Summer Pickup: Eight Weeks of Free Soccer and Community

This summer, we wanted to create a simple opportunity for kids in our community: a place to come play soccer, make friends, and enjoy the game.

From June 10th through July 29th, we hosted a series of eight free pickup soccer sessions, bringing together an average of 60 local players every Wednesday throughout summer break.

With three different age groups and fields running for players ages 6–15, each week brought together kids from across the community and gave them the chance to simply play.

What Is Pickup Soccer?

The concept is simple.

Players from the community show up to the field, and we divide them into teams based on their age. From there, they play.

There are no tryouts, no long-term commitment, and no pressure to be on a specific team. Players get to meet new people, play alongside kids of different skill levels, and compete in an environment where everyone is welcome.

Every week, we saw players helping one another, making new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and enjoying the game together.

That's what makes pickup soccer so special.

Playing Free

One of the biggest things we wanted to provide through these sessions was an environment where players could play without overthinking.

In traditional team environments, coaches have an important role in teaching players and helping them improve. But sometimes, too much coaching can unintentionally limit a player's creativity. When players are constantly being told where to move, what decision to make, or exactly how to execute something, they can become hesitant to take risks.

Pickup soccer gives players something different.

They have the freedom to try things.

They can experiment, make mistakes, try a new move, take on a defender, attempt a difficult pass, or find their own solution to a problem on the field.

There is no coach standing over them telling them exactly what to do every second.

That freedom is important.

We believe players need opportunities to discover the game for themselves. Creativity comes from experimentation, and confidence grows when players are given the freedom to make their own decisions.

Pickup allows players to experience the game in its purest form: just play.

More Than Just Games

While the soccer itself was the centerpiece, we also wanted to use these sessions as an opportunity to expose our players to the possibilities that soccer can create for their future.

Every week, we welcomed a guest speaker who came out to talk with the players and share advice about their own experiences in the sport.

These conversations were extremely important to us.

For young players, it can be difficult to understand where soccer can actually take them. College soccer, professional soccer, coaching, and other opportunities within the sport can sometimes feel distant or unrealistic.

Having someone who has experienced those opportunities come out and speak directly with them helps plant that seed.

The message wasn't simply about becoming a professional player. It was about understanding that soccer can be a tool for personal growth, education, relationships, and future opportunities.

Seeing someone who has continued to pursue their goals through the sport can be incredibly inspiring for a young player.

Sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone who has done it before to start believing that you can do it too.

Building Community Through Soccer

Perhaps the most rewarding part of the eight-week series was watching the community develop week after week.

We had players of different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels sharing the same fields.

Some players came in already knowing each other. Others showed up not knowing anyone. By the end of the session, they were teammates, opponents, or new friends.

Players helped each other improve. Older players interacted with younger players. Kids came back each week looking forward to seeing the friends they had made.

And because the games weren't tied to one specific team or club, players had the opportunity to meet people they might not normally play with.

That is something we value deeply.

Soccer has a unique ability to bring people together.

You can show up not knowing anyone, and within minutes, you have something in common with everyone around you.

The Benefits Go Beyond Soccer

Of course, the players were also getting the opportunity to stay active throughout their summer break.

Running, competing, changing direction, defending, attacking, and playing multiple games each week gave our players a fun way to get their physical activity in while doing something they genuinely enjoyed.

But the benefits went beyond physical activity.

They were learning how to communicate with teammates, compete respectfully, solve problems, adapt to different players, and make decisions on their own.

Most importantly, they were learning to enjoy the game.

Eight Weeks, One Community

Over the course of eight Wednesdays, we watched the same thing happen again and again.

Kids showed up.

They played.

They competed.

They laughed.

They made friends.

They learned.

And then they came back the following week.

That consistency is what made this program so special to us. It wasn't just eight individual pickup games. It became a weekly gathering place for young players throughout the summer.

We are incredibly proud of what these sessions became and grateful to everyone who showed up and helped create the environment.

A special thank you to the La Puente Community Foundation for helping make these free pickup games possible and supporting our mission of creating more opportunities for youth in our community.

We hope to continue building programs like this that give players a place to play, grow, express themselves, and connect with others.

Because sometimes, the best way to get better at soccer is simple:

Just play.

And sometimes, the best part of playing isn't the game itself—it's who you meet along the way.

We're already looking forward to next summer. ⚽️