What ages and program levels does DC SCORES offer?Junior SCORES covers first and second grade with soccer-only sessions at schools and recreation centers. Elementary SCORES serves grades three through five and middle school SCORES serves grades six through eight, combining soccer with poetry and writing at school sites. Some citywide soccer experiences extend access beyond the core grade bands through District partnerships.
About
DC SCORES is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that builds neighborhood soccer teams inside the school year and pairs the game with creative writing and community service. Founded in 1994 by a D.C. public school teacher at Marie Reed Elementary, it now reaches more than 3,500 poet-athletes each year across more than 68 District schools. The aim is practical and human: help young people lead healthy lives, stay engaged in school, and grow the confidence and character to improve their neighborhoods.
Soccer, poetry, and service learning
Soccer is the year-round thread—practices, gamedays, and tournaments keep teams together from fall through spring. In the fall season, participants write and perform poetry as a team, using creative work to build social-emotional skills and speak up on issues they care about. In the spring, teams carry those themes into service-learning projects that apply the same teamwork learned on the field. Junior SCORES serves first and second graders with soccer-only programming at school and recreation-center sites, while elementary and middle school tracks blend soccer with writing.
How programming shows up for families
Most core programming runs at partner school sites with support from trained youth-development staff—often teachers already in the building or trusted local coaches. Weekly schedules are set site by site: some locations run up to five days a week and others closer to three. The organization operates a fall block roughly from September through November and a spring block from March through June, and it encourages students to experience both seasons when they can. Summer camps extend the model when school is out. DC SCORES also partners across the city on broader soccer access, including collaboration with D.C. United as an official community partner and work with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation on citywide gameday experiences.
Coaching philosophy and impact
Youth-development practice comes first for coaches: relationship-building, consistent expectations, and safe spaces matter as much as technical drills. Recent season surveys report very high shares of poet-athletes feeling more confident after a season, coaches noticing positive school culture shifts, and families seeing improved self-image in their children. Those trends pair with a simple value set—teamwork, leadership, and commitment—that runs through everyday programming.
Network and history
DC SCORES helped launch the America SCORES network, which now includes multiple cities across North America rooted in the same soccer-poetry-service model. Early growth drew support tied to the legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, and the District program has since layered in middle school expansion, major youth poetry showcases, and deep neighborhood partnerships that fund fields, equipment, and coach training.
How families take the next step
After-school programming and summer camps carry no fee for families; philanthropy and school partnerships cover delivery. Enrollment and weekly times depend on the child’s school or assigned site, so the coach at that location is the first stop for schedule details. Email parents@dcscores.org for broader questions. families.dcscores.org gathers bilingual overviews of Junior SCORES, elementary, and middle school tracks plus season timing.
Explore more teams
Compare DC SCORES with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader District of Columbia programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where does DC SCORES train or meet?Programming runs at more than 68 District school and recreation sites. Exact fields, gyms, or classrooms depend on the partner school, and weekly schedules are customized per location.
When does the season run?Fall programming typically spans September through November and spring programming March through June. Sites choose how many days per week they operate within those windows, and summer camps continue the model when school is not in session.
What does participation cost?After-school programs and summer camps are free for families; philanthropy and school partnerships cover program delivery.
What is DC SCORES’s mission and approach?The organization develops poet-athletes—young people who grow on the field, in the classroom, and as neighborhood leaders—through soccer, creative writing, and service learning. Coaches emphasize teamwork, leadership, commitment, and youth-development practices that build trust and confidence.
How can families register or ask questions?Start with the DC SCORES coach at the child’s school or assigned site for enrollment steps and the weekly schedule. Email parents@dcscores.org for headquarters questions; families.dcscores.org carries bilingual program summaries.
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DC Way Soccer
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