Introducing the Beautiful Game to Toronto youth

While it has been around for nine years, the MLSE KickStart program went fully virtual for the regular season for the first time in 2021—and to huge success!

In partnership with MLSE Foundation and sponsored by BMO, the KickStart program is a free, nine-week program that teaches soccer skills to children aged 6 to 13. It’s a safe environment where kids can learn about physical literacy, teamwork and leadership skills.

The challenge for our Active Living team was to transform an outdoor sports program into an online format. The team had to be creative to maintain the same engagement and stimulation of our young tenants, both physically and mentally.

Thankfully, KickStart is about more than just soccer. It's about learning life skills, social development, and finding a sense of belonging within a group. With nearly 120 kids registered from across 30 TCHC communities, virtual programs ran twice a week in the spring for a total of 60 virtual sessions over nine weeks. Led by 15 facilitators and staff, the sessions incorporated homework time, active games and educational moments that taught the rules of soccer.

In the fall, KickStart hosted an inaugural, in-person tournament where kids were no longer kept apart by their screens. In October, 45 kids from six communities were picked up by school bus for a day of physical activity, competition and learning at Dovercourt Park.  All children received socks, shin guards, shorts, jerseys and a BMO soccer ball. After the tournament, there was an award ceremony with trophy presentations and speeches. For some children, it was the first major sporting event that they had played in.

That makes 2021 another winning season for our KickStart team.

Here are some highlights from the year.

• 30 communities
• 120 participants
• 9 weeks of programming
• 15 facilitators
• 60 virtual sessions