On Saturday (May 3), 32 small-sided teams will compete in the “Lose the Shoes” barefoot soccer tournament at Macalester Stadium. The co-ed teams, comprised mostly of Mac students, will include players of all skill levels. Upon registering a team, representative can decide whether their team wishes to enter the competitive or recreational bracket.
Regardless of bracket, all teams will have a common goal: to raise funds for Grassroot Soccer, a non-profit organization initiated by television Survivor winner Ethan Zohn. Grassroot Soccer began with the idea to use soccer as a platform for AIDS education in Africa and has since grown into a major NPO due mostly to its success in increasing AIDS awareness using the beautiful game.
The Lose the Shoes tournament, an idea conceived by students at Dartmouth, has enjoyed great success on the East Coast. Thanks in a major part to the collaborative effort of the Macalester men’s and women’s soccer teams, the tournament has begun its movement westward.
Members of both teams have dedicated a lot of time and resources to ensure that the event becomes an annual fixture at Macalester. On a larger scale, organizers hope that Mac can serve as a focal point for the expansion of this fundraiser to colleges and universities throughout the Midwest.
For further information on this event or to sign up to play, contact Mac soccer players
Scott Petesch or
Kelsey Speer.