Merriam-Webster defines impossible as something felt to be incapable of being done, attained, or fulfilled; insuperably difficult. In the United States, there are more than 610,000 homeless people; 35 percent have no shelter, 23 percent are kids, 11 percent are victims of domestic violence, 10 percent are veterans. The events leading to the homelessness vary, but this group faces the common problem of changing their situation for the better from an impossible starting point.
Enter Caleb Olson. Four years ago, he saw the documentary Kicking It and subsequently raised money to volunteer at the 2011 Paris Homeless World Cup. So inspired by his experiences at the Homeless World Cup, he quit his job of four years, left his hometown in Arkansas and moved to New York City with the hope he would work for Street Soccer USA.
Street Soccer USA, founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an organization dedicated to improving and transforming the lives of the homeless by using soccer to teach the skills this disadvantaged group needs to succeed. Participants in the program practice weekly, play in local leagues and work with staff to achieve periodic personal goals. Some even have the chance to go the Homeless World Cup. The practices focus on developing key life skills, such as physical fitness, anger management, teamwork, job readiness and sobriety. Coaches and players train together, pursue goals together and, most importantly, communicate together. Street Soccer USA believes that it is when people set aside their differences and truly listen to one another that the true foundation for social change is laid.
A Street Soccer gathering of children, where the organization shows opportunities to cause change. (@StreetSoccerUSA | Twitter)
Caleb Olson’s leap of faith in leaving behind the life he had known paid off when Street Soccer USA hired him as one of its coaches. Fast forward a few years, and Caleb is in the middle of yet another leap of faith, this time in support of his organization’s mission.
This time, Caleb and two acquaintances, Shane Shackelford and David Herscovici, are biking and playing soccer across America in order to spread awareness and hope to homeless communities throughout the country. The trio is an unlikely group of cross-country riders, as Caleb has no real bicycle touring experience, Shane changed his first flat tire – ever – in July 2014, and David described his abilities on a bike as not very fast or strong. They have no funding or support vehicles, and rely heavily on the kindness of strangers to find places to sleep or have their bikes fixed.
However, Caleb did not let these doubts get in his way, instead finding motivation to attempt the journey from the players he coaches at Street Soccer. Although his players’ journeys to get out of the homeless shelter seem impossible, he sees them succeed again and again. Additionally, he encourages leaps of faith by his players because he believes when one takes a risk or tries something out of the ordinary, one grows in unexpected ways and discovers new strengths. Caleb described that for his Street Soccer players, their leap can be simply coming to the first practice and discovering that soccer can be a time and space for relaxation and stress relief.
Caleb and company, the Bike Cruisaders, left New York City on September 2, 2014. Their plan is to be in San Francisco by late October. Currently, they are in Olney, Texas, 36 days into their adventure. Riding 60-100 miles a day, they have currently covered over 2500 miles. They have faced flat tires, broken seat posts, loose pedals, driving rain, semi-trucks practically on top of them, wobbly tires, riding in the dark, arguments about directions, steep mountain passes and physical exhaustion.
Bike troubles are just one of the many obstacles the crew faces on their journey. (Photo: Bike Cruisade | Wordpress)
Amidst their struggles, they have found inspiration from the people they have met and the experiences they have shared. They joined Street Soccer Philadelphia for practice on the second day of their ride. Happily, they were on time as the Philadelphia coach’s theme that day was the importance of working on fundamentals and planning ahead for all aspects of life, whether it be a test, interview, date or game.
On Day 8, they took a break at a rest stop with 80s music blasting out of the speakers and juggled the soccer ball they carry on their bikes.
In Charlotte, they again joined a Street Soccer practice. This time, the local team was not actually scheduled to practice when the cruisaders came to town, but 14 players showed up anyway and a “show-up” themed practice took place. The lesson of the practice being that the road or path may be challenging, but focusing on the end goal and showing up for the stuff on the way will sustain you.
After a grueling 78-mile ride ending in Crossville, Tennessee, they played some street soccer and learned from locals Big John and his wife that the town’s growing drug problem and homeless population stem from the high school graduating 800 kids a year into a town with no job prospects for them.
Everywhere the Bike Cruisaders go, they find soccer to play, strangers to listen and hearts opening to the challenge of improving the lives of the homeless and underserved youth.
Follow their journey online Twitter. Pedal on, guys.
