Podcast: Darius Shirzadi on how Project GOAL is helping kids in Rhode Island

Project GOAL Executive Director/Co-Founder Darius Shirzadi joined 'The Goal.' (Courtesy photo)

The latest guest on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast is Project GOAL Executive Director/Co-Founder Darius Shirzadi.

Based in Providence, R.I., Project Goal is a 100% free, coeducational program that meets after school, twice a week, allowing students to spend 90 minutes of targeted academic enrichment with accredited teachers and earn an equal amount of time in soccer training with licensed coaches. 

Project GOAL’s mission is to provide every student the opportunity for educational support, while being a part of a sports team, despite obstacles pertaining to financial constraints, cultural background, language barriers and a lack of transportation. Since 2004, Project GOAL has impacted the lives of over 2,000 Rhode Island middle school youth. The program has maintained a steady high school graduation rate of 96%, with 90% going on to college. 

Former New England Revolution midfielder Damian Rivera (Cranston, R.I.) is a Project GOAL alum.

Shirzadi joined hosts Matt Langone and Matt Doherty to further discuss the program, and how it has grown and continues to thrive.

Watch/listen

Here are some highlights from our discussion:

On why the program was formed:

Shirzadi: “When we started the organization, it was to create a place for inner-city kids to be able to focus on academics. But we used soccer as kind of, like, the hook to keep them interested. We wanted it to be a free program, because at that time a lot of afterschool programming was either being canceled or not accessible because of fees. And then the other part of it was transportation. How does a kid get to an activity after school if parents don’t have a car or they don’t have access, or they’re not old enough to, let’s say, take the bus or anything like that?”

On the level of soccer players who have come through the program:

Shirzadi: “Depending on year to year, we have some really competitive, very talented kids, and it goes in cycles. The kids are really excited and passionate to be there. Obviously, they want to play soccer. They’re not interested in staying in class for another 90 minutes after school. But it works. I mean, on a Friday afternoon we’ve got almost 100% attendance. For kids to stay in the classroom for another 90 minutes. So, it definitely works and we’ve definitely made an impact over the years.”

On the growth of soccer in Rhode Island:

Shirzadi: “Soccer has grown enormously and it’s amazing in some of the communities here — how big their youth soccer programs are. And then you have, like, what had happened in the past — they still have existing Portuguese and Italian social clubs that have soccer teams as well. They’re not as, I would say, prevalent as when I started in the mid-90s, where guys were getting paid cash under-the-table to be playing, because there was no professional league. It’s grown a lot, and obviously with the Revolution coming into the area in the mid-90s and now the new Rhode Island FC coming into the area and opening up their new stadium since last year.”

On what he wants kids to take away from the program: 

Shirzadi: “GOAL is an acronym for Greater Opportunity for Athletes to Learn. It’s all about presenting opportunities to the kids. I always put the analysis: you can bring the horse to the water to drink, but you know it’s up to them to actually stick their nose in there and actually drink it. We expose them to all these different things that they would not be exposed to if not being in the program. Even if it’s something as little as taking them to Gillette (Stadium) to watch a soccer game, or meeting somebody, or talking to a college athlete and understanding how much time they spend studying.”

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