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This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Melissa Smith from Spooner, WI is requesting supplies through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mrs. Melissa Smith's classroom raised $2,941

A “David” Team Plays Soccer in a “Goliath” Conference

My students need a jugs soccer machine.

This project expired on August 20, 2016.

Classroom photo
Mrs. Melissa Smith profile photo
Mrs. Melissa Smith Spooner Elementary School
Spooner, WI Grades 9-12

My Students

We are a small-town soccer team that plays against schools over twice our size. We are small in stature and numbers, young in age, and limited in resources; but what we have in heart compensates for all of that. The “classroom” is the soccer field and consists of 20 players (grade 9-12).

In general, the players are abstract thinkers, creative and artistic.

Many enjoy music and take the road less traveled by. They are not typical jocks, although they are very athletic. They are all good kids who are conscientious, self-disciplined, hard-working, respectful, and always display good sportsmanship. We live in a rural, high-poverty area with limited resources and equipment which is only one of the obstacles we face. The coach (who is new this year) is taking great strides in turning things around and overcoming all the obstacles. His main tool - that he believes in the players! He sees the possibility and has the ability to help them see it. This year has seen a new philosophy of play, including new defensive and offensive strategies. The only equipment used right now are cones, balls, and two goals.

My Project

The team has only one coach. Having a JUGS machine would be like having an assistant coach in many ways. The goalies will be able to work together on their diving skills, taking high crosses, punching and narrowing of the angle with the JUGS machine while the coach is working with the rest of the team and vice versa. It will be used for goalie training as well as effectively teaching offensive and defensive strategies. It will accurately deliver the ball for teaching goal kicks and corner kicks. You cannot imagine how much practice time is wasted in retrieving balls that have been kicked out of play by human error. With varied settings, the machine will allow left-footed or right-footed hooks as well as long or short distance delivery with hard, soft or bouncing shots. Since possession of the ball is the goal of soccer, a JUGS machine will be instrumental in learning how to settle the ball with the foot, taking a header, or off the chest. This piece of equipment can be used year-round.

There is much to accomplish with such a young team, but by taking one thing at a time, we will see a difference.

We want the players to be competitive with their opponents but feel that this cannot happen without matching some equipment used by those schools. With the use of a JUGS machine, reaction time is guaranteed to improve. Playing soccer well is certainly a goal of Boys Soccer at our school, but the ultimate goal is to develop successful men.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than half of students from low‑income households

20 students impacted 31 donors
Mrs. Melissa Smith Spooner Elementary School Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Spooner, WI View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

20 students impacted 31donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Soccer Machine • Jugs Sports $2,300.00 1 $2,300.00

Materials cost

$2,300.00

Vendor shipping charges

 $135.32

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$34.50

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$2,499.82

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$441.14

Total project goal

$2,940.96

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $2,940.96

29 Donors

-$1,466.07

Donations toward project cost

-$1,249.91

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$216.16

match offer

-$1,470.48

Match offer toward project cost

-$1,249.91

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$220.57

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$4.41

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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Project Activity

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Melissa Smith and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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