Competition makes soccer enthralling - but at its best, this game offers more than wins and losses.

In Episode 78 of the Because Football Podcast, we chat with Rachel Jolley, Program & Marketing Director for the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation. The foundation is the impact-driven arm of the Tampa Bay Sun, the Inaugural Champions of the Gainbridge Super League. A Tampa Bay area native, Rachel’s has balanced her desire for competition and impact over her career as a former Division 1 player, award-winning coach, and now program director.

In this episode, Rachel shares how her perspective on the game shifted once she became a coach. Disillusioned with some elements of the American soccer system like “pay to play” and overbearing parents, she shifted her focus from competition to opening access and serving kids that couldn’t afford to participate in that system.

In 2023, she founded Rise Up Soccer Club, a free-to-play program in Tampa for girls who might not have access to the game otherwise. That grassroots work led to her current role with the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation, where she leads community-driven soccer initiatives alongside Tampa Bay Sun Football Club, the area's first professional women's team.

Because Rachel has also worked as a freelance content creator and social media consultant, we talked about how crucial it is for grassroots community soccer programs to effectively shape and share their story in order to attract social, institutional, and financial support.

We hope this conversation will hope passionate people already working in the game, or will encourage you to get involved in your soccer community!

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Connect with Rachel and the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheljolley/

https://www.tampabaysunfc.com/foundation/

https://www.instagram.com/tampabaysunfc

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