Chicago KICS: Meet the Foundation using esports to empower youth and engage the community.

Chicago KICS is the fastest growing youth sports organization, serving over 2,500 families in the city of Chicago. KICS uses soccer to provide year-round recreational and competitive programs for boys and girls. The youth members, aged 2 to 18, come from a broad range of multicultural and socioeconomic backgrounds but join as one through their love of sport.

This foundation is now running programs in over 33 schools and has served over 11,000 players from local communities. KICS gives these children an opporutuinty to not only develop their soccer skills but to grow as an individual and form diverse friendships.

Due to COVID-19, KICS has been unable to continue with their eventful, fun-packed program which, this Summer, would have included an International soccer showcase, District festivals and a Beach Cup. As a result, the determined organizers have looked to esports (electronic gaming) to continue connecting with their members and to fulfil their mission of developing children’s skills through sport.

The FIFA tournaments enable the values which would usually be learnt during traditional sport to continue. Whether it is communication, teamwork, or resilience, the youth will have the ability to carry on developing their skills and resume with their love of soccer during these unprecedented times.

Even those who do not have the resources to play, can watch and cheer on their friends as each tournament will be streamed on Twitch. (Link at the bottom of the article.) Alongside gaming, KICS is using their platform to raise money for those who don’t have access to games and consoles to also be able participate and join in!

The online games proved extremely popular a few weeks ago, generating a huge 700 views for the Championship match proving that nothing will get in the way of these youngsters love for the sport. The Xbox tournament is June 19th-20th which will then be followed by a PS4 tournament on June 27th-28th. Prizes include a copy of Fifa 21, $50 DICK’s sporting goods gift certificate and a KICS rally scarf – definitely worth winning!

During the tournaments, CTSPORTS will provide post-match rundowns and the latest news from the KICS gaming world. We can’t wait to see these players in action and hope it inspires others to be creative and have fun throughout these difficult times.

To watch the esports games, click this link – https://www.twitch.tv/chicagokicsgaming/about