Casino Road Futbol Academy Set For Next Week At Walter Hall Park In Everett

500 kids are expected at the annual Casino Road Futbol Academy at Walter Hall Park on Casino Road next week. The annual event was started in 2006 by Everett Police Sgt. Manuel Garcia when he was working the Casino Road area. A former professional soccer player in Mexico City, Garcia knew from personal experience how playing the game can keep you out of trouble. In its first few years, attendance doubled every year and now to keep the program manageable, the academy is limited to 500 participants. The vast majority of the kids at the academy live on Casino Road and come from families living at or below the poverty level. While the cost is only $20 for the week-long camp, many of the kids attend for free thanks to scholarships made possible by donations from the general public, sponsors and community groups. In addition to soccer, the academy teaches kids positive life lessons, provides breakfast and lunch and works to build trust between various community groups in and around Casino Road. As of this writing, there were few if any slots left. If you have a child aged 6 – 14 who would like to attend, the best thing to do now is check out the Futbol Academy Facebook Page here.