The Valley Unified Sports soccer team is nearing the end of yet another successful installment of the program. The athletes gave their all this fall, while enjoying every moment to the max and gaining valuable principles of life that will give them the confidence to continue on with their futures.

Head Coach Katelyn Ely laid out a plan in place for this campaign for the youngsters to not only step onto the pitch, but additionally have the chance to have highlight moments by producing points. It has been a successful mission and then some, with players breaking away to the goal, stopping some of the opposition, while being great supporters of one another from the sidelines.

“This year I set a goal for the team to be more willing to go for the ball, play defensively, and try to make some goals. Last year, the kids really stepped up their game with passing and encouraging each other to try their best,” said Ely. “So this year, I wanted them to take those skills and begin to play a little more defensively. Some of the athletes really stepped up to the challenge. They are more willing to play defensive and try to get the ball if they see an opening. A few of the players have even been able to get the ball and race themselves right towards the goal. Each player has been amazing at cheering each other on, even if they don’t make the goal. I think this has helped the athletes in being more open to trying these new skills.”

The joys of the game and the sport go well beyond the confines of the team itself, as their outreach continues into the Valley Regional athletic community by having the high school athletes’ unwavering support. And the Valley Unified players certainly return the favor by making appearances at some of the banner games for the Warriors’ squads this fall.

“Some of the major victories of this year have been bonding as a team and seeing how well the Valley community supports our team. The Unified athletes love seeing all of the support their fellow peers have for them,” said Ely. “It was a monumental moment for them to walk through the tunnel of their peers that they see around the school and have them all clapping and cheering them on. Through all of our bonding, the kids have really stepped out of their shell and turned into some of the most outgoing kids. It is great to see the kids being more open to talking with their peers and willing to go to school events. After seeing their peers cheer them on, they have even asked to go see the other teams play at home games. To date, we have attended the Homecoming football, boys’ and girls’ soccer games, and the volleyball Shoreline Conference Championship game with awesome attendance by both Unified Athletes and Peer Buddies.”

The camaraderie has blossomed well beyond the grass with the athletes bonding with each other in the classrooms and at each others’ lockers. It has fostered a new-found confidence that sparked the drive to even try new forms of training and conditioning.

“The team has really meshed and turned into one big family, both on and off the field. They look out for each other in the halls, check on each other throughout the day or week. It's amazing to see that they can recognize when someone is having an off day, and they know just how to cheer each other up,” said Ely. “Unified has been a great place for these students to find their place and be open about who they are. Each member has been welcoming, and they are always willing to be a little vulnerable with each other and try new things. We have incorporated yoga into our schedule this year. I figured the kids would do it once and say they didn’t want to do it again or put little effort into it. But halfway through the first yoga session, it was like a flip had switched.”

Furthermore, while the kids defied Ely’s initial expectations for their reception of the yoga element, they also dropped some trepidation and were not afraid to jump to center stage.

“They were giggling if someone lost balance, while being a little competitive about who could hold the tree pose the longest,” said Ely. “The yoga instructor made each athlete go to the front of the group and show their favorite pose. Athletes who can be shy marched right up to the front of the group and demonstrated a new skill. They were proud to be in the front of the group, and everyone was willing to listen and clap for their teammate. It showed me that we have truly meshed as a group, and everyone was willing to step outside of their comfort zone.”

From a coaching perspective, Ely has felt a great satisfaction in the remarkable social progress of the athletes. The crowning moment of that specific aspect came when they were spectators to the Warriors’ game on the gridiron and let out a roaring eruption of cheers after a touchdown.

“Being a part of this program has brought me so much joy. A lot of the athletes have blossomed; they are way more talkative and outgoing. There is nothing more rewarding or fulfilling than seeing students who struggle to connect with their peers get a chance to laugh, cheer on friends, and be louder than I thought possible,” said Ely. “We bond as a team doing various social activities. Nothing brought me more joy than when we went to the Homecoming football game this season. As we were sitting on the hill, the team scored a touchdown, and one of the athletes who I usually have to remind to speak up was cheering at the top of his lungs. He was yelling, clapping, and had the largest smile I have seen. It is those moments that remind me why I love to be the Unified coach and be a part of this team.”

Lastly, Ely could not be more gracious to the support of the entire Valley hive. It has signified a great, prosperous relationship between the two entities. The high school Warriors have additionally shown great admiration and reverence for their Unified counterparts by taking time out of their busy schedules to be there at their biggest moments.

“The Valley Regional athletic community and student-athletes are very critical to the success of our program. Whenever we have a home game, we count on our fellow student-athletes to assist us,” said Ely. “This season, we hosted a home soccer game for three surrounding Shoreline schools. The student-athletes stepped it up and showed their support for our program in an amazing way. They lined the track for the teams to walk through and be cheered on. Student-athletes from the other fall sports helped two of our Unified athletes lead the stretching circle. These events go to show how we are one community, and when we work together, anything is possible.”