Black Players for Change Partners with Cleveland SCORES for Free World Cup Skills Camp
Cleveland, OH – To celebrate the global excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Black Players for Change teamed up with CLEVELAND SCORES to host a free five-day World Cup Skills Camp for local youth.
The camp, which ran from June 1 to June 5 from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM daily, took place at the City of Cleveland Halloran Park. Open to 100 boys and girls aged 8 to 12 on a first-come, first-served basis, the camp provided a completely free opportunity for young athletes to hone their soccer skills, receive a custom t-shirt and gift bag, and enjoy free breakfast and lunch each day.
Led by local soccer legend Justin Morrow, participants not only learned technical skills but also enjoyed special guest visits from Cleveland natives currently playing in collegiate and professional leagues. Among the featured professional guests was Austin FC goalkeeper and Cleveland native Brad Stuver, who returned home to inspire the young athletes and share insights from his career in Major League Soccer.
A Holistic Approach to Youth Development
Beyond elite soccer instruction, the camp was intentionally designed to support the whole child. To ensure proper nutrition, the City of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank provided daily breakfast and lunch, while the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank supplied books that were distributed to campers at the end of each day to encourage summer reading.
The camp’s World Cup edition theme centered heavily on unity. Each day focused on a core related value: belonging, respect, teamwork, empathy, and fair play. A dedicated coaching staff of Cleveland SCORES coaches, local elementary school teachers, collegiate student-athletes, and SCORES staff reinforced these themes through daily talks and morning writing exercises. These activities helped campers connect lessons learned on the field to their lives far beyond soccer.
Cleveland native Brad Stuver of Austin FC speaks to our poet-athletes.
Voices from the Camp
"Our mission at Black Players for Change, is always centered on bridging the racial equity gap in soccer and uplifting the communities in which we live," said Allen Hopkins Jr., Executive Director of Black Players for Change. "We are so thankful for Justin’s tireless work in bringing this to life. By partnering with CLEVELAND SCORES for this World Cup Skills Camp, we wanted to ensure that the excitement of the 2026 World Cup reaches grassroots levels, giving these young players access to elite instruction, proper nutrition, and mentorship without any financial barriers."
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the coaches and mentors who invested in me growing up in Cleveland, so this camp is really about paying that forward," said camp leader and Cleveland soccer legend Justin Morrow. "If these kids leave believing that their dreams are possible and carrying a few lessons they'll remember for life, then we've done our job. Add in a great partner like Cleveland SCORES and the spirit of the World Cup, and I think we achieved exactly what we set out to do.”
"Growing up in Cleveland you saw professional baseball, basketball and football but never professional soccer," said Austin FC goalkeeper and Cleveland native Brad Stuver. "Being able to come back and show kids the power of soccer and that there are pro soccer players from the area is meaningful. The work that Cleveland SCORES is doing to make soccer accessible for kids and to give them opportunity to witness soccer in its highest form will help them dream and strive for greater things. A big thank you to Justin Morrow and BPC for partnering to put out this amazing experience for these kids."
"My favorite thing about camp so far has been getting to know kids in Cleveland from other schools and other areas, and expanding beyond just my home school where I coach SCORES," said David Cinko, a coach for CLEVELAND SCORES. "This is important for the kids over the summer because it gives them practice for soccer during the off-season. It's also important to meet new kids, make friends, and build on social skills and foundations."
Proven Impact & The Community Ripple Effect
The success of the initiative was resoundingly clear:
93% of campers reported that their soccer skills improved.
92% expressed that the camp helped them feel more confident.
92% shared that they learned how to better respect others.
90% stated that they felt safe and supported throughout the week.
When asked about their favorite parts of the week, campers overwhelmingly pointed to the interactive games, competitive scrimmages, incredible coaches, and time spent making new friends. A highlight of the experience was utilizing the local community mini-pitch. Originally built by Black Players for Change, the Black Women’s Player Collective, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Musco Lighting, and adidas, the pitch served as the perfect stage for daily games and a special, high-energy end-of-camp World Cup-style tournament.
"The greatest impact of this camp isn't measured by what happened over five days, it's measured by what happens next," said Alison Black, Executive Director of CLEVELAND SCORES. "Through our partnership with Black Players for Change, Cleveland youth experienced the joy of soccer while our own SCORES staff and coaches learned from an outstanding soccer leader. This experience will be carried back into the schools we serve, to reach thousands more students. That's the ripple effect we're most proud of: supporting kids, investing in coaches, strengthening our community, and ensuring soccer is truly for everyone."
The event beautifully combined the organizational strengths of CLEVELAND SCORES, which helps students build strong bodies, creative minds, and confident voices, and BPC's ongoing advocacy for equity and inclusion within the sport. This camp serves as a powerful reminder of how soccer can inspire the next generation, bringing the spirit of the global game directly to local communities.
Media Assets & Information:
Full photo galleries capturing the energy, drills, and smiles from the five-day event can be viewed online via Color Beyond at colorbeyond.pixieset.com/blackplayersforchangesummersoccercamp/.
For more information or to see future community initiatives, visit blackplayersforchange.org and clevelandscores.org.
A view from the sky of Halloran' Park’s mini-pitch in Cleveland, Ohio.
About Black Players for Change
Black Players for Change (BPC) is an award-winning independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization consisting of over 170+ Black players, coaches and staff from MLS, working to bridge the racial equality gap that exists in society. BPC is committed to tackling the racial injustices that have limited Black people from having an equitable stake in the game of soccer and society. Among the many goals, the organization strives to advance the attention on human rights inequalities from protests to programs, partnerships, and policies that address systemic discrimination. For more information visit www.BlackPlayersForChange.org.
