Soccer & Literacy
Using the power of sport to strengthen communities and equip children with the foundational literacy, confidence, and interpersonal skills needed for school success.
Program Goals
Literacy
Strengthening reading, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing through evidence-based instruction.
Movement
Using soccer to keep students active, engaged, and excited to learn.
Confidence
Helping students grow as teammates, leaders, and learners through positive relationships and mentorship.
Current Impact
Where Reading Meets the Game
We collaborate with school partners to design in-school and after-school programs tailored to student needs. Half of our time together is spent on evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, and the other half is spent on soccer.
Sometimes, students work on foundational reading skills and soccer skills at the same time through hands-on and feet-on learning.
Program Tracks
Early Readers: PreK–2
A 30–45 minute program combining structured literacy practices with interactive read-alouds using soccer-based and mindfulness-based texts. Students build phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, self-regulation, and discussion skills.
Grades 3–8
A 90-minute program using soccer-based chapter books that emphasize teamwork, leadership, social-emotional learning, and critical thinking. Students strengthen reading and writing fluency, vocabulary, spelling, morphology, and comprehension.
See the Program in Action
What Students Build
What Our Community Says
“The F3 soccer program has been one of the best programs we have ever had at Siebert. The staff are professional, amazing with the kids, and communicate regularly with staff. Students love participating and look forward to it every week. I would recommend this program 1000 times over again.”
School Staff Member Siebert Elementary“Add parent testimonial here. This is a great space to share how families see their child building confidence, friendships, and excitement for reading and soccer.”
Parent Name Parent Testimonial“Add student testimonial here. This space can highlight student voice, joy, confidence, and what they love most about Soccer & Literacy.”
Student Name Student TestimonialBring Soccer & Literacy to Your School
Contact Jessica Bennett, Ph.D.
Director of Soccer & Literacy
jessica@finalthirdfoundation.org
614-746-5414