Who We Are

Soccer FC provides access, excellence, and education through the game of soccer to children in underserved communities.

Access To Soccer

Soccer FC was created in response to the pay-to-play model that keeps so many low-income children from participating in sports. In Charlotte, only 20% of low-income youth have access to team sports, so from day one, our mission has been clear: ensure every child has the chance to play soccer, no matter their background or socioeconomic status.

 

We do this by removing the barriers to access. Our program is completely free for every player and family. We pay our coaches and provide each child with a jersey at no cost. We also bring programming directly to elementary schools to eliminate transportation challenges. For 67% of our players, Greater Goals at their school is the very first time they’ve ever been able to participate in youth sports.

Excellence in Programming

At Soccer FC, we believe excellent programming starts with excellent coaches. Our goal is to place dependable, caring adults in our players’ lives who show up consistently and can be counted on week after week. We hire and pay coaches who are motivated to make a positive impact both on and off the field, and we equip them with a best-in-class curriculum so every child receives a high-quality, meaningful experience.

Education Beyond the Game

We use the game of soccer as a tool to promote literacy. In low socioeconomic areas, 89% of children who read proficiently by third grade go on to graduate high school. Yet in CMS, only 39% of third-graders are reading on grade level. Knowing how strongly reading skills shape future success, and knowing that more than half of CMS third graders are falling behind, we intentionally weave literacy into the two hours we spend with our players each week.

 

Our goal is not to change reading levels, but to change reading habits. Each session begins with a 15-minute active read-aloud focused on vocabulary and comprehension. Players also choose a book at their reading level to take home each week, helping them build their own home libraries. Each school year, we give away more than 16,000 books.