Jordyn Henderson, Staff Writer

The Florida Southern Men’s Soccer team stepped up on charity work by working with Habitat for Humanity, running their own charity event Shooting for Charity and visiting Robert’s Academy to read and play soccer with the students.

The team’s charitable efforts fell within a four day window; Shooting for Charity April 8, Habitat for Humanity April 9 and reading at the Robert’s Academy April 12.

Shooting for Charity took place at the Lake Parker soccer fields in Lakeland.  All the money raised would be given to the Roberts Academy in Lakeland. The Mocs coached youth players from the local area, playing fun soccer games that involve shooting, dribbling and playing as a team.  At the end of the event, the players signed team posters that were handed out.

Carl Spansk, sophomore captain, enjoyed playing with future soccer players.

“Of course it’s always nice to do these kind of things for a good cause, but we also just enjoyed playing soccer and playing with the kids so we had plenty of fun,” Spansk said.

For the second year in a row, FSC’s soccer team volunteered for Habitat for Humanity by building a house for a local family that cannot afford to build one themselves. The team arrived early and the morning and got work doing different jobs.

The team spent four hours of their day digging a trench, mixing and filling cement and completing wood work.

Daniel Moore, a sophomore defender, helped building the trench, shovel and haul dirt.

“Any chance you have to help someone that is less fortunate than you, you have to take it,” Moore said.

The Robert’s Academy is a school is for young students who struggle to read, write and spell due to dyslexia. The men’s soccer team made an appearance at the academy to read and play soccer with the students.

Jimmy Oatman, a sophomore attacker, enjoyed being with little kids and helping them with activities.

“I love working with kids, to me working with kids is never a job or a problem. It is something to enjoy,” Oatman said.

Coach Ryan Sniegoski wants his athletes to do the best they can in everything they do.

“I think it’s important for us to give back as much as we can.  We talk about winning at everything we do, that’s primarily on the field, but also in the classroom and reaching out to the community as well so all the more community events we can help out with and volunteer our time we’ll do that and we’ll enjoy it at the same time,” Sniegoski said.

As the year comes to an end, the soccer team looks forward to the start of the 2016 fall season.  Aug. 15 marks the first day of practice for the new season.

Related:

The effect of Dyslexia

Athletes and community service

Why should you give back?

Soccer drills