Diego Lahaye is looking forward to a milestone event when he hosts the first National 4-H Soccer Cup March 12-16, 2025 at the University of the District of Columbia. As a project leader and 4-H program associate at the Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Center in UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, Lahaye is optimistic about the high participation levels of youth athletes across the country.
“We’re very excited about this event at UDC and I think we’re going to see a lot of participation,” Lahaye said, noting that teams from states like Nebraska and Texas have already confirmed their participation.
The National 4-H Soccer Cup is a larger component Ignite with 4-H The summit aims to enhance athletic excellence and develop sportsmanship among young athletes. Boys and girls teams will demonstrate their skills in the competition UDC’s new state-of-the-art athletics field.
In addition to soccer matches, participants will benefit from a series of educational seminars led by field experts at UDC’s Van Ness campus. Workshops will cover important topics such as sports integrity, youth leadership, nutrition, crime prevention and the integration of STEM principles in sports. There will also be opportunities for licensing of coaches and referees.
According to 4-H, more than 1,000 youth travel to Washington, D.C. each year to attend the Ignite summit, making the National 4-H Soccer Cup a historic event for UDC and the entire organization.
“We strive to help players and coaches reach their full potential. We also want to create friendships,” says Lahaye.
Another point for Hague
Lahaye has a track record of positively impacting youth sports at UDC. In 2023, he was awarded the Northeast Urban Extension Award for the Healthy Living Urban Youth (Soccer) Program, recognized for significant community contributions.
“Our 4-H Soccer Program is a year-round program. “We strive to promote youth soccer for recreational and competitive purposes,” said Lahaye. “The National 4-H Soccer Cup is an extension of that. The roles these student-athletes take on on the field are the same as the roles youth face in their families, schools and communities.”
Dean Dwane Jones of CAUSES expressed his pride in UDC’s participation in this groundbreaking event. “Held on UDC’s main campus, this groundbreaking event will bring together talented boys and girls soccer teams from across the country for a multi-day competition that showcases the next generation of leaders and athletes through collaboration, skill-building and unforgettable experiences,” he said.
