The Columbus North girls soccer team has put in a lot of hard work this summer to prepare for the upcoming season, but before the Bull Dogs start their mandatory practices next week, new coach David Young incorporated a team week and wanted to give his players a little bit of time away from the pitch to give back to the community.
When Young took over the head coaching job in March, as a way to get to know the team much better, he gave them a survey that had 15 questions. The last question was what type of community services that they would like to do, and one-third of the responses came back with something to do for the Love Chapel.
That came to fruition Monday morning when the players and coaches helped out the Love Chapel and the Brighter Days Housing For the Homeless. They helped clean at Brighter Days and stocked shelves, filled water bottles and loaded trucks with food at the Love Chapel.
“We felt like before that mandatory session and after the whole summer that they’ve worked, instead of them training hard every day, we needed to give back to the community,” Young said. “It’s something that I’ve grew up with, and I felt like the girls here whether they get it at home, at school or at church, they needed someone to show them what it means to give back.”
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Love Chapel executive director Kelly Daugherty was excited to see the support.
“The one thing I always wanted to emphasize is making sure our young people know the need that we have in this community. What a better way to let them see that need than have them come volunteer,” Daugherty said. “So much of the time here in high school, you’re thinking of only yourself and not realize the things going on in the world around you. It’s a great way for them to see the need that there is, both for the homeless shelter, as well as here in the food pantry.”
For the rest of team week, the Bull Dogs will be training at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex today. A guest speaker will talk to the team on Wednesday, and after the speaker, they will work on goals for the year.
On Thursday will be the Inaugural “Cupcake Classic,” featuring intrasquad scrimmages at the Wigh complex. The team will be off Friday and Saturday and will begin official practice on Monday.
Helping out the Love Chapel Monday was just the first step in giving back to the community for many years to come.
“This week, we’re spending a lot of time together doing soccer and things that aren’t soccer. I think it’s a big help to get involved with the community,” senior goalkeeper Kaylyn Bates said. “By helping a large community, I think it helps us come together and we realize we can actually make a change, not just on the soccer field, but also outside. That’s what brings us together.”
Junior forward Lauryn Whitley agreed.
“It’s nice because our new coach is giving us more opportunities to help the community more,” Whitley said. “It’s nice having good team environment, and coming here, it’s more of a positive atmosphere and we know that we are helping out. It’s fun to have those relationships with your team, not just on the field, but off the field.”
