The season is coming to an end......

Hello GOALS team members and families!

Well, our season is wrapping up and coming to an end. We look forward to our last night of GOALS at Sahlen's Stadium on Tuesday, August 14th! Below please see information about GOALS night at the Rhino's last home game vs. the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, August 18th and our season ending banquet at the Pieters Family Life Center on Tuesday, August 21st. 

But first, we'd like to take a moment to recognize some of our partners who helped make GOALS possible:

 

Heritage Christian Services  is the parent company of the Pieters Family Life Center. Heritage Christian Services is committed to uniquely serving individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families and GOALS is just one of many ways in which HCS does this. A special thank you to Drew Bielemeier, Heritage Christian Services Senior Vice President of Operations, for being a constant support of GOALS!

National Inclusion Project is the primary funder of the GOALS program. NIP is a national foundation that supports inclusive recreation programs and camps across the country. From Alaska to Florida, the National Inclusion Project has supported numerous programs in being more inclusive to children with disabilities through their Let's All Play trainings. The NIP has funded GOALS for three consecutive years.

The Rochester District Youth Soccer League has been a great partner. They have coordinated youth soccer teams and their involvement with the GOALS program. We've really appreciated the teams who have come and shared the passion of soccer with us!

Paradise Catering is the unsung hero of GOALS! Cheryl and her crew from Paradise Catering had the tough job of feeding over 100 people each GOALS night. We thank Paradise Catering for their DONATED service and food. If you need a caterer, give Cheryl a call!

   Albright Remodeling is connected to the GOALS family. They have underwritten our season ending banquet. We thank them for their support!

THANK YOU!!

Information on remaining GOALS activities:

Rochester Rhinos vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday, August 18th. 

This is our traditional end of the year Rhinos game. We will be walking out on the field with the players during the pregame ceremonies. This is a big game for the Rhinos, if they win they get a 1st round playoff bye and home field advantage. Let's all be there and give them a loud "Gooooo Rhinooooos!" Be sure to wear your jerseys!

Ticket information: We have a limited number of tickets to offer out to the game. We can give 3 tickets to each family (remember you can use your Pro Pass too!). We will be handing out tickets on August 14th. Please only take tickets if you are sure you can attend the game!

End of the Year Banquet

The Pieters Family Life Center will again host a GOALS season ending banquet. It will be held at the Pieters Family Life Center at 1025 Commons Way Rochester, NY 14623 on Tuesday, August 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. We'll enjoy some team fellowship, enjoy some food, and remember the past year. 

Menu: an Italian buffet will be provided by Paradise Catering including pasta, sauce, meatballs, salad, a vegetable and roles. 

Cost: This year there will be a $5 per person fee for the banquet. If this cost is prohibitive to your involvement please contact PFLC director Andrew Little at 487-3500. We can accept cash or checks payable to "The Pieters Family Life Center".

RSVP: We will have a sign up sheet on Tuesday (you can bring payments too) or you can RSVP by Friday, August 17th to PFLC Social Wellness Coordinator Catalina Johnson at cjohnson@pietersfamilylifecenter.org

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday!

 

 We're in the home stretch!

Greetings GOALS team members and families!

Wow, can you believe its August already? We hope all GOALS team members and their families have been enjoying their time out at Sahlen's Stadium as well as your Summer! August is going to be a busy month for GOALS! We have two more GOALS nights at Sahlen's Stadium as well as two special events: GOALS night at a Rhinos game and the GOALS season banquet at the Pieters Family Life Center.

Here is how the rest of the August looks for GOALS:

Tuesday, August 7th: GOALS night a Sahlen's Stadium. Be sure to wear your jersey, we'll be taking team pictures!

Tuesday, August 14th: This is the last GOALS night of the 2012 season. We'll be sure to have some fun activities planned to finish the season off right.

Saturday, August 18th: GOALS night at Sahlen's Stadium! Join your GOALS team members as the Rhinos play in their last home game vs. the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. In what has become a GOALS tradition, we'll be walking out on the field with the Rhinos during the game's opening ceremonies. We'll have information at the 8/7 & 8/14 GOALS nights.

