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Lawrence Cann coaches at the indoor soccer fields at Chelsea Piers. His players on the Street Soccer NYC team are quick, communicate well and score goals. But they are also homeless or formerly homeless.

"For a lot of our folks who are traumatized and who have grown up with a lot of static and a lot of abuse, learning to manage [themselves] on a sports field is a great practical application to their lives," says Cann.

Cann, a former professional soccer player, founded Street Soccer USA five years ago with the help of HELP USA, and now has teams in 16 cities across the country.

Two years ago, he started holding twice-weekly practices for the men living in the Ward's Island shelter.

"While you're in this place, you become a little stressed out, things are not going very well, so you need something actually to get rid of the stress," says player Andres Negron.

Cann says he models his team like a family and helps the players set goals for themselves.

"He's more than just a soccer coach, he's a friend," says player Kourtney Talton.

"We do three, six, and 12-month goals," says Cann. "There again, it's not rocket science, but for folks that are focused on the day-to-day - 'How do I buy my next meal?' - that are stressed out about not having any money, taking a second and planning for 12 months and imagining yourself in 12 months, that's really powerful."

Cann and a friend are the only paid staff. The program's survival depends on volunteers.

"It's hard in such a huge city with so many people to find a focus and be able to draw so many people into a tight-knit community group like this, and he's really found a way to do that," says volunteer Kaitlin Giannetti.

This month, all 16 teams will play at the Street Soccer USA Cup in Washington, D.C. Eight players from the teams will be selected to represent the United States in the Homeless World Cup in Milan Italy.

"Everyone kind of motivates each other and that kind of translated and transcends into real life," says Giannetti.

Many of the players have since left the men's shelter and their old habits behind, but still continue to play with the team.

"You see folks staying sober for practice, latching on to the regularity and weekly practices as something to look forward to," says Cann.

So, for coaching his players to be the best they can be in soccer and in life, Lawrence Cann is the latest New Yorker of the week.

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