The Sioux Falls Family YMCA and Empower Sioux Falls have announced that the Neighborhood Soccer program will become an official YMCA initiative, a move designed to secure its long‑term future while preserving the community‑driven spirit that has defined it since 2021.
A grassroots program finds a home
Launched as a grassroots effort, the program offers free soccer instruction, equipment, coaching and weekly meals to children in the city’s Title I neighborhoods, aiming to close the opportunity gap for families that otherwise lack access to organized sports.
Over the past three years it has expanded to eight city parks, serving hundreds of youngsters each season with balls, shin guards, uniforms and nutritious meals, all at no cost to participants.
Leadership and vision
Callie Schock, who has directed the program since its inception, will join the YMCA staff and continue to lead the initiative, bringing her vision of inclusive play and community support to the broader YMCA network.
James Oppenheimer, chief executive of the Sioux Falls Family YMCA and a native of England who previously sought a city council seat, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to sustainability, fundraising, volunteer coordination and the preservation of the program’s core values.
The collaboration will provide additional organizational infrastructure, grant‑seeking capacity and volunteer management, ensuring that the program can continue to grow while remaining free and accessible to all families.
Community leaders and volunteers who have invested in Neighborhood Soccer over the years are being honored as the program transitions into its next phase under the YMCA umbrella.