Supporting the health and wellbeing of communities is important to us. On 13 August, BHP Billiton, the Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer franchise and Houston-area non-profit Neighborhood Centers announced the successful conclusion of the Soccer Anywhere pilot program. Soccer Anywhere leveraged BHP Billiton financial support and Houston Dynamo coaching expertise to provide soccer equipment and training curricula to participants in Neighborhood Centers’ summer youth programs; some 300 young people ages 8 to 16 participated. BHP Billiton funded the program through a US$10,000 donation to Dynamo Charities—the charitable arm of the soccer franchise.

Soccer Anywhere kits, including balls, sideline markers, pinnies and collapsible goals, were distributed to five Neighborhood Centers locations across the greater Houston area. Coaches from the Dynamo Academy developed a curriculum of basic soccer drills, from skills fundamentals through small sided games to scrimmages.

The announcement event took place beside the playing fields at the Harbach-Ripley Neighborhood Centers location, on Houston’s south side. Alex Archila, BHP Billiton Asset President, Shale was joined by Houston Dynamo President Chris Canetti, retired Houston Dynamo star (and current Houston Dash Managing Director) Brian Ching, and Neighborhood Centers Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer Claudia Aguirre-Vasquez. In addition to media and organizational representatives, a group of Soccer Anywhere participants were also in attendance and suited up to play.

In his remarks at the event, Alex spoke about BHP Billiton’s community programs and the Company’s commitment to sustainability — and about the ways that the game of Soccer can help promote health and well-being.

The summer pilot was intended to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of the Soccer Anywhere concept. In light of its success, BHP Billiton and the Houston Dynamo are discussing ways to strengthen the program and expand it to involve additional young people. Possibilities include bringing additional youth-focused non-profit organizations into the Soccer Anywhere program, as well as exploring its expansion into public or charter schools.

After the short speaking program, Alex blew a whistle to start play, and a group of Soccer Anywhere participants took the field for a spirited morning scrimmage.

For additional information, visit: http://www.houstondynamo.com/socceranywhere