Starting a Youth Soccer Club From Scratch (And Succeeding!)

As Austin SSC and Austin SSC Kids approach their third year of collaboration with Custom Sports Gear in 2023, the partnership stands as a testament to their commitment to excellence and growth. Originally established as an adult sport and social club, Austin SSC sought the expertise of Custom Sports Gear to bolster its venture into youth soccer in Austin, Texas. Despite the challenges of entering a field surrounded by larger, well-established youth soccer clubs, Austin SSC Kids has flourished under a clear vision and effective leadership, burgeoning to over 600 players seasonally within a remarkably brief timeframe. Renowned for its well-run recreational soccer program, Austin SSC has solidified its position as a thriving youth soccer organization.

The collaboration initiated in 2020 wasn’t merely about supporting the equipment needs of adult recreation programming for Austin SSC and San Antonio SSC; it was a strategic move to lay the foundation for a robust youth soccer program in Austin. Starting modestly, Austin SSC Kids leveraged Custom Sports Gear to equip itself with the gear befitting a large, established youth soccer club, all while operating within the budget constraints of a startup.

The journey commenced with essentials like end-of-season medals for players, drawstring bags, and size 1 soccer balls for community marketing events, gradually evolving into a comprehensive lineup of branded equipment. Today, Austin SSC Kids provides its coaches with custom-branded soccer goals, team benches, coaching boards, cones, pinnies, ball bags, and personalized duffel bags. In a recent expansion, they’ve ventured into elevating their branding with 10×10 custom-branded canopies, A-frames, and feather flags. This strategic alliance underscores not only their dedication to fostering a well-equipped and professionally branded soccer experience but also exemplifies their shrewd approach to achieving it on the budget of a growing startup.