Good Shepherd Pediatrics & Lehigh Valley United Offering Soccer Clinics for Children with Disabilities June 20 at SteelStacks
Free events are part of activities at official FIFA World Cup™ SoccerFest and Viewing Party

Good Shepherd Pediatrics and Lehigh Valley United are partnering to share all the fun and excitement of the World’s Game with children with disabilities during two free soccer clinics at the FIFA World Cup™ SoccerFest and Viewing Party at SteelStacks this June. The clinics for ages 5-12 will take place June 20, 4 and 5 p.m., and are open to the first 50 registrants at www.lvsoccerfest.com.

During the Good Shepherd Pediatrics’ Soccer Clinic for Children with Disabilities, participants will enjoy a dynamic, hands-on experience as they discover the fun and challenges that make soccer the most popular sport in the world.  Children will receive one-on-one, personalized instruction from Good Shepherd Pediatrics staff and Lehigh Valley United players and coaches as they learn skills such as dribbling, passing and shooting. Each session will last 30 minutes and culminate with a simulated game during which children experience the  excitement of playing a sport loved around the globe.

“The Lehigh Valley United is proud to join with Good Shepherd Pediatrics to provide area youth with this fun-filled introduction to the world of soccer,” says Lehigh Valley United Executive Director Greg Ramos. “This is an opportunity for our coaches and players to not only share their passion for the game, but also give back to a community that has given so much to us over the years.  We’re really looking forward to working with the participants to ensure they have an experience they’ll remember the rest of their lives.”

The FIFA World Cup™ SoccerFest and Viewing Party will take place June 12-16 and 19-22. One of a select few outdoor viewing events in the nation officially approved by FIFA, the event features 26 World Cup Brazil™ games, including USA vs. Ghana June 16 and USA vs. Portugal June 22, shown on a 17-foot high by 27-foot wide outdoor LED screen on SteelStacks’ Air Products Town Square.  Both weekends of the festival are also packed with soccer programs, clinics, hands-on activities and special events appealing to soccer fans, players, coaches and families. For more information, visit www.lvsoccerfest.com.

“Good Shepherd Pediatrics is thrilled to partner with the Lehigh Valley United to bring a fun and engaging soccer experience to children with disabilities,” says Sam Miranda, Good Shepherd Pediatrics’ senior vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer. “The children who participate in our clinics will enjoy one-on-one training by some of our area’s top athletes against the backdrop of soccer’s biggest moment. It is a unique opportunity for children to gain enthusiasm for the sport as well as an interest in fitness and recreation.”

For more information on the Good Shepherd Pediatrics’ Soccer Clinics for Children with Disabilities, call 1-888-44-REHAB (73422) or email callcenter@gsrh.org.

About Good Shepherd Pediatrics
Good Shepherd Pediatrics provides the most specialized inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services in the area for babies, kids and teens. The expert physicians and therapists at Good Shepherd Pediatrics specialize in the treatment of acquired and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, feeding disorders, traumatic injuries, orthopedic/sports injuries and more. For more information, call 1-888-44-REHAB or visit www.GoodShepherdRehab.org.

About Lehigh Valley United
Officially sanctioned by the United States Youth Soccer Association in 2008, The Lehigh Valley United soccer club is dedicated to developing high quality soccer players who love the game, have respect for fellow players and have an appreciation for world class performances. Winning attitudes are encouraged in an atmosphere of fair play and hard work, all within the governing rules and the spirit of the game. For more information, please visit www.lehighvalleyunited.com.