Tuesday, August 21st: Please join us for the 2012 GOALS season banquet from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Pieters Family Life Center. We look forward to highlighting the 2012 season, GOALS team members and coaches, and have one last night together before we start thinking about Fall. We are currently putting together the finishing touches on this and will send out detailed event information in the next week. We thank Albright Remoldeling for their generous sponsorship to help us put together this banquet!

Rhino's News!

The Rhinos are 1-1 in their last two games.

The Rhinos defeated the LA Blues 1-0 on July 27th!

The Rhinos lost to 2012 USLPRO Regular Season Champion 0-1 on August 3rd

The Rhinos are currently in second place in the USL PRO league with a 11-6-5 record

Upcoming Rhinos Home Games

Abby Wambach and the US Women's National Soccer Team visits Sahlen's Stadium on September 1st!

The U.S. Women’s National Team will face Costa Rica in its first post-London Olympics international friendly on Saturday, Sept. 1,

Click here for more information!







Some like it hot, hot, hot!

June 19th, 2011

Hello GOALS families!!

We're excited to see you on Tuesday, June 19th for another night of GOALS! It's going to be hot Tuesday night! Please plan on bringing water to drink during the evening. We'll have additional drinks available as well! We've got an action packed night for you! We will be keeping to the June 12th agenda (click here for last week's info) with handing out uniforms as well as running a fun special event at dinner time: The Magic Paintbrush Project "Paint with the Players" event.

The "Magic" comes to GOALS, the Magic Paintbrush Project that is!

The Magic Paintbrush Project at the Pieters Family Life Center will be facilitating a "Paint with the Players" event at GOALS! The Magic Paintbrush Project is a new family engagement program at the Pieters Family Life Center which creatively captures abilities of special needs individuals and their caregivers with art materials. Click here for more information on the Magic Paintbrush Project at the Pieters Family Life Center. "Paint with the Players" will team up GOALS team members with players from the Rochester Rhinos for a game of "paintball" and a "Shoot Out" while having fun with other soccer themed activities using art materials. You GOALS veterans out there will remember last year's color filled Magic Paintbrush night!

Some things to consider for the Magic Paintbrush Project

This will be a messy, but fun and colorful, event. The Magic Paintbrush project will take place during dinner time and participation is voluntary. Please plan on getting paint on yourself and clothes.  While GOALS team members will be getting jerseys Tuesday night, we recommend wearing another shirt for this aspect of GOALS night. ALL PAINT IS WASHABLE AND NON-TOXIC.

 

Although we say that "Life Is...Washable!", we always remind folks that clothes are not stain resistant. Even though we use washable paints and materials, it is suggested that everyone wear clothes that they aren't afraid to get dirty (you too parents!). It is also suggested that you come with a change of clothes to wear home if needed. Also a towel to put on the car seat is not a bad idea.

 

If you have any questions about the GOALS "Paint with the Players" event, please contact us at info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org.

 

 

Additionally, we will be welcoming the U12 Boys Chili FC from the Rochester District Youth Soccer League. Chili FC are also GOALS veterans and had fun with us last year! We look forward to welcoming them back! Chili FC will be assisting in soccer skill drills and game time with our youth bracket.

 

See you on Tuesday!!

 

 



Hello GOALS families!

We are erring on the side of caution and canceling tonight's GOALS program. There is a weather advisory and a 75% chance of thunderstorms this evening. The next GOALS program is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19th. We will be handing out jersey's then.

If you have any questions please contact us at (585)487-3500.

Sincerely,

The GOALS Team

Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer, June 12th

Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer

Tuesday, June 12th 6pm

Sahlen's Stadium

Hello GOALS families!

Two GOALS nights down and six more to go! Thank you to all of you who took a few minutes to fill out the GOALS survey we emailed you on Friday, June 1st. Your feedback is important to us. It's not too late to fill out the survey. If you have not been receiving GOALS emails, please contact us at info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org. 

  Rhinos Updates 

The Rhinos are currently 6-2-2 and are ranked third in the USL PRO with 20 points. 

