NCFC Youth Partners with ENVEST: A Cultural Exchange Experience to Develop Global Collaboration and Learning

NCFC Youth staff coaches have landed safely in Cape Town, South Africa! Earlier this summer NCFC Youth and members of NC State University’s faculty jointly hosted a group of coaches from South Africa as part of an initiative for cultural learning and experience with ENVEST.

The partnership was set up and “funded by the Sports Diplomacy Division within the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, the Empowering New Voices through Education and Sport Training (ENVEST). The program aims to improve the capacity of coaches to implement youth soccer programs that increase leadership skill development and promote respect for differences and inclusion among participants.”

“Youth sports coaches often focus on the athletic development of their players,” said Mike Edwards, an associate professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State, and NCFC Youth parent. “Our goal is to help these coaches understand that they can accomplish much more than that.” 

Edwards is leading the program alongside Jason Bocarro. During the first phase of the program, South African coaches traveled to the US to engage in coaching education, discussion, and courses with the help and support of NCFC Youth staff members including Bradley Morrison, NCFC Youth’s Director of Coaching Education and Paul Forster, Director of Soccer. The group ran sessions at WRAL Soccer Park, engaged in workshops and full days of learning and collaboration.

“Spending time with all members of the ENVEST program has been very insightful and has helped me consider current challenges through a new lens,” said Marshall Hodge, NCFC Youth’s U11-U12 Director. “Having such a diverse range of perspectives only helps us as people, and we’re very fortunate to have this space to share experiences. I look forward to using the lessons from these interactions to positively influence our young players.”

Now, a collection of North Carolina Coaches and administrators have taken the flight halfway across the word to complete Phase II of the partnership, where they will now have the opportunity to continue to learn and engage with the group in their professional areas and build on the development of a global sport.

Learn more here https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2024/03/exchange-program-youth-development/