Local Information
Callista Ramos is the owner and operator of Soccer Shots Grand Rapids. Callista uses her passion and experience to make lasting impacts on children and their families, with the goal to always deliver a uniquely optimal experience that can be enjoyed by both. Callista believes Soccer Shots is more than a local business, that it is also an avenue to be used for positive missions for the city. Callista has years of experience in soccer and a lifetime of experience in general sports, paired with 5+ years of training and experience in childcare, diversity, and trauma informed care. Callista understands the significance of meeting a child and their family where they are at, so no matter what you bring to the field, you will always feel that you’ve left with something more.
*Events*
Catch us next year at our annual Community Easter Egg Hunt & Free Fun Day!! Free for all to attend with plenty of fun to experience. This year we had over 700 people attend! Participants enjoyed the option of 3 eggs hunts totaling at more than 4,000 eggs, Kool Breze Food Truck, the Easter bunny, Grand Rapids Fire Engine 11, face painting, yard games, local vendors, and more!
*Projects*
Every other season, Soccer Shots Grand Rapids utilizes the whole team to come up with a project idea, chosen by the coaches, to give back to the community of Grand Rapids. We are more than a business; we are a part of this community and can make a difference.
*Soccer Shots Grand Rapids Cares*
We are closely monitoring the presence of COVID and its new variants. We care about our community and your families. Our coaches will be returning to wearing face masks/face shields while coaching sessions. All equipment will be sanitized after every use. Social distancing will be used as best as possible during our sessions. We will continue with use of these policies as long as needed to keep your family safe while enjoying Soccer Shots.
Employment
If you have a passion for positively impacting children, we’d love to talk to you.
The “Three Cs” – Coaching, Communication and Curriculum
The foundation of Soccer Shots is our relentless commitment to providing best-in-class coaching, communication and curriculum.
The best coaches in the business
- Every Soccer Shots coach must complete our comprehensive training program to receive certification.
- All Soccer Shots coaches are trained in the use of developmentally appropriate techniques.
- Coaches are routinely evaluated and undergo ongoing training.
- Our coach selection process evaluates not only the ability to coach soccer, but also the ability to engage and inspire children.
An exceptional customer experience with ongoing communication
- You will receive a weekly summary of what your child is learning at Soccer Shots.
- We proactively communicate cancellations due to weather or other circumstances.
- Our staff understands the importance of timely, responsive communication.
Expert-approved curriculum that aligns with early childhood education standards
- Our developmentally appropriate curriculum places an emphasis on character development and skill building.
- Our program is created under the guidance of childhood education specialists, professional soccer players and experienced and licensed soccer coaches.
- We constantly re-evaluate and update our curriculum to stay current with childhood education standards.
Our Vision: To provide a beloved growth experience for every child; a remarkable experience for every family.
The History of Soccer Shots
Our founding partners, Jeremy Sorzano and Jason Webb, were soccer teammates both in college and professionally. They formed Soccer Shots® in 1997 after recognizing a lack of quality soccer programs for children under age 8. They shared an entrepreneurial spirit, a deep love of soccer, and a passion to inspire children to live fit and healthy lives.
The success of Soccer Shots in Charlotte, NC and Harrisburg, PA, where Sorzano and Webb first launched their businesses, led to several of their friends and former teammates wanting to get involved. In 2005, Soccer Shots began franchising and opened its first four franchises in OH, DE, FL, and PA. The business opportunity began to attract more soccer entrepreneurs, and Soccer Shots has enjoyed growing around the country and into Canada.
In May of 2009, Justin Bredeman, another former college soccer teammate, became the third Soccer Shots partner. Justin brought with him eight years of experience from Auntie Anne’s, Inc., a pretzel franchising company, where he led a team that supported nearly 800 franchise units. His deep understanding of the franchise business model also comes from the knowledge gained from his five years of owning and running a Soccer Shots business of his own.
From its humble beginnings, Soccer Shots has grown beyond Jeremy and Jason’s biggest dreams, with over 200 territories across 37 states and Canada. There were over 440,000 enrollments into Soccer Shots programming in 2018.
The business is consistently recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as the #1 Children’s Fitness Franchise in the U.S. And today, Soccer Shots is positioned as the best-in-class children’s soccer program with a focus on character development.
And while the accolades are appreciated, our mission remains focused – positively impacting children’s lives.
Soccer Shots Franchising, LLC is based in central Pennsylvania, just east of Harrisburg. Learn more about franchising with Soccer Shots at soccershotsfranchising.com.
Stronger Youth. Beyond the Game.
We believe that soccer is a powerful vehicle for positively impacting youth. Through our partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, we aim to impact children who live in underserved communities through quality soccer programs that support their physical and personal development.