ASCAP

Monday was the first day of an LA SCORES collaboration with the organization ASCAP. ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) has partnered with America SCORES to bring singers and songwriters to SCORES sites to record songs. These songs have been compiled and put on a few annual CD's that SCORES has released for promotional tools. Last year, our kids at Braddock Dr had the opportunity to work with Saul Williams, an amazing spoken word and hip hop artist.

But the project we are working on now is a little different. For the first time, student at our Middle School program have the chance to work with an animator and composer to put together a short film! The film will be depicting a poem that was written by our students, about love. With the help of Roger Blonder and Shawn Clement our kids are learning about what it takes to make a project like this happened; how to plan out the frames, how to fill in stop-motion, how to record the best sound etc... It has been a truly amazing process that everyone has had a lot of fun with. Shawn and Roger have been great teachers and role models for our kids, explaining to them the process and having fun too. We want to thank everyone involved for their part in putting this together and can't wait to unveil our final project! Check out some pictures below from one of our sessions.

SCORES Site Update: Palms Elementary

Palms Elementary was the first school LA SCORES ever served and has been a great partner for the past seven years. The school is located just a few streets up from our office which makes it easy for us to visit and join them for practice. We are also happy to say that many students who participate in LA SCORES at Palms Elementary continue to give back through volunteer opportunities and our Alumni program. Take a minute and enjoy the slideshow below of our current kids at Palms!

You pay less, SCORES gets more!

Q: What is the easiest way to donate to LA SCORES?

A: Doing what you normally do and having someone else give us money for it!

If this answer seems too good to be true, pinch yourself now because you're not dreaming! You can actually contribute to LA SCORES without breaking your normal routine and not spending a cent more than you normally would. How you ask? Well I'll tell you. LA SCORES has teamed up with Ralphs and Albertsons super markets through their community contribution program. If you have a club card to either one of these stores all you have to do is register it online, select LA SCORES as the program you would like to contribute to and then shop! Each time you swipe your card at checkout Ralphs will donate a percentage of the total purchase cost to our organization. Heres how to do it...

WHAT YOU NEED:
1) Ralphs Club Card (You will use the number on the back to register)
2) Internet access

WHAT YOU DO:
1) Click this link to register your Card
2) Log In after and click "Community Contribution Program" in the left column
3) Follow the steps and search for "LA SCORES" or use the NPO #90692
4) Select LA SCORES as the program you would like contribute to.
5) SHOP AND SWIPE!

1st Game Day of the season!

Today is the first game day of the season and we are excited to re-unite all our elementary school programs at Mar Vista park this afternoon. Our teams have been practicing for almost two weeks now and are ready to strut their stuff in front of friends, family and LA SCORES peers.

Game day is the ultimate chance for our kids to show what they learned from their coaches at practice in terms of both technical skills and abilities as well as SCORES principles like teamwork, compassion and effort. We are excited to see returning players re-united with their friends from last year and eager to see the new students in action for their first time on the field.

Game days are special because they give our kids a opportunity to play on a beautiful turf field. Since none of our elementary schools have grass fields they have to hold practice on the asphalt school yard everyday. Because of this, our kids have to be extra careful to prevent injuries and very patient when the balls go out of bounds and roll to the end of the yard. Needless to say its a great pleasure to move to an actual field and only adds to the excitement of the day.

If you want to come out and support our kids come to Mar Vista Park from 3:15-4:30. We play there every Friday during the Fall and Spring seasons.

For a rainy day...

If you're like me you have mixed feelings about the rain. Having spent the majority of my life in LA I understand the importance of water in a city built in a desert. With that said, our blessed climate makes rain a rare occurrence that seems to stop most Los Angelinos (including LA SCORES staff and students) in the their tracks for more than a moment. Call us spoiled, but realize our lives revolve around moving and being active. We spend a lot of time outside and prefer the decision to remain indoors to be on our own accord. So in these times when our freedom of choice has been stricken from us, here are some things to occupy our busy minds.

1) Tell a scary story! Its a great way to organize a group and get them to be attentive and excited. The rain actually provides a great setting for the story with the fog and and clouds making the setting all the more dark and ominous.

2) Team building games! Rainy days are great time to use team building games like pulse, soccer mystery, two truths and a lie, or even games like hang man or tournaments of tic-tac-toe. All these things are fun for the kids and still provide an active day.

3) Make a team banner! Just because its raining doesn't mean you can't do something soccer related. If the forces of nature prevent a practice have your team go inside and create a team banner that they can bring with them to game day. They can write their team name, players and coaches names and decorate it how they see fit. Its something they can be proud of and is a great way to promote team unity and camaraderie.

4) Watch a soccer movie! There are some amazing movies out there that incorporate many of the SCORES principles. Use the time inside to let the kids unwind and enjoy some family friendly cinema.

5) Draw yourself! Have the kids lie on butcher paper while a coach outlines their silhouette. Then let the student take their body double back and have them draw themselves in this life-size picture!

6) Play in the mud! Leave your inhibitions at the door and walk right through it. Go outside anyways and enjoy the puddles, mud, sprinkles and everything else.

LA SCORES in full effect

As of this afternoon, all 4 LA SCORES schools will be running programming. Palms Elementary and Braddock Dr. Elementary began their seasons last Wednesday and got off to a great start with a half week of practice. Students were able to meet their coaches and teammates, some old some new, and begin what is sure to be a great season. Teams participated in some amazing bouts of Head-Catch (a game of opposites-the coach throws you the ball and she/he says "Catch it" you must head it back to her. If she/he says "Head it" you must catch it and throw it back. ), relay races using speed ladders and agility rings and of course, a few scrimmages!
It was great to see the kids back out on the yard and in the classroom. We have a wonderful group of kids again this year and a group of excited and talented coaches to lead them. Our first game day is this Friday at Mar Vista park. We hope to see you out there cheering our kids on!

LA at a glance...

If there were only 100 people in Los Angeles County:
69 would be non-white
45 would be Latino
12 would be Asian or Pacific Islander
9 would be African-American
28 would be children
36 would have been born outside the U.S.
31 would have no health insurance
17 would live in overcrowded housing
18 would live below the official poverty line
7 would be children living below the poverty line
30 would live in households making less than $25,000

If there were only 100 people in the City of Los Angeles:
70 would be non-white
46 would be Latino
10 would be Asian or Pacific Islander
11 would be African-American
27 would be children
41 would have been born outside the U.S.
22 would live below the official poverty line
8 would be children living below the poverty line
35 would live in households making less than $25,000

*Information provided by http://www.libertyhill.org/donor/economics101.html