Dallas, Texas … Olympic Goal Medalist Goalkeeper Briana Scurry will hold a soccer clinic Thursday, February 5 at 3:30 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Learning Center,
1710 N. Carroll Ave., Dallas. The event is open to the public.
SCORES targets DISD elementary-aged at-risk children with organized after-school activities. More than 95 percent of participating children live at or below the federal poverty level.
Briana, national spokesperson for America SCORES, will teach soccer skills to Dallas children in third through fifth grades enrolled in the SCORES program at Chavez. She is serving as honorary chairperson for the 11th Annual SoccerBall, a fundraiser for the local SCORES program, planned for Friday, February 6 at Tower Club, Thanksgiving Tower.
Briana Scurry is widely thought of as one of the world’s-best female soccer goalkeepers. After being named starting goalkeeper for the United States women’s national soccer team in 1994, she helped lead the team in two Olympic gold medals (1996 and 2004) and had 173 international appearances – a record amongst female soccer players. With over 90,000 screaming fans watching, Briana made history in 1999 after an astounding shoot-out save against China, which resulted in a championship win. Her talent protecting the goal –she had 71 shut-outs -- and her team’s unprecedented success lead to a huge increase of women’s soccer fans, and inspired millions.
Briana was also one of the first women in the world to participate in a woman’s paid professional league in 2001. As captain of the Atlanta Beat, she played in two WUSA Championship Games and in 2003 she was named Goalkeeper of the Year. She continued playing until 2010, until a debilitating head-injury lead to her retirement.
With dedication, determination and passion, she continues spreading her love of the game through motivational speaking and coaching. Briana had the distinct honor and privilege to testify before Congress in March 2014 on Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) in sports.
Briana was recently selected for U.S. Soccer All-Time best XI National Team lineup. Briana’s ability to inspire, both on and off the field, has helped pave the way for women’s soccer everywhere.
She will be available for interviews immediately after the clinic and Friday, February 6 from 8 a.m. to noon. Please contact SCORES Dallas for appointment times and locations.
America SCORES Dallas is one of 15 affiliates in the US dedicated to teaching soccer and poetry to children in urban schools. The after-school program has been in operation for 20 years and shows measurable achievements in physical fitness, school attendance and improvement in reading and writing mechanics.
Children learn teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline through playing soccer three days a week with inter-school scrimmages each Friday. Students share their voices in writing poetry twice a week, allowing the opportunity for self-expression, often lacking in urban schools.