Community Corner
‘Kicks for Hunger’ Aims for Food Donations
Coventry Soccer Association Tournament helps local residents in need.
This Saturday at the Fish Hill Soccer Complex over 900 boys and girls from 68 teams from the Coventry Soccer Association will get a kick not just by getting a ball into the net. This organization will help less fortunate residents in the community.
It is the third annual Kicks for Hunger CSA Tournament and there are high hopes for the largest youth organization in town to help support local citizens more than they did last year.
“Instead of asking to pay money, the registration and admisssion fee is one or more non-perishable food items, or perhaps some toothbrushes or toothpaste,” said Jay Hudson, President of the CSA. “Everything donated is going to the Coventry Food Bank and will stay in town. The first two years we had 1,200 and then 1,500 items. We’d love to hit over 2,000 this time.”
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As parents, players, fans, league officials and others continue to deposit their donations into bins during the day, the young athletes will be putting on a show on the five spacious CSA fields. With participants ranging in age from 4 to 15, observers will get a close-up look at members of one of the largest youth soccer leagues in the state.
“The competition is great, the talent fantastic and players in all age groups will amaze you with their skills,” Hudson says of the event which will run from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 4:30 p.m. “There is good sportsmanship and lots of fun and this is for a very good cause.”
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Hudson says the league, started in the late 1970’s by Nick Della Cioppa, has remained successful for many reasons. “We have a great Board of Directors, committees and local business sponsors and tremendous volunteer support,” he said. “We also have a concession stand that has low prices and offers some healthy food and snack choices.”
Since the CSA started, there are many who played or coached who now watch their sons and daughters or even grandchildren play. A few former CSA Presidents still remain active, continuing to coach and contribute: Steve Marmas and Art Yarumian. "Steve also helps at the state level and helps novice coaches and certify coaches from Youth Module I to obtaining a 'D' license," Hudson says. "All of our officials are also certified."
Throughout its 30-year plus history, many young Coventry athletes have gone on to play soccer in middle school, high school, college and even beyond. Nico Colaluca, current professional soccer player, was a former La Salle Academy All-Stater and National HS Player of the Year, University of Virginia standout and former New England Revolution member.
“The under-12 girls that I coach won the 2010 Kohl’s Cup state championship,” said Hudson of a squad that includes his daughter, Riley Hudson. “I have been coaching the girls on the squad since they were six years old. They also won the Fall Super Liga championship.”
Other recent CSA state championship squads have been: Under-14 Girls, coach Dave Lavigne, 2011 U-14 Girls Super Liga Spring and 2009 Kohl Cup titles, and 2011 Boys Under-8 Indoor team coached by Anthony Frattarelli.
The Nick Della Cioppa Tournament, to be held this year on Oct. 30-31, determines the top CSA recreational team, which then goes on to compete in the prestigious state tournament.
And on Saturday, November 5, and Sunday, November 6, the CSA will host the 2011 Kohl’s Youth Soccer America Cup competition for under-12 and under-15 boys and girls recreational championship squads, respectively. It is the biggest state championship event ever held at the Fish Hill Complex and will involve over 60 squads from leagues across the state.
To help its competitive squads from under-8 to under-19, which travel locally and regionally to face other All-Star and elite teams year-rouind, the league conducts other fundraising efforts. Such events as a dinner, dance and raffle night at Elks Lodge and Papa Gino’s Night, among others, help defray costs, throughout the year.
But for the CSA, there has always been an emphasis on community service from funding needy players through scholarship programs in developmental or All-Star competitive squads, to supporting the community at large.
The biggest tournament held by the CSA and attracting players from New England and New York, is the Joe Strauss Invitational Tournament, named after a former CSA player who was a passenger killed in a car driven by an underage and intoxicated driver in 1995. The tournament and Joe Strauss Foundation now helps support causes to prevent underage drinking locally and statewide.
‘Kicks for Hunger’ is yet another effort by the CSA to help a persistent crisis in the community and the nation.
“Hunger is not a two-month or holiday problem,” Hudson emphasizes. “It exists all-year round and we really need support. It would be great if some businesses donated two cases of soup or bottled water, or something like that. And people can always leave more items whenever they want during any of our seasons.”
For more information on the CSA, its teams, volunteers and community-service ventures, go to www.csa-ri.com.
