family Day - celebrating the success of our social justice youth development summer programming. With water games, poetry performances, and parents versus poet-athletes soccer tournaments, it’s a day enjoyed by all!
Pathways Programming
Kicking it Forward
Kicking It Forward supports students in preparing for life after high school. Through lessons, guest speakers, and internships, students discover and develop their passions, talents, and career pathways
Saturday Night Lights (SNL)
A violence prevention program called Saturday Night Lights (SNL) was developed through a partnership with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, local law enforcement. and sports-based youth development organizations throughout New York City. In 2019, we were able to expand on programming and provide a safe space for students to play soccer on Saturdays during high crime times in Washington Heights and build team culture as students are coached on various soccer technical skills, followed by team scrimmages.
Coaching for Change Academy
Coaching for Change Academy, powered by Nike, offers a year-long, paid professional development program for aspiring youth coaches in New York City. Participants gain hands-on coaching experience, build mentoring relationships, and develop leadership and professional skills while making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Our Partner Schools
We partner with New York City public schools, hiring and training their teachers to coach their students in soccer, poetry, and service learning programming after-school using our Literacy in Action curriculum.
