Soccer Club Offers Kids A Chance To Shine On And Off The Field

OAK FOREST, IL — Christina Majercak joined the Oak Forest Development Academy because she loves soccer, because she's good at it, and because she wants to get even better — but soccer clubs in the south suburbs are hard to come by. However, she also joined the academy for far less obvious reasons: OFDA is committed to give all kids a fighting chance on the field and to develop them into leaders who will give back to their communities later on.

"Not only did it impact how we played, but we did things like raise money for Englewood," said Majercak, 18. "There's a community feel in it all the time."

Oak Forest Development Academy was founded in 2017 with a single high-school girls team and has since grown to 100 students -- boys and girls -- who play for them in the district's off season.

It was founded by coach Grant Sicard, and local players and fathers Pablo Flores and Mike Stacy. The goal, Sicard said, was to fill in the gap the area has in soccer by offering interested kids a way to develop skills and compete against traveling teams. But, he added, they wanted this club to do that in a different way.

What was more important was to make the game accessible to all players and to make the club a true piece of the community. So OFDA, a nonprofit club, does not charge for tryouts as other clubs do, and try to keep costs down. If a kid really wants to play and can't afford all of the expenses -- which can tip into the thousands in come cases, OFDA is committed to helping players find resources they need, Sicard said.

Kids also aren't cut from the team if their skills don't quite pass muster. They are put on a reserve team, instead, and practice with all of the others.

"I think the most important part of the club would be the fact that every single player has chance to develop skills with players their own age and there won't be star players or outliers -- it gets everyone on same level," Majercak said.

Majercak knows soccer. She's been playing since she was four. She also has been captain of the Oak Forest High School girls soccer team since she was a sophomore. She witnessed the team move from losing games to winning regionals with help in part from OFDA.

"It was super exciting," she said.

OFDA also participates in community and charity events, a key component of its mission. For example, the team participated in an event that raised money this month for I Grow Chicago, a nonprofit that supports work to combat the traumatic effects of violence and poverty in Englewood. Other charitable events are planned.

OFDA is open to students ages eight through high school, and will be expanding to accept younger players soon. Students from across the region are encouraged to join.

"Everything I am today is because of soccer," Sicard said. "It taught me values and integrity, and to work hard. "

And it's those lessons he wants to shares with young players.

For more information and to register, visit Oak Forest Development Academy's website.

Photo via Oak Forest Development Academy.