Arlington Heights Community

Programs

Youth Leadership Program in Arlington Heights

Build Stronger Leaders with

Elite Soccer Community Organization

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ESCO PROGRAMS

Together we ensure positive outcomes both on and off the field while building youth leadership.

The Elite Soccer Community Organization (ESCO) relies on the generosity of donors to survive. Your donations guarantee that ESCO will be able to continue providing programming which will have a direct and lasting impact upon the youth and families we serve. Whether it be through a financial contribution, a volunteer effort, or an in-kind donation, we value your desire to support our mission of community building and youth development through soccer.

Youth Leadership Program

Are you looking for a way to help your child develop essential leadership skills, build self-confidence, and make a positive impact on and off the field? Look no further than ESCO’s Youth Leadership Program! Open to youth in grades 6-12, our program offers unique opportunities and experiences that promote leadership development, youth empowerment, and self-reflection. Our goal is to help your child discover and enhance their leadership abilities, preparing them to be influential leaders both in sports and in everyday life. Sign up today and watch your child thrive!

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Five levels of leadership and responsibility the Youth Leadership Program focuses on:

ESCO’s Youth Leadership Program is designed for youth in grades 6-12, providing them with valuable opportunities and experiences to foster leadership development, youth empowerment, and self-reflection. The program focuses on five key levels of leadership and responsibility:

Self-Discipline
Self-Direction
Helping-Being a Team Player
Leader on the Field
Leader off the Field (applying the first four levels to everyday life)

The 5-6 leadership meetings are led by Joe Bush, who has created a structured curriculum that builds upon prior meeting learnings. To learn more about Joe, visit his profile on LinkedIn.

ALL Youth Leaders are expected to:

Attend 5-6 leadership meetings (meetings take place within the new school year and start in September)
Participate in our service projects
Volunteer at least 12 hours throughout the year (our service projects count)

2024-25 Meeting Dates:
All meetings are from 5:00PM-6:30PM at Juliette Low Elementary School – 1530 S Highland Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Sunday, September 15
Sunday, November 3
Sunday, January 12
Sunday, March 16
Sunday, April 6

Program Fee: $65.00 (includes a t-shirt)

Questions? Contact Melissa Braun at mbraun@elitesoccercommunity.org

Community Outreach Soccer

This program uses soccer as a way of outreach to foster diverse relationships through support and partnership in the Chicagoland area, focused on the Northwest suburbs. ESCO will support partners in their efforts to increase enrollment and engagement of soccer players.

ESCO will also partner with community groups to offer soccer clinics and afterschool programs in an effort to not only promote soccer but build community and develop positive life lessons.

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Soccer Programs for Underserved Youth

This program uses soccer as a way of outreach to foster diverse relationships through support and partnership in the Chicagoland area, focused on the Northwest suburbs. ESCO will support partners in their efforts to increase enrollment and engagement of soccer players.

ESCO will also partner with community groups to offer soccer clinics and after school programs in an effort to not only promote soccer but build community and develop positive life lessons.

College Scholarships

Open to current high school seniors attending college in the fall.

To be eligible, applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and have played in a program affiliated with Elite Soccer or been a member of the ESCO Youth Leadership Program for at least three of the last five years.

ESCO scholarships will be awarded to current or former Elite S.C. soccer players and/or ESCO Youth Leaders who are also outstanding citizens.

Apply

ESCO Scholarship

Awards will be primarily based upon the candidates possessing the following criteria:

(1) Citizenship, leadership, good sportsmanship and have participated activities that demonstrate a true role model in the community

(2) A demonstrated love and passion for the game of soccer throughout the candidate’s participation career.

Also included in the criteria will be an individual’s academic/scholastic and associated honors as well as any outside (non-school related) honors.

Financial Support

ESCO is committed to supporting programs that offer high-quality youth soccer that is accessible to everyone. ESCO was formed, in part, to keep soccer affordable and to keep economic barriers from not being a factor in a youth’s participation in playing soccer. For this reason, as long as funds are available, ESCO will make financial assistance available to qualifying players and their families to help pay the professional coaching fees affiliated with club soccer.

Apply

Financial Assistance to Play Soccer

Players must be from one of the following northwest suburbs of Chicago to be eligible: Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows or Wheeling.

Questions? Contact Melissa Braun at mbraun@elitesoccercommunity.org

Testimonials

“Elite Soccer is a model program that goes above and beyond to reach out to the surrounding communities. They provide an opportunity for our students to acquire soccer skills from professional coaches, build confidence and engage in team-building activities. This allows for our school to benefit from the transference of these critical skills which brings a whole new level of energy to Frost.”

Jeffrey Brusso

Principal, Robert Frost Elementary School