Having played soccer his whole life, Lyndon Rebello (IMP Class of 2026) didn’t want to give up the sport when he entered medical school. So, he began volunteering with the Vancouver Street Soccer League (VSSL). We caught up with Lyndon to learn more about this experience and how it makes soccer more than just a game.
What drew you to the VSSL?
I have always had a passion for soccer, and I was privileged enough to have an opportunity to pursue this passion from youth to university. When I got into medical school, I was not ready to give up playing the sport. So, I checked the UBC MD Undergraduate Program’s club site and came across the VSSL. While there were other opportunities to get involved in soccer, volunteering with the VSSL would allow me to enjoy playing soccer while using the game as a medium to offer a sense of togetherness, community, and inclusivity to members of the Downtown East Side (DTES). In the future, I hope to dedicate a significant portion of my practice to removing barriers and providing aid to marginalized members of vulnerable groups like those residing in the DTES. Therefore, it was a no-brainer for me to get involved in VSSL; I’m forming habits and gaining experience that I know will help me to do just that. It’s one of the reasons I’m still volunteering nearly a year later, even though I now live in Victoria and have to take the ferry over for sessions.
Tell us a bit more about the organization.
VSSL is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that aims to use soccer as a medium to foster a sense of inclusivity, especially for those dealing with homelessness, marginalization, and addiction. It reaches out to individuals who have been homeless, are currently homeless, or are at risk of homelessness, as well as individuals who feel marginalized within their communities or are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. The VSSL hosts weekly practices every Sunday morning at a local field in the heart of the DTES, as well as provides lunch following these sessions. Additionally, the organization collaborates with a local nurse to provide elective COVID-19 vaccines to any player who wants them.
What is your role?
I occupy two roles with VSSL. Outside the field, I communicate with other UBC medical students who volunteer and remind them when we have our monthly session with the organization. Most of these other medical students are from the Vancouver site, but I would love to get a group of IMP students out for a session. I’d like to coordinate a trip where we can travel and participate together.
I also take some time at the beginning of the school year to apply for funding from the university so that we can provide VSSL players with warm lunches and beverages at some of our sessions.
On the field, I help facilitate a sense of inclusivity, inviting players to join in who may be playing alone. I also try to boost the players’ confidence by celebrating their efforts and encouraging them when they make mistakes – after all, it’s part of the game!
Does your volunteer work positively affect the health of the players?
Sports have an inherent aspect of wellness built into them. In addition providing members with the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, our club fosters strong social health through teamwork and community-building. I think the post-game meals are especially important. These meals bring people together in a positive space where they can create connections and inspire a feeling of cohesion that elevates everyone’s mental and physical well-being. Some members of this league have even felt connected and comfortable enough to open up to me about their health (as a peer and friend, of course, not as a medical student).
Why do you think some players open up to you about their health?
I think it’s the sense of community and trust that is built up over time through our shared interest in soccer and our repeated weekly meetings that allow some players to eventually feel comfortable enough to talk about their health. It has been a tremendous privilege to hear their stories, knowing that they have shared something so close to them and trust me to be someone they can confide in as a friend. While soccer has been of the utmost fun, connections made off the field like this have significantly impacted my life and my perspective on how I can best serve others in the future.
Anything else you’d like to share?
To me, there are so many mediums one can use to connect with people. As future physicians, it is vital that we learn to form good, respectful, and meaningful connections; otherwise, our future patients will not feel comfortable in our care. These deep connections cannot be made through a simple two-minute conversation. I’m sharing my involvement with the VSSL to hopefully show other future healthcare professionals that connections can be made in so many different ways. I want to encourage them to be creative when thinking of new ways to better connect to their future patients so they can provide better care for them.