New Website and Crowdfunding Call to Action

Exciting stuff is happening this week at Cleats For Bare Feet! But, in fairness, exciting stuff is always happening with the C4BF team.

We launched our new website, first and foremost. You can visit it at www.cleatsforbarefeet.com, and you should. It isn't perfect, by any means, but it is a step in the right direction.

The ultimate goal is to create a website that helps us build a community of soccer lovers, whether it be: players, coaches, tournament promoters, the crazy fans, the more subdue ones, and even the girls who watch just to see Cristiano Ronaldo run around. Through that community, bridges and connections can be built to encourage people who have spare soccer equipment to unite with those who need it.

In order to do that, we need some help from you, our dedicated diplomats.

Andres, one of my team mates has posted this video on Youtube to get you to be a part of our crowdfunding video, scheduled to launch late April on Indiegogo.com.

To sum it up, we want you to shoot a short video. The structure is simple. In a fun place (soccer field, city overlook, soccer pub, your back yard…wherever) record yourself saying:

Hi, my name is _____________.

I’m from ______________, and

I support Cleats For Bare Feet because _____________.

Then answer ONE of the two following questions:

What is a story you want to share with the world involving you and soccer?

What does soccer means to you?

End it some way that is fun and creative.

Send it to us directly at: C4BF@greenewit.com

There aren't many rules, but a few we should mention.

1. Videos should be less than a minute.
2. Shoot it in any format with any you can
3. Keep it clean!

We will be editing them together to post on our crowdfunding page and throughout the 40 day campaign.

We are striving to raise $50,000. I know it sounds like a lot, but continuing to run our program and build a website that will allow us to run efficiently takes some serious time and money. With your help, I know we can do it. 

   

Be a part of our team and show the world the passion you have for soccer and for making a difference.

Read More

The Jersey Swap Tradition

Anyone who enjoys watching soccer has seen the jersey exchange that takes place between opposing players at the end of a game. There is nothing like this in any other sport. But, how did this tradition begin?

Well, it goes back nearly eighty years. The day was May 14, 1931. There was a match held between France and England commemorating the friendship between them. The match was held at the Stade Olympique in Colombes, France. The French team scored five goals to win the game against England, who was considered the soccer powerhouse at the time. As a way of showing the goodwill between the teams, and to make this event as memorable as it could be, France requested the English team members exchange Jerseys at the end of the game.

And since that day, jersey trading at the end of the game has become much more than a simple gesture.

One famous swap took place in 1970 between soccer legends, Bobby Moore of England and Brazil’s Pele after a world cup match. The jersey exchange marked the near end of both their fantastic soccer careers and is regarded as a historic moment in soccer history.

In 1966, England defeated Argentina in the quarterfinals. Alf Ramsey, England’s manager, stopped the jersey exchange between one of his players and an Argentinean player because he believed the Argentinean team had played like “animals.” 

Exchange rituals are freighted with cultural functions, such as reinforcing social solidarity, affirming friendships and perpetuating economic partnerships.” Ellis Cashmore, a professor of sociology, media and sport at England’s Staffordshire University says.

The exchange of jerseys has evolved from a simple sign of good sportsmanship between players to a representation of the friendship between entire countries.

Read More

Why C4BF Chose Soccer

Why Soccer? Of the various sports and activities to choose from, Cleats For Bare Feet chose soccer as it’s main focus.

Why? It’s simple: Soccer is a universal connector; a language of its own.
Support and love for soccer are constantly shown around the world. In the 2010 World Cup, over 200 teams attempted to qualify for the tournament. Soccer is played in every corner of the world and more popular than American football or baseball could ever hope to be.

No matter where you travel in the world, someone there will know how to play. Soccer is one of the few universal activities shared around the world. Everyone speaks it’s language.


Let me share with you a personal story:
This past summer, I spent some time in Spain, a few miles outside of Madrid, in a town called Tres Cantos. I stayed with some friends who lived in the area. My Spanish was... lacking... to say the least. We knew enough to find a bathroom or order food at restaurant. Occasionally, I could string together a few coherent sentences and get through a conversation with a local, but not often. However, whenever I was hanging out with the locals at a pool or in  a park, as soon as someone pulled a soccer ball out, it was like we were the best of friends. We could use our second grade Spanish to count off “Uno, dos, Uno, dos” to make the teams, race to goal posts to see who played goalie. Boom! Right like that, we had something to do for the rest of day.

Spain isn’t the only place where people bond over soccer, it happens across the globe.

 

Our goal at Cleat For Bare Feet is to enable, create, and facilitate these relationships in all parts of the world, especially the parts that are under development.

We chose soccer because it is a common denominator from Seoul to Buenos Aires, and everywhere in between.

Do you have a story like mine? C4BF would love to hear it, share it with us in the comments section below. We’re looking forward to reading them and hearing about your experiences.

Take it easy and would love to hear from you,

Anthony  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Read More