Local Information
Joel Newman, Executive Director (he/him)
Joel believes that children learn best when they love what they’re doing. That’s why he believes in the fun, non-competitive curriculum of Soccer Shots, which goes beyond the game by incorporating character building lessons each week.
Joel started Soccer Shots Portland in 2010 because he wanted to devote himself to community building. Joel’s background includes
a BA in Religious Studies, a Masters in Business, 9 years of consulting, 2 years of running a restaurant, and 9 summers being a camp counselor. While Joel has had a variety of different experiences, one thing has always been a constant: soccer. When he decided to turn to community building, soccer was the perfect platform.
Joel now spends his time at Soccer Shots focusing on program quality, making community connections and coaching.
CaSaundra Garber, Director of Operations (she/her)
CaSaundra is passionate about all youth sports, whether it is coaching or helping organizations that support them. She has spent years volunteering as a youth baseball & softball coach and has loved learning more about the game of soccer since joining the Soccer Shots team. CaSaundra would love to connect with anyone that is curious about our program or has a similar passion for youth and coaching.
CREDENTIALS: Heads Up Concussion, Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, Professional Project Manager (PMP). Volunteer President of Gresham Barlow Youth Baseball/Softball, Volunteer Coordinator for Gresham Youth Basketball.
FUN FACTS: CaSaundra has jumped out of a perfectly fine plane, AKA she went skydiving! When she wasn’t playing softball growing up, she spent her weekends at a race car track (her dad was a driver) or on a sailboat.
FAVORITE QUOTE: “Change is the law of life. And those who only look to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F Kennedy
FAVORITE JOKE: “What is a pirate’s favorite letter? Rrrrrrrrr!”
Dana “D” W., Senior Program and CS Specialist (she/her)
SEASONS WITH SS: 13 seasons at PDX
CREDENTIALS: Masters degree in Theatre Management
Where to Play Soccer Shots
Daycare/Preschool/After School Soccer Programs:
These classes happen on site at preschools, daycares, and elementary schools. To attend these classes, your child must be a student of that school. Don’t see your child’s school but would like to have Soccer Shots offered at their school? Let us know by emailing [email protected]. Click here to register for Soccer Shots now!
Park & Community Soccer Classes:
Our park classes happen at parks and community centers all over Portland Metro and Vancouver, Washington. These classes are open to anyone. We run seasons that typically last 10 weeks and camps which last 1 week.
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.