Coastal Carolina men's soccer is using their time in the off-season to give back to the Myrtle Beach Community. The team has been spending their Tuesdays with Miracle League Soccer here in the Grand Strand.
Miracle League aims to offer sports programs to Special Needs kids around the globe. The local program was formed in collaboration with the Horry County Recreation Department and Coastal Carolina soccer programs in the fall of 2011. After a year off due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the program is excited to pick back up where it left off. The team has always looked forward to spending time with the participants each week.
When asked his favorite part of working with Miracle League, Freshman goalkeeper
Randy Burkhardt says he loves seeing the smiles on everyone's faces and knowing that the team being there makes their week.
At each training session, players and coaches from Coastal Carolina soccer provide instruction on basic soccer skills, working one-on-one with Miracle League Soccer players. For one hour, players move through various skill stations. The evening usually ends with a scrimmage or friendly game of kickball. Emphasis is on fun, fitness, and friendship.
"We live very privileged lives with our jobs and are very lucky," said CCU men's soccer assistant coach
Chris Fidler. "We want to give them the enjoyment of being a kid. We give them the opportunity to play a sport that we take for granted every day, so it is a great privilege to give back to the community and those that are less fortunate."
Sophomore forward,
Alvaro Garcia-Pascual, says it is also nice to be able to work with the Coastal women's soccer program outside of the school environment. "The only time we talk with them is maybe in the dining hall. But it is always about soccer, the games, and the training," said Garcia-Pascual. "Seeing everyone outside the field working with all of the kids and having fun in other things besides just soccer is great and I think you get to know them better."
Coastal men's soccer will continue their hard work with the Miracle League Soccer at James C. Benton Miracle League field for the next five weeks.
