Key Takeaways
- Kaiser Permanente trained 180 coaches at the inaugural Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series event in Southern California
- The health system serves as official health care partner of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission through 2027
- Dr. Gabrielle Ahlzadeh led sessions covering injury prevention and athlete wellness strategies for youth soccer coaches
- Additional clinics planned for coaches, referees, and players leading up to the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles
- Partnership targets community health programs as Los Angeles prepares to host World Cup 2026 and Super Bowl 2027
Health System Enters Youth Soccer Coaching Market
Kaiser Permanente launched the first event in its Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series, bringing together 180 coaches for practical training on injury prevention and athlete health management. The clinic marks the health system’s entry into structured youth sports education programming as part of its partnership with the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.
The partnership designates Kaiser Permanente as the official health care partner for the Commission’s youth sports and community health initiatives across Southern California. The arrangement extends through 2027, covering Los Angeles’s hosting of the World Cup in 2026 and Super Bowl in 2027.
Clinic Structure and Content Delivery
The inaugural clinic focused exclusively on coach education, with participants receiving hands-on training through drills and exercises designed for immediate team application. Dr. Gabrielle Ahlzadeh, a sports medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park, served as the primary instructor and holds the role of official medical advisor to the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission.
Dr. Ahlzadeh’s sessions covered injury prevention protocols, athlete longevity strategies, and health maintenance practices. “When we equip coaches with knowledge about injury prevention and health, we’re helping them create safer, more supportive environments for the team they lead,” Ahlzadeh said.
The clinic format included direct access to Kaiser Permanente medical experts and structured opportunities for coaches to exchange strategies with peers.
Planned Expansion Through 2026
Kaiser Permanente plans additional clinics for coaches, referees, and players ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Future events will include youth participant opportunities, expanding beyond the coach-focused format of the inaugural clinic.
The series aims to provide ongoing health and wellness training to Southern California youth soccer stakeholders, with programming scheduled to continue through Los Angeles’s major sporting event hosting period.
Partnership Infrastructure and Community Access
The collaboration between Kaiser Permanente and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission establishes a framework for health system involvement in youth sports programming. The partnership provides medical expertise to community programs while positioning Kaiser Permanente within the youth soccer ecosystem ahead of high-profile international events.
The clinic series represents a direct health system investment in coach education, targeting injury prevention and wellness practices at the grassroots level of youth soccer operations in the Los Angeles region.
Via: Kaiser Permanente
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