Context / Initial Conditions

While coaching at a local soccer club, I observed a persistent gap in the local soccer ecosystem: families were driving 25–30 minutes out of town to access higher-quality clinics, camps, and private training. I proposed building those offerings within the club, but leadership priorities were focused elsewhere at the time. Rather than allow the need to go unmet, I launched Rodriguez Soccer Academy in February 2024 to prove the demand and raise the standard of programming in our town.

Objective

Deliver high-quality, community-based programming that could capture local demand quickly, retain families through quality rather than price, and demonstrate the viability of a structured, development-focused training model in Pacifica.

Challenges

• Limited field access in a small market; facilities rarely rented to the public

• No initial institutional backing or funding

• Reputational risk with the existing club (potential perception of competition)

• Demand uncertainty at launch

• Programs had to suit a wide age/development range with safety and liability in mind

Scope of Work (What I Built and Led)

• Designed curriculum, session structures, and progression frameworks

• Built pricing strategy, enrollment workflows, and payment systems

• Hired, trained, and managed 11 coaches aligned to a unified standard

• Negotiated exclusive field access leveraging alumni status with local facilities

• Established communication channels and parent expectation protocols

• Built partnerships with 5+ local clubs and organizations

• Planned and delivered 30+ clinics, 7+ camps, and 250+ sessions end-to-end

• Established brand, community presence, and safety/operational SOPs

Risk Management

Key risks included staffing reliability, financial exposure in a small market, liability exposure with minors, and potential friction with existing local club stakeholders. Mitigations included over-recruitment buffer in staffing, conservative cost structure at launch, liability-conscious session design, and proactive messaging to maintain collaborative positioning.

Execution Approach

I launched small, validated demand, then expanded offerings in measured increments rather than scaling prematurely. I prioritized reliability and quality to build trust quickly, reinvested in community programming to strengthen goodwill, and maintained transparent communication with parents to reduce escalation risk. Once the model was proven, I transitioned it into partnership form with the local club.

Outcomes & Impact

• Served 500+ families in the first year

• Delivered 150+ sessions with 95% repeat enrollment

• Secured exclusive field use and 5+ strategic partnerships

• Built and operated an entire business from zero — then successfully applied that same operational model to implement programming within the local club structure

• Led to formal adoption of programs under the club (JDA, Skills Clinics, King of the Hill)

• Transitioned from independent operator to compensated program lead

• Reinvested surplus into local schools and equity initiatives (education foundation, elementary schools, scholarship clinics, community events)