The gap
Every kid deserves a game. Four things stand in the way.
Here's what the research says about each one, and what we do about it. Every stat links to its source.
01
The fees
Youth soccer isn't cheap anymore. Registration, club dues, uniforms, travel. The bill lands on families with the least room for it. A family's budget shouldn't decide who gets to play.
60%
In California, 60% of parents report struggling to afford youth sports costs.
LA84 Foundation, 2026 California Play Equity Report69%
Across the US, parents spent 69% more on a child's soccer in 2024 than in 2019.
Aspen Institute Project Play, family spending survey, 202536.3%
Across the US, 36.3% of kids below the poverty line played sports in 2024, the only income group to decline.
Aspen Institute Project Play, analysis of federal data, 2026
What we do
Youth scholarships
We cover registration fees, club dues and uniforms, so no kid gets cut from a team because of cost.
02
The kit
A field with no goals, no nets and no balls is just grass. In Orange County, room to play can depend on where you live. We believe too many kids sit out because they don't have cleats or a ball.
75%
In Anaheim, residents of lower-income neighbourhoods have access to 75% less nearby park space than those in higher-income ones.
Trust for Public Land, 2026 ParkScore, Anaheim1.63 · 2.63 · 5.02
In Orange County, Santa Ana has 1.63 athletic fields and diamonds per 10,000 residents, Anaheim 2.63 and Irvine 5.02.
Trust for Public Land, 2026 ParkScore, Santa AnaTrust for Public Land, 2026 ParkScore, AnaheimTrust for Public Land, 2026 ParkScore, Irvine
What we do
Equipment donation
We deliver goals, nets, balls, cleats and uniforms to underfunded parks, schools and leagues across Orange County. The kit that turns grass into a field.
03
The whistle
No referee, no game. Officials are still under pressure. Too many walk away, and the ones who stay carry more games.
79.06%
Across the US, 79.06% of sports officials surveyed in 2023 took on more games because of the shortage.
National Association of Sports Officials, national officiating survey, 202367%
Across the US, 67% of park and recreation agencies that run youth sports report trouble finding officials.
National Recreation and Park Association, Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation, 202560%
U.S. Soccer reports that 60% of referees choose not to recertify due to harassment and threats.
U.S. Soccer, Referee Abuse Prevention
What we do
Referee certification
We fund licensing and training for referees. The goal is a certified ref for every game.
04
The neighbourhood
We see it on local fields: fewer community events, fewer free clinics, fewer places where neighbours meet. We believe youth soccer is still one of the best reasons for a neighbourhood to show up.
Nearly 70%
Across the US, people ages 15 to 24 spent nearly 70% less time with friends in person in 2020 than in 2003.
U.S. Surgeon General, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 202326%
Across the US, 26% of adults say they know all or most of their neighbours, down from 31% in 2018.
Pew Research Center, survey of U.S. adults, 202575%
Across the US, 75% of adults surveyed reported wanting "more activities or fun community events" as well as "public spaces that are more accessible and connection-focused, like green spaces and playgrounds."
Making Caring Common (Harvard), Loneliness in America, 2024
What we do
Community events
We run free clinics, equipment drives and field days that bring the neighbourhood around the kids who love the game.
Help us close the gap
Give, volunteer, or send this page to someone who should see these numbers. Every bit moves a kid closer to the field.