Some highlights since our last GOALS night:

- Rhinos won their first US Open Cup game against the Brooklyn Italians

- GOALS assistant coach JC Banks scored a goal against the Italians

- Rhinos eliminated from US Open Cup by MLS Philadelphia Union  

- Rhinos lose first home game against the Richmond Kickers 

GOALS Updates

With the first two GOALS nights done, we're ready to continue with the season. All of the GOALS coaches have been very impressed with the hard work and solid teamwork that each GOALS player has shown. GOALS night on June 12th is an important night as we will be officially announcing who made the GOALS team and we'll be handing out uniforms. Here's a sneak peak of this year's uniforms:

Special thanks to The Soccer Shack

See you on Tuesday!

GOALS May 15th!

Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer

Tuesday, May 15th 6pm

Sahlen's Stadium

We hope you are all ready for the second night of Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer! It was great to see so many GOALS veterans return to the team this year and it was our pleasure to welcome many GOALS rookies to the team this year! We hope you also enjoyed seeing friends from years past and meeting new team members!

Rhinos Updates

Rhinos Improve to 6-0

 It was great seeing so many GOALS team members and their families at the Rhinos home opener vs. the Charlotte Eagles on May 5th! Those who were there know the Rhinos won the game 1-0. Since then the Rhinos have won an additional 2 games to bring their record to 6-0! For great Rochester Rhino's coverage check out Jeff DiVeronica's soccer blog Devo's Direct Kicks. Remember- all GOALS participants received a Rochester Rhinos Pro Pass- your season ticket for all of the Rhinos home games!

Drew Cost named USL PRO Player of the Week

GOALS assistant coach and Rochester Rhinos midfielder Drew Cost was honored as the USL PRO Player of the Week for the week of May 1st. Drew's strong performance helped the Rhinos remain unbeaten! We encourage all GOALS team members to congratulate Drew when you see him Tuesday night! See what the USL PRO league has to say about Drew HERE.

Player Spotlight

This week's player spotlight is on GOALS assistant coach and Rochester Rhinos goalie Brandon Miller.

Brandon Miller

Position: Goalkeeper
Date of Birth: 12/26/1989
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 175 lbs
College Experience: UNC Wilmington
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina    

Why is participating in the GOALS program important to you?

Participating in the GOALS program is important to me because I really enjoy connecting with the community and the best way to do that is to interact with families in programs such as GOALS.  It is particularly important for me being a rookie and someone new to Rochester to really get to know our fans and community in Rochester.  Having fun and seeing a smile on each child's face is just another bonus of working with the program.   

What do you hope the GOALS athletes get out of this soccer program?

The biggest thing for me is that everyone has fun and gets a chance to meet other people and do what they love.  I want the athletes to realize that we, as players, are just regular guys even though we are professional athletes and we are there to get to know them and have fun with them just as much as they are there for the same thing.

What advice do you have for young athletes that want to improve?
Work hard.  One of my favorite quotes that I first heard in high school is "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".  It always makes me feel better when I know I have worked my hardest at something, no matter the results so that is the best advice I can give a young athlete.

How has soccer shaped who you are? What life lessons have you learned?
Soccer has had a huge impact on my life and who I am as a man today.  I have learned many lessons over the years from the various coaches I've had.  One of the biggest life lessons I have learned is how to work with and communicate with others, especially people of different backgrounds.  Not everyone comes from the same place and has dealt with the same issues as you so you have to be willing to be open minded and have open lines of communication in order to have successful relationships with not only your teammates, but people in general.

Next Rhinos Home Game! Let's have GOALS cheer them on!

GOALS Updates

At our first GOALS night on May 1st  your child was assigned to an age and a team. These assignments were based on age and additional information on your application. Based upon observations from the first GOALS night we have made some slight adjustments to team assignments. For example. you child may move up an age group due to their size and ability. We hope these adjustments will lead to a positive and fun experience for all players.

