"Kicking It", a documentary film about the 2006 Homeless World Cup opens with a voice saying, "A ball can change your life. You may not have any of those things most people take for granted. You may not have a home. You may not have a job. A ball can give you something you never thought possible. A ball can teach you teamwork. A ball can teach you discipline. We are trying to make our life better. And every person here has a chance to make their life better. All because of a ball."

The 6th annual Homeless World Cup concluded today in Melbourne, Australia with Afghanistan claiming the trophy over Russia. The political implications of those two nations meeting takes a back seat to the more compelling social story of this international soccer event. I was personally drawn to this inspirational story because soccer is used as a vehicle to improve peoples lives and also because of the growing issue of homelessness in our own city of Corvallis.

Last year 79 year-old Marlin Mark Madden died homeless on a 23 degree night after Thanksgiving in Corvallis. Just days ago, the Corvallis Gazette Times reported that ODOT would clear the second homeless camp in Corvallis within a month. It is estimated that the homeless in Corvallis number in the hundreds and that half of those are single parents and children.

I had never heard of "Kicking It" before I accidentally stumbled on it channel surfing. It is a hopeful and enjoyable film that I would recommend to anyone fortunate enough to own a television and a DVD player. You can even watch the entire film for free online at http://www.snagfilms.com/films/watch/kicking_it/.

The New York Times has some good posts about the Homeless World Cup and Team USA on their soccer blog at http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/homeless-world-cup/. More information about the United States program is at http://www.communityworks945.org/StreetSoccerUSA/.

According to research conducted at the Homeless World Cup, 77 percent of the players experience a significant life change; no-longer using drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, training, repairing relationships and becoming coaches or players and 94 percent say they have gained renewed motivation for life.
This story has reaffirmed my belief in the value of sports and a ball. I can recall my first feelings of accomplishment and self confidence on the soccer field and they most certainly affect my life today. How has soccer or any other sport impacted you?