|
My name is Ralf Gerhardt, I am the founder of SoccerTampaBay.com. I grew up in Germany, right at the border of Austria in the middle of the Alps (imagine "The Sound of Music" and you are right there! :)
Like any other family in my village, my 2 brothers and I were into soccer and swimming in summer and skiing in the winter. Everyone was doing some kind of sport. |
Ralf Gerhardt
|
Growing up in such an environment I never ran across any drugs (!). I literally knew nobody that took drugs through my entire childhood and teenage years. There was way too much to do all the time, so many sports competitions and fun to be had outside, we just stayed really busy all the time.
That has not changed, 30 years later: When I visit my hometown, you see the same people biking, hiking, swimming, playing soccer after work hours every single day. Sports had kept them physically fit and active all these years. Even my parents, who push seventy are out there on their bike every day.
Soccer motto worldwide: Say No to Drugs!
In Germany, soccer has always stood for "Say no to Drugs" and I keep with that tradition by promoting this on our website, too. Please check out all the Truth About Drugs videos we feature and use them in abundance to educate yourself, your kids, pupils, teachers and any other adults that deal with kids.
If we can work on this together, we will achieve our goals faster:
That has not changed, 30 years later: When I visit my hometown, you see the same people biking, hiking, swimming, playing soccer after work hours every single day. Sports had kept them physically fit and active all these years. Even my parents, who push seventy are out there on their bike every day.
Soccer motto worldwide: Say No to Drugs!
In Germany, soccer has always stood for "Say no to Drugs" and I keep with that tradition by promoting this on our website, too. Please check out all the Truth About Drugs videos we feature and use them in abundance to educate yourself, your kids, pupils, teachers and any other adults that deal with kids.
If we can work on this together, we will achieve our goals faster:
Promote an active lifestyle with sports and raise the awareness of the value of keeping the body healthy and be much happier by saying No to drugs!
The Present and the Future
I am still a very active soccer player myself and play in several leagues here in Tampa Bay. There are many people that know me through this and I made a lot of friends playing all these years. What I especially like about soccer is that there are no ethnic or religious borders nor certain income requirements: Anybody can enjoy to play the game.
I have myself played with all kinds of teams and different nationalities and it's the passion for the game that connects us all. It's undeniable, especially after the Soccer World Cup in South Africa, that this is the most passionately embraced and loved sport on earth.
And since it can be played anyplace: In the yard, on the streets, in an alley and everywhere people get together, its popularity is unstoppable.
If I can contribute with this site to help people enjoy the game and raise the awareness to stay off drugs, I am happy.
Please feel free to send me your feedback, we are always eager to improve our website and welcome your critic and suggestions. This website is meant for the soccer community in the greater Tampa Bay area, so we need to hear your voice!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Ralf Gerhardt :-)