Soccer for Success is a sports-based youth development program that serves children in grades K to 8 in underserved, urban communities. The program uses soccer as a tool to combat obesity, promote healthy eating and exercise habits, and foster positive youth development. The program consists of soccer activities that incorporate nutritional lessons. Evaluation of Soccer for Success found that the program participants showed:

  • greater improvement towards healthy BMI and waist circumference categories than participants in other similar programs in the same neighborhoods; and,
  • greater improvement in aerobic capacity compared to participants in similar programs. 

In addition, the study found that Soccer for Success had statistically significant and consistent results across different locations, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds supporting the conclusion that if the program were replicated as designed (i.e. with fidelity) in other urban communities, similar results would be likely.

Full report

Full Report
FR_USSoccerFoundation_SoccerforSuccess.pdf
RB_US Soccer_SoccerforSuccess.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
Soccer for Success
Implementing Organization
U.S. Soccer Foundation
Intermediary(s)

U.S. Soccer Foundation

AmeriCorps Program(s)
Social Innovation Fund
Age(s) Studied
0-5 (Early childhood)
6-12 (Childhood)
Focus Population(s)/Community(s)
Urban
Outcome Category
Obesity and food
Study Type(s)
Impact
Level of Evidence
Strong
Researcher/Evaluator
Healthy Networks Design & Research
Published Year
2014
Report Citation
Hollar, D., Riggle, Z. (2014). Independent Evaluation of Program: Impact 2013-2014. Maryland: Healthy Networks Design & Research.