From the start of this school year, Benchmark has been engaged in a partnership with The SWAG, an organization connected with the Philadelphia Union that is designed to expose young people (from preschool through age 8) to soccer.

Four players who began with The SWAG and who have now moved into the Philadelphia Union Junior Academy began at Benchmark this year. This partnership enables more students to experience the top-level academic experience at Benchmark School while also taking part in a professionally oriented soccer training program.

Watch this video created by the Philadelphia Union about the partnership with Benchmark School.

Head of School Chris Hancock is a deeply appreciative of the advantages of this program for the participants. He says, "The SWAG is very much aligned with what Benchmark is trying to do in terms of how we view children. They are unique unto themselves, and at a very early age really benefit from exposure to excellent adults in their lives."

Coach and parent Ryan Griffith says, "My son Riley Griffith has benefited tremendously from the Benchmark program. He wants to read a lot more. Instead of jumping on a quick FIFA game, he's more engaged with reading his comic book or one of the books he's pulled from the library or one of the books he's brought from the school. Reading obviously is a huge focus of Benchmark, and that engagement is going to go a long way. The reading comprehension is going to help, especially on the pitch. Giving kids that voice and the ability to express themselves freely really, really helps."

Andrew Cressman, Head of Philadelphia Union Junior Academy, speaks about our Benchmark students engaged in this pilot program, remarking, "For them to have an opportunity to try something different, to essentially be pioneers in their own way of trying this program and see if they're the first ones that can really make it work for everyone else, it's a good test for them and it's a good test for the program as well."

At Benchmark, we look forward to watching this program’s impact continue to expand.