Supporting the National Inclusion Project

GOALS and the Pieters Family Life Center are very thankful to receive grant funds from the National Inclusion Project. The National Inclusion Project is a foundation that was started by Clay Aiken, of American Idol fame. Clay Aiken is on the current season of The Celebrity Apprentice raising funds for the National Inclusion Project and raising awareness on the benefits of inclusion. Clay has made it to the final round of this reality show and you can support the National Inclusion Project by watching the final episode on Sunday, May 20th at 9 pm on NBC Channel 10.

Stormers Soccer Club visits GOALS

Members of the Stormers Soccer Club of the Rochester District Youth Soccer League will join us on Tuesday. Stormers players will assist with soccer skill drills and scrimmage with GOALS team members in the youth division. The Stormers are based out of Brighton and many of their players attend 12 Corners Middle School in Brighton. The Stormers volunteered at GOALS last year and are looking forward to having some fun and playing some soccer with GOALS!

Dinner Donated by Jeremiahs Tavern

We would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to Jeremiahs Tavern for their generous donation to GOALS. Dinner on Tuesday, May 15th will be pulled pork sandwiches provided by Jeremiahs. You may best know Jeremiahs Tavern because of their chicken wings, voted Rochester's best by the Democrat and Chronicle for 10 years in a row!

GOALS @ PFLC

GOALS @ PFLC kicked off the summer season at the Pieters Family Life Center on Saturday. GOALS @ PFLC is an additional opportunity for GOALS team members to come together, have fun working on soccer and social skills, and learning about nutrition through snack preparation. There are still openings available for this Saturday morning program. If you would like additional information please email us at info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org.

GOALS on Twitter

A great way to keep in touch with Rhinos Players, Pieters Family Life Center staff, and other GOALS families is through Twitter. You can follow the Pieters Family Life Center at @RocPieters. We are using the "hashtag' #RocGOALS.

Look forward to seeing you on the field! 

Getting Ready to Kick Off the Season May 1st!

Are you ready for some soccer fun? We are! Throughout the duration of the GOALS program your family will have many amazing experiences that will provide lasting memories.  Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer, a partnership between the Pieters Family Life Center and the Rochester Rhinos, will build soccer and social skills, support your child in a team environment, and provide a fun night out for the entire family. 

What to expect when you arrive at Sahlen's Stadium:
GOALS is held at Sahlen's Stadium, home to the Rochester Rhinos, in downtown Rochester. The stadium address is 460 Oak St, Rochester, NY 14608.

View Larger Map

You and your family may enter at the private parking area off Smith Street.

You will be greeted by GOALS coaches who will guide you to the sign-in/registration table.  Once your family signs in, you will be directed to an age specific region on the soccer field where Rhinos players and GOALS assistant coaches will welcome athletes and get them prepared for the night.  Supported by Rhinos players and GOALS coaches, athletes will participate in a variety of skill building soccer drills, challenges and small sided games. The night will conclude with a meal together.

A typical GOALS night will look like:

5:45 p.m. Athlete arrival

6:00 p.m. Introductions, stretches, and warm ups

6:20 p.m. Skill building drills and soccer challenges

6:45 p.m. Game time

7:15 p.m. Dinner with teammates, family, and Rhinos players

7:45 – 8:00: Social time and farewells

* Schedule may change slightly based upon needs and desires of GOALS athletes

We would like all athletes, if possible, to come prepared with weather appropriate attire, sneakers, shin guards, and their own drinking water.  Need to get soccer equipment? Here are a few local stores we recommend:

The Soccer Shack

Play It Again Sports

Locker Room Sports

Parents and siblings are welcome on the field (bring some chairs if you like), in the stands, or can volunteer in a variety of ways.  We encourage you to bring cameras and take lots of pictures! In addition to all the soccer fun, on special occasions we will include live music, family games, and some special surprises. You’ll see GOALS is a full family affair.

2012 GOALS nights are:

May 1st & 15th

June 12th & 19th

July 17th & 24th

August 7th & 14th

Season Banquet is on August 21st at the Pieters Family Life Center

* Dates are subject to change given the Rhino's US Open Cup schedule (the stadium may be used for a game)

In the event of inclement weather we will cancel GOALS and post a cancellation notice on this blog and on the GOALS section of the Pieters Family Life Center webpage. You can also call the Pieters Family Life Center at (585) 487-3503.

