Youth Soccer Franchise is Focused on Fitness and Fun
- Texas couple Kevin and Chelsea Meyer chose the Soccer Stars franchise because it matched their values and love of fitness.
- The youth soccer franchise helps kids stay active through fun soccer classes, camps and skill-building.
- The couple says the business gives them a chance to make a lasting, healthy impact on children.
For some entrepreneurs, the decision to open a franchise is purely economics. For others, the motivating factor is finding a business that aligns with personal values. One Texas couple wanted to make a lasting impact on children.
When Kevin and Chelsea Meyer began thinking about franchising, they reached out to consultant John Ostenson. He suggested businesses that ranged from plumbing to elder care, but since fitness played such an important role in the couple’s lives, a Soccer Stars franchise in McKinney, Texas, stood out.
Soccer Stars, the country’s largest corporately run youth soccer program, operates in 33 states, teaching more than 100,000 classes each year. The program offers kids ages 1–16 the chance to learn about the sport and enhance their skills through play, camps and more.
“Soccer Stars was an easy pick to move forward with,” Kevin says. “I prioritize my health and workout daily and my wife and I are very passionate about keeping kids healthy and active as we have a daughter and two sons. Once we spoke with the Soccer Stars leadership, we realized how well we aligned with the brand.”
The Goal: Building Healthy Habits
Soccer Stars brings soccer classes to schools or other locations, providing instruction and all the equipment from goals to cones to balls. “Once we arrive at a location, we set up for the day and we get our kiddos ready for class,” Kevin says. “We use fun and interactive curriculum themes to help keep them engaged and having fun.”
Since opening in 2023, the couple currently employs 12 part-time coaches and two full-time managers, offering classes all over the north Dallas-Fort Worth area. Kevin begins his day with a 4:50 a.m. workout with Chelsea, then spends time reading a chapter from the Bible. The workday begins at 7 a.m. with administrative duties and then Kevin hits the road to check on his coaches and classes, which start around 9 a.m. He finishes with more administrative tasks and planning for growth. The classes are intended to be fun but Kevin says there’s another component: building healthy habits.
“Today’s children are facing an obesity crisis,” he says. “We can combat that by adding fun, active programs into their lives on a regular basis.”
Youth Sports Franchises in Demand
In terms of potential, youth sports franchises are in demand and soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the red-hot youth sports industry. Through 2023, soccer participation among those ages 6 and older reached nearly 14.1 million players, according to For Soccer, an organization focused on accelerating the growth of soccer. In terms of spending: The Aspen Institute reported that the youth sports industry generates about $40 billion in annual revenue.
Soccer Stars, which is part of Youth Athletes United, looks for potential franchisees who are passionate about impacting kids through sports and devote full-time attention to that mission. For Kevin, a former police officer, the Soccer Stars business model also offered a flexible schedule and did not require a brick-and-mortar store. The company provides an onboarding process that includes in-person training, territory development and in-house marketing. Kevin says he looks forward to going to work each day and hope she’s leaving a legacy.
“I genuinely love the impact we have on these kids,” he says. “I’ve had so many parents call and email me telling me that their child looks forward to soccer day every week. My hope is that Soccer Stars is the seed being planted and those seeds will grow into physically fit and healthy adults who can continue that trend into the future.”
About the Soccer Stars Franchise
Soccer Stars is a youth soccer franchise that offers age-specific programs for children ages 1 to 12 and older. With more than 20 years of experience, the brand focuses on youth soccer instruction, child development and physical literacy in a fun, encouraging environment. Soccer Stars says it has reached more than 2 million children through its classes, camps and clinics, while supporting franchisees with training, systems and growth opportunities in the youth sports sector.
Learn more about the Soccer Stars franchise.
