San Francisco Youth Soccer: Teaching Kids Valuable Lessons on and off the Field

When Lee Dunne was growing up in England, football (or soccer – depending on who you’re talking to), was the “lifeblood” of his childhood. Not only did it bring his community together, but the sport taught him the important lessons of life: resiliency, determination, teamwork, commitment, and compassion. Soccer is a foundational part of personal development for millions of children the world over.

Based on a 2018 study conducted by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, over 6.65 million children play soccer. That’s 6.65 million children looking up to the likes of Marta, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé. 6.65 million children reaping the rewards of personal development just like Lee Dunne did as a child.

But despite the sport’s popularity, there are also millions of children who are left out of participating in the sport, who can’t afford the life-affirming lessons soccer has to offer. That’s where Lee Dunne and San Francisco Youth Soccer (SFYS) come in. Dunne, the Director of Coaching & Programming for SFYS, wants to give every child in San Francisco the same opportunity to play the game that helped change his life when he was a child.

SFYS is a nonprofit, soccer-based community organization and is one of the largest youth participation programs in the city. More than 500 teams (6,000 kids) play soccer within SFYS leagues and an additional 2,000 players and youth benefit from SFYS free and low-cost programming and SFYS underwriting of technology and equipment grants used by SF Rec & Park for the benefit of all.

“Our mission is to get players playing and to grow the game,” says Dunne. They do this by offering a wide range of play options for every level of player and by offering team spots for a nominal fee so play is accessible. They also offer financial aid. Soccer with SFYS is all about including everyone who may want to play, at any level, wherever that player is located. “No kid needs to travel outside of the city or spend thousands of dollars on travel soccer with our program,” Dunne explains. In order to reach as many players as possible, SFYS meets parents and coaches where they are: creating coaching curriculum, offering free SFYS @ School soccer, and encouraging or supporting play at locations other than traditional soccer fields. 

As part of this broad approach, SFYS also offers a Junior Coach program, a Youth Advisory Council, Referee and Coach training, multiple Mentor programs, and a comprehensive website and portal with vast parent, neighborhood, and sport resources. The impact SFYS has on the community extends far beyond the game of soccer. Every program is designed to support the players, the families, and the community, says Dunne.