Who’s Steering the Ship? How to Build a Better Board (and Club) in Youth Soccer

Start With Who You Are

Before you talk about board seats, budgets, or bylaws, ask this:

Does everyone agree on what the club actually stands for?

·        Club identity is more than colors and logos. It’s your purpose, your values, and your guiding philosophy.

·        Are you development-first or results-driven?

·        Do you prioritize inclusion or competitive exposure?

·        Are you preparing kids for college soccer, or creating a fun, local place to grow through sport?

When I spent time working with coaching legend Frans Hoek, one of the first things he told me has stuck with me ever since:

“The club must have its identity from the community, and the people who work there must honor that identity.” That means your vision shouldn’t be imported from a pro club across the ocean or copied from a popular template. It should reflect your families, your players, and your town. From grassroots to elite levels, your identity must be rooted in the community it serves.

If your board members can’t clearly articulate the club’s mission, or worse, if each one gives a different answer, you’ve got a bigger problem than how often you meet. Misalignment leads to inconsistent coaching, fractured decision-making, and friction with families.

If you're unsure where your club stands, poll your membership. Ask your coaches, families, and even players what they believe the club’s purpose is and what they value most. The responses might surprise you, and they'll help you correct course if needed.

A shared mission is the glue that holds everything else together. Without it, no governance structure in the world can keep the ship steady.

Who Should Be on the Board? (And Who Shouldn’t)

Youth soccer boards aren’t just a collection of volunteers—they’re a strategic leadership team responsible for charting the club’s future. That means you need more than just well-meaning parents. You need diverse expertise and clearly defined roles.

Here’s what an effective board might include:

President / Chairperson

·        Leads the board, sets the agenda, and keeps meetings focused.

·        Should be visionary but level-headed - someone who can lead without controlling.

Treasurer / Financial Lead

·        Responsible for budgets, forecasting, and financial transparency.

·        Ideally, someone with professional accounting or finance experience that goes beyond a lemonade stand.

·        Responsible for keeping the club solvent and ensuring compliance with nonprofit reporting requirements.

Secretary / Admin Support

·        Maintains meeting minutes, board documents, and organizational bylaws.

·        Keeps communication flowing between board members and between the board and staff.

Parent or Community Advocate

·        Offers perspective on family experience and community needs.

·        Not a mouthpiece for personal issues—must be someone who can see the bigger picture.

Technical Advisor or Director of Coaching

·        Provides insight on soccer-specific matters: player development, coaching education, curriculum.

·        Helps bridge the gap between the boardroom and the field.

·        Important caveat: This person should not be the club's primary trainer or team coach—separate coaching from governance.

Fundraising / Sponsorship Lead

·        Connects with local businesses, civic leaders, and donors.

·        Helps build financial support for scholarships, fields, and long-term projects.

Legal / Policy Advisor (optional but valuable)

·        Someone with experience in law, contracts, or risk management.

·        Helps navigate compliance, waivers, HR, and partnership agreements.

What to Avoid:

·        A board stacked with parents from the same team.

·        Coaches on the board voting on their own roles or salaries.

·        Board members with unclear roles or personal agendas.

·        Anyone unwilling to undergo governance training or adhere to conflict of interest policies.

How Big Should the Board Be?

Small enough to function. Big enough to cover your bases. The sweet spot is usually 5–7 voting members. If your board is too large, meetings drag on and decision-making slows to a crawl. Too small, and you’re relying on the same 2–3 people for every major task (which leads to burnout).

Clubs can include advisory committees or task forces (like tournament planning or field development), but voting power should remain with a focused, accountable core.

Should There Be a Paid Executive Director?

Without question: yes.

A volunteer board cannot effectively run a 200+ family soccer club. You need a paid Club Manager, Executive Director, or General Manager who handles the day-to-day grind so the board can focus on strategy.

Key Responsibilities of a Club Manager:

·        Oversee registration, scheduling, fields, uniforms, and communications

·        Act as the first line of contact for parents and coaches

·        Work with vendors and facility partners

·        Manage budgets, payroll, and compliance tasks

·        Support fundraising and events

·        Report to the board regularly with updates and metrics

Think of it this way: The board is the lighthouse. The Club Manager is the captain. One sets the direction, the other steers the ship.

A good Club Manager is worth their weight in gold. Pay them accordingly, empower them, and ensure regular performance evaluations are conducted.

Should We Remain Nonprofit or Transition to For-Profit?

This is a common question, especially when clubs begin to grow or generate significant revenue through tournaments or camps.

Here’s a breakdown:

Nonprofit Pros:

·        Access to grants, sponsorships, and donations

·        Access to community fields for a much cheaper rate

·        Mission-driven governance and community trust

·        Tax exemptions and transparency

Nonprofit Challenges:

·        More bureaucracy (board meetings, filings, bylaws)

·        Volunteers often carry too much of the load

·        Risk of micromanagement by (mostly) well-meaning parents

·        Catastrophic disorganization is common

For-Profit Pros:

·        Easier decision-making and streamlined operations

·        Owner/operator model allows for clearer leadership structure

·        Can pay staff more flexibly and reinvest profits into services

For-Profit Challenges:

·        Loss of public trust if transparency declines

·        No access to tax-deductible donations or certain grants

·        Perception that decisions are made for revenue, not development

So, what’s the right answer?

For most community clubs, a nonprofit is the right structure—if you operate it like a business. That means:

·        Hire professionals

·        Maintain clean books

·        Communicate openly

·        Measure outcomes (not just enrollment numbers)

Some clubs benefit from a hybrid model with a nonprofit core (rec or comp programs) and a for-profit training arm (private training, camps). This can create flexibility while preserving trust.\

What Good Governance Really Does

You can have the best curriculum, the best coaches, the nicest kits…

But if your leadership isn’t aligned, organized, and mission-focused, it will eventually fall apart.

Strong governance:

·        Stabilizes the club during leadership transitions

·        Prevents burnout by distributing responsibility

·        Inspires trust from families and coaches

·        Protects the club from legal and financial missteps

·        Allows you to focus on the one thing that matters most……player development

The board may not wear cleats or carry cones, but make no mistake: they’re just as essential to your club’s future.

Want Help Building a Better Board?

At ROC Soccer, we’ve helped clubs restructure their governance, streamline their operations, and plan for sustainable growth.

 If your board needs a reset—or you’re building one from scratch—let’s work together to create a structure that works for your mission, your size, and your community.

📩 Schedule a free consultation →