Local Information
Trent Popp – Owner/Visionary, Soccer Shots Central Kentucky
Meet Trent Popp, the visionary owner behind the Soccer Shots success story. With a remarkable journey that began in 2015 when he founded Soccer Shots Louisville, Trent’s unwavering dedication to the game and its positive influence on young lives has driven the expansion of Soccer Shots into new communities. In 2019, he brought the joy of soccer to Lexington, and in 2023, to Northern Kentucky.
As the driving force responsible for growth through strategic expansion and valuable partnerships, Trent’s true passion lies in teaching and watching kids master their favorite soccer skill: shooting. Above all, what truly fuels his passion is witnessing the profound impact Soccer Shots has on young hearts and minds through the beautiful game we all love.
Stephen Brashear – Integrator, Soccer Shots Central Kentucky
Meet Stephen Brashear, a driving force behind Soccer Shots’ growth and success in Kentucky. Born and raised in Winchester, KY, Stephen has always had a deep-rooted connection to his community. His journey with Soccer Shots began as the Director of Soccer Shots Lexington in 2019, where his passion for teaching and soccer converged. In June 2020, he assumed the role of Executive Director for Soccer Shots Central Kentucky, and in 2023, he became a co-owner of Soccer Shots Northern KY.
With a background in elementary education, Stephen’s dedication to shaping young minds shines through in his role, where he oversees day-to-day operations and fosters growth through sales. His love for Kentucky is evident in his favorite color, Kentucky blue, and his greatest joy at Soccer Shots comes from witnessing the positive impact the beautiful game can have on children. When he’s not immersed in the world of soccer, Stephen enjoys cycling, quality time with his family, and of course, a good game of FIFA!
Angie Grospitch – Executive Director, Soccer Shots Central Kentucky
Meet Angie Grospitch, our passionate and nurturing Executive Director at Soccer Shots. Hailing from Tiffin, OH, Angie brings a unique perspective to our team, having provided in-home childcare services for over 15 years. As the proud mother of three daughters, ages 21, 18, and 12, she understands the importance of creating a positive and engaging environment for children. Angie’s favorite aspect of Soccer Shots is witnessing how the program makes learning about soccer an absolute blast for kids, all while leaving a lasting, positive impact on their day. Beyond the soccer field, Angie’s adventurous spirit shines as she loves traveling to new places with her family, diving into captivating books, cherishing moments with friends, and sharing laughter with her golden retriever, Beau!
Angie embarked on her journey with Soccer Shots in June 2023, bringing her love for children to the heart of our organization.
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.