It's Not Soccer, It's "Pelada"

We're piloting a new recess program at SCORES during the last few weeks of the school year. And by "program" we really mean pick-up soccer, possibly the most universal and simple game on earth.

We're calling these pick-up sessions "Pelada", a Portuguese word that Brazilians use to refer to pick-up soccer. In Portuguese, Pelada means naked.

The game is easy to set up, easy to run, and the rules are simple. We've added a few unique twists of the rules to minimize disagreements, keep the game flowing, and keep the fun levels at a maximum. For example, we don't keep score. Teams are encouraged to restart the game immediately after a goal.
So far, these pilot sessions have been a big hit with students, recess staff, and even school principles. Students are engaged, moving, and having fun for the majority of their recess periods.

During one of these sessions, one student inexplicably yelled out, "I'm using my math skills!" I'm not sure what this student meant, but such outbursts suggest that this new program offering could revolutionize recess sessions at school.

- Cyrus Philbrick
SCORES Program Staff