CHICAGO (Sept. 5, 2023) - U.S. Soccer, in partnership with Integrated Dreams, has launched the ADAPTandTHRIVE Leadership Course to empower individuals to become advocates for inclusion and change within their soccer communities. The first-of-its-kind course in the United States will begin with week-long, in-person workshops from Dec. 3-10, 2023, in Rome, Ga.
By providing training in leadership skills, diversity awareness, and inclusive practices, the ADAPTandTHRIVE Leadership Course will equip participants with the tools to drive positive transformations and be catalysts for change in their respective soccer communities.
The inaugural course in December will entail leadership training on various topics related to soccer in the United States. At the conclusion of the week, participants will return to their communities, and with the help of mentors, spend the next six months implementing a project that will elevate disability soccer. At the conclusion of this practical phase, candidates will gather in person and present their experience in front of an expert panel.
Application for the ADAPTandTHRIVE Leadership Course is open now through October 15, 2023. To apply, interested applicants should visit https://integrated-dreams.org/adaptandthrive.
One of the long-term goals for the ADAPTandTHRIVE Leadership Course is to also provide a runway to ensure U.S. Soccer has access to a more inclusive workforce across the board and in growing access for disability soccer programs nationwide. The program will ultimately be part of the Federation's legacy as the U.S. builds toward hosting a myriad of major soccer competitions through the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Leadership Course is one of six current initiatives that are part of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s ADAPTandTHRIVE Program. They include:
Integrated Dreams is a non-profit Association based in Lisbon, Portugal, working for the inclusion of disabled people in the sports industry. Our Mission: to increase the representation of disabled people in the sports World. Our Vision: a sports world as a place where all people reach their fullest potential. Inclusion, development, and education remain our core values.
The ADAPTandTHRIVE program is a first-of-its-kind combination of soccer-based initiatives (currently six initiatives are part of the ADAPTandTTHRIVE Program) which aim to impact the disability community.
The innovative, multi-pronged approach hits on youth empowerment, leadership, awareness raising and opportunity creation. These creative elements set the program apart and position it as a trailblazer in promotion inclusivity within the soccer community.
Founded in 1913, the U.S. Soccer Federation has been the official governing body of the sport in the United States for more than 100 years. During that time, the sport has grown tremendously at all levels. As U.S. Soccer looks toward the future, its mission is to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States. With a long-term and strategic approach, U.S. Soccer aims to accomplish its mission by supporting its members to increase participation at the youth and adult levels, develop world-class players, coaches, and referees to consistently win at the highest levels on the international stage, and serve the fans by engaging with them in deeper and more meaningful ways. For more information, visit ussoccer.com.