SALINAS VALLEY — More than 150 local children took to the fields at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex on July 26 for a free soccer clinic and health fair designed to promote wellness, confidence and community connection.
The event was hosted by the Salinas Regional Sports Authority in partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes—with support from the Quakes Foundation, the team’s charitable arm dedicated to using soccer as a force for positive change.
The highlight of the day was a high-energy soccer clinic led by Earthquakes legend Shea Salinas, joined by players and staff from the state champion Everett Alvarez High School boys soccer team. Young players ages 5-13 received hands-on instruction and encouragement, learning new skills and hearing directly from professionals who once stood where they now sit.
“Seeing Shea Salinas out here on our fields, connecting with kids one-on-one, was incredibly powerful,” said Jonathan De Anda, general manager of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “The Quakes and their foundation have made it clear that they care deeply about our youth, and today’s event brought that commitment to life.”
Each child who participated in the clinic went home with a brand-new soccer ball—a tangible reminder of the day and an investment in their continued play.
The event also included a range of free services and activities for families: health screenings from Salinas Valley Health’s Mobile Clinic, produce giveaways from the Food Bank for Monterey County, free haircuts for kids and information booths from local organizations offering resources on youth programs, nutrition and mental health.
The event is part of a broader effort to transform the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex into an even larger hub for recreation, health, youth programs and economic development.
With expansion plans already underway—including additional fields, new sand courts for soccer and volleyball, a BMX Pump Track, two skate parks and more—the Complex continues to grow as a central gathering place for Monterey County. Once completed, the expansion will make the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex the largest facility of its kind between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
