Local Information
Jenn Russo – Owner/Operator
Jenn graduated Fordham University in 2013 with a communications degree. In 2016 she married her high school sweet heart & their little family expanded in both 2018 and 2020 with two son’s.
During the pandemic she searched for a safe, fun, engaging, and curriculum based outdoor program for her son. After attending Soccer Shots sessions, she fell in love!
She decided to follow her lifelong dream of opening up her own child enrichment program. Jenn and Tom decided that the support given to the franchisees combined with the excellence of curriculum that Soccer Shots provided to children was the path that they would take.
Watching her son happily & safely thrive on soccer island has been the biggest reward of all! Soccer island has given her family a sense of normalcy during this very un-conventional time. She is very exited to share this experience and hopes that Soccer Shots – Rockland/Putnam, NY will bring that same feeling to all families engaged.
Here at Soccer Shots – RPNY, you’re family!
We’re proudly serving Rockland, Putnam, Cornwall, Highlands, Newburgh, New Windsor, Tuxedo, West Point, & Woodbury
Tom Russo – Owner/Operator
Tom was born and raised in the Bronx borough of NYC, where he has since graduated Manhattan College in 2013 with a Engineering Degree and a minor in Children’s Psychology and Development.
Tom’s passion has always been geared to mentoring student’s that need guidance & support to find their path. He has grown up in an environment consisting of a big family, fast-paced, and a mandatory hard working mentality. He has come to realize that younger kids especially, once like himself, easily get lost in the shuffle and need to slow things down. He believes everyday is a challenge, learning experience, and a way to reflect. He is looking forward to the opportunity to instill this energy and dedication to his staff, soccer families, and even continued growth of himself.
Owner, operator, and partner are roles he has never been more excited about. The passion to impact young children (like his own), work side by side with his wife and bestfriend, and make every child and parent alike feel important and special is one of the mission’s of Soccer Shots – RPNY!
Tom & Jenn are excited for the opportunity to continue to grow their family, on soccer island, day after day. We can not wait to learn and play with you!
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.