Since 2022, The LouCity & Racing Foundation has paved the way for young soccer players to achieve their dreams despite financial obstacles. Through programs like the West Louisville Soccer Club (WLSC), On and Off the P.I.T.C.H. and various clinics and scholarships, The Foundation not only provides kids with opportunities to play soccer but also to learn and grow as individuals.

“Soccer has historically been more of an upper-middle class or privileged sport. In terms of competing at high levels, the pay-to-play model has altered the game to only be accessible for those who have the financial means to participate,” said LouCity & Racing Foundation executive director George Davis IV.

Davis, along with his colleagues, program coordinator Adam Boren and operations coordinator Karla Villa Alonzo, noticed these disparities in local soccer programs. The average cost of one season at LouCity Academy or Racing Academy is around $2,000 per player, something many families cannot afford.

To combat this conflict, financial aid systems are offered that roughly 200 players utilize. Additionally, $150,000 is granted by the foundation towards providing full scholarships to nearly 75 players within the Academy.

The accessibility of the sport is significant to Davis. He has gained mainly life skills from his experience playing soccer, especially the 11 years he played professionally. He believes there is much to be learned from being immersed and participating in a team sport, like handling adversity, exposure to different cultures and being a good teammate.

“When I look at how sports can have an impact on a young person’s life and how our social environments for kids are even more important now than they ever have been, it creates a lot of motivation for me to want to help young people find those skills and be able to learn those skills that can benefit them in whichever industry or environment that they’re in,” Davis said.

Davis continues to emphasize the importance this accessibility gives to not just young people but to anyone. He believes that the lessons given will help them achieve great things in life, no matter who they are.

“We work with young people and old, of different abilities. Some have intellectual disabilities, some have physical disabilities, but we don’t see that as a barrier. They still can participate in the sport and enjoy the benefits of it,” Davis said.

Making these programs happen alongside Davis is program coordinator and manager Adam Boren.

Boren manages and runs soccer clinics targeted toward children in underserved communities of Louisville. He helps to coach and teach kids who otherwise wouldn’t get an opportunity to learn at a club level due to barriers. Boren was originally enlisted in the Army and felt inclined to continue his acts of service once he was discharged. LouCity & Racing Foundation was a perfect opportunity to fulfill that and get involved.

“Club fees are thousands of dollars a season, so we want to bring soccer to those parts of the community where they don’t have that ability or there are too many barriers,” Boren said.

The soccer clinics Boren leads in the area are mainly seen as an introduction to the sport, rather than skill-building. Boren uses this as a way to instill soccer values, like the P.I.T.C.H model, into the kids. The P.I.T.C.H model refers to personal accountability, intellectually engaged, trust, commitment and humility. These values he teaches at the clinics are the very same values learned by the academy players.

One of the biggest values he instills within the kids is teamwork, Boren believes it’s one of the most important pillars he could teach.

“Teamwork is something that you’re going to use your whole life— the soccer fields, the baseball fields, sports, doing things in school and projects. That’s where you learn to build a team, right? So we want to foster that,” Boren said.

The LouCity & Racing Foundation is very passionate about its inclusivity and attention to young players. Their initiatives, including the clinics they offer around Louisville, invite athletes of all ages to participate in the multiple skill-building drills and test their abilities. They have instilled a dynamic atmosphere that challenges players while creating a fun and supportive outlet.

“I think he loves it. He’s always wanting to go to practice. He’s never wanting to miss one, so overall, I know he loves it,” said Esperance, a sister of one of the attending players.

​​The foundation, through its various initiatives, has expanded greatly over the past few years. Through every clinic, practice and game, children are provided with strong environments and opportunities that not only improve their day-to-day lives but invest in their futures.

This story was originally published on Manual RedEye on March 17, 2025.