We will also use the Pieters Family Life Center's Twitter account to share GOALS information. Please "follow" us at @RocPieters and we encourage you to use the hashtag #RocGOALS throughout the GOALS season. Of course, we're on Facebook too. Please "like" us to receive updated GOALS information.

GOALS related questions can be directed to info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org

We look forward to seeing you May 1st!

Sincerely,

Andrew Little                                                      Bill Sedgewick

Director, Pieters Family Life Center                Assistant Coach, Rochester Rhinos

www.facebook.com/AndrewLittle140

www.twitter.com/@andrewlittle140

           

What to expect when you arrive at Sahlen’s Stadium:

GOALS is held at Sahlen's Stadium, home of the Rochester Rhinos, in downtown Rochester. The stadium address is 460 Oak St Rochester, NY 14608.

Now Accepting 2012 GOALS Applications!

Kickin' Off 2012!

Are you ready for some soccer fun? We are! The Pieters Family Life Center and the Rochester Rhinos are excited to partner again for Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer. Close to 100 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their friends and families participated in GOALS last year and we expect a great deal of excitement this year.

GOALS will again take place at Sahlen’s Stadium, home of the Rochester Rhinos, in downtown Rochester. This year’s dates are:

May 1, 15

June 12, 19

July 17, 24

August 7, 14

GOALS season ending banquet August 21^st

All times 6-8pm

This year we welcome new staff to Giving Opportunities to Athletes who Love Soccer! The following players from the Rochester Rhinos will be GOALS coaches and present at every GOALS night:

Michael Tanke

Drew Cost

JC Banks

Mac Hemmi

Brandon Miller

Joe Marino

Additionally, we’ll welcome 4-5 different Rhinos players each GOALS night.

NEW THIS YEAR!

You asked, we listened! We’re going to carry the soccer action from Sahlen’s Stadium to the Pieters Family Life Center with GOALS@PFLC!

 GOALS@PFLC will meet two Saturday mornings per month at the Pieters Family Life Center and will provide additional opportunities for GOALS team members to sharpen their soccer skills, build relationships with GOALS team members (including player appearances by the Rochester Rhinos) , and participate in fun social activities. Some important GOALS@PFLC info:

1.      This is an additional opportunity available only for GOALS participants

2.      Our grant funds do not cover this program and therefor there is a $75.00 fee for participation.

3.      Unfortunately, GOALS@PFLC will not be able to accommodate all GOALS participants. Program will be filled on a first come first serve basis.

GOALS@PFLC will meet on the following Saturday mornings:

May 12, 19

June 9, 30

July 7, 14

August 4, 18

Time:

Ages 5-12 years: 9:00 – 10:30 am

Ages 13-18 10:30 to noon

We welcome GOALS participants who are over 18 years of age to volunteer as assistant coaches for GOALS@PFLC. Please contact us at info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org for more information.

Application Process

Please follow the instructions below for applying to GOALS:

Step One

Please fill out the entire GOALS application FOUND HERE.  The information requested in our application allows us to better plan for the program and ensure a fun and successful experience for your family. If you have any questions about why we need certain information please call us at (585) 487-3500.

*NEW THIS YEAR* If you are interested in participating in GOALS at the PFLC this season please be sure to check box on application and mail a check in the amount of $75.00 payable to “The Pieters Family Life Center” and mail or drop of application at the PFLC.

Step Two

Submit your completed application to the Pieters Family Life Center by Wednesday, April 18th by:

1.      Mailing or dropping off your application to the Pieters Family Life Center at 1025 Commons Way, Henrietta, NY 14623.

2.      Faxing to the Pieters Family Life Center at (585) 487-3527

3.      Scan your application and email it to info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org

Step Three

All applications will be reviewed and a confirmation email of you application's acceptance will be sent on Friday, April 20th. In addition, a confirmation packet will be mailed to the address on your application by Friday, April 27th with a detailed GOALS schedule and additional program information. 

If you have any questions about program registration please call us at (585) 487-3500 or email us at info@pietersfamilylifecenter.org