FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo women’s soccer team is busy preparing for the 2013 season, but the players are finding time on Friday afternoons to mentor youth at the Boys and Girls Club of Montevallo.

The visits aren’t simply centered around physical activity. The players are teaching geography and providing encouragement in addition to helping the youth sharpen their soccer skills.

“Our kids love having the Montevallo women’s soccer team here on Fridays,” said Freda Shivers, Unit Director at the Boys and Girls Club of Montevallo. “When I go out to see what’s going on, it’s hard to tell who is enjoying it more, the club members or the women’s soccer players, since I see big smiles on all the faces!”

The Montevallo women’s soccer team isn’t the only team from the University making an impact in the local community. From Montevallo women’s basketball players reading to the elementary school children, Montevallo volleyball players spending time with local YMCA members and the Montevallo baseball players participating in the annual Light the Night Walk benefitting the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, student-athletes at the University put in countless hours with groups and organizations across the community.

“It has been a great experience for our ladies,” said interim Montevallo women’s soccer coach Jeremy Hampton. “It has given them an opportunity to get out into the community and interact with people of Montevallo. It is an amazing feeling when you can give back to a community that gives so much to you. We are grateful for Freda and the Boys and Girls Club of Montevallo for giving us the opportunity for us to interact with such great kids.”

Shivers said the children continue talking about their interactions with the Montevallo women’s soccer players long after they return to campus.

“The materials we are using from the Boys and Girls Club of America are good, but certainly more fun with Coach (Jeremy) Hampton and his team,” Shivers said.

“The kids are excited when they come in and some soccer adventure is always the first thing they tell the parent or guardian who picks them up at the end of the day.”

Hampton and his players have also been teaching geography lessons by using their International background to teach the youth about their home countries across the globe.

“Our kids did pretty well on the Norwegian players,” Shivers said, “but most of the Canadians stumped us!”

Shivers said the Boys and Girls Club is very appreciative of the Montevallo women’s soccer players taking time out of their busy schedules to mentor local youth.

“I know Coach Hampton and his team have other things they could be doing on Friday afternoons,” Shivers said, “but not many where they could make the kind of difference they are making here!”