Local Soccer Without Borders ambassadors have teamed up with the L.A. Galaxy to promote a soccer clinic geared towards female youth players on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Nicole Bird from Crescenta Valley High School is one of the Soccer Without Borders ambassadors.

The “Girls in the Game” clinic is open to young girls in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area between ages 9-13 with the goal of teaching soccer skills, improving health and wellness and building self-esteem. Using a specially designed curriculum by L.A. Galaxy team trainers, the girls will be able to interact with positive role models while getting the “professional soccer” experience of playing at the Home Depot Center.

Former U.S. Men’s Olympic and World Cup Player John O’Brien will join the clinic with coaching help from a volunteer group of female professional and former national team and college players. Participants will be broken into groups based on experience, age and ability.

All proceeds from this event benefit Soccer Without Borders. SWB’s mission is to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the lives of marginalized youth. The SWB program helps provide under-served youth an opportunity to build social skills and self-confidence. Soccer provides these youth with an avenue for positive engagement, a platform for personal growth and a tool kit for a brighter future.

As an ambassador, Bird worked with other girls to conduct an equipment drive earlier this year, sending boxes of donated uniforms, cleats, shin guards and coaching supplies to programs in Central and South America.

“We’re excited to help develop SWB’s program in the greater Los Angeles area,” said Julia Blanco, an ambassador from Pasadena Polytechnic who recently returned from a SWB trip to Granada, Nicaragua. “This event wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our soccer-loving coaches and volunteers, as well as early support from the L.A. Galaxy and our sponsors including Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Enterprise Management Associates, Whole Foods, and the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club.”

The cost of the clinic is $45 per player and includes a free ticket for each participant to the L.A. Galaxy home game the same night against the San Jose Earthquakes. Additional tickets can be purchased for $25.

The Home Depot Center field #5 is located at 18400 S. Avalon Blvd. in Carson. Parking is $15. For general clinic information, visit www.Soccerwithoutborders.Org/Ggclinic. To register for the clinic, go to www.lagalaxy.com/swb, or contact Christian Cammayo of the L.A. Galaxy at (310) 630–2241 or ccammayo@lagalaxy.com.