As soccer continues its popularity growth throughout the country, one St. Pete organization is making sure that young girls are able to secure their place in the future of the sport. Rise Up Soccer Club, which was founded this year, is providing a free and supportive after-school space for young girls to develop their skills and passion for soccer.

Rise Up SC, which is nearing the end of its fall season now, was founded by a St. Pete local and former Division-I soccer player, Rachel Jolley, who has continued coaching since her playing days came to an end. Along with a full team of women with experience in the game, Jolley and Rise Up aim to empower young girls by teaching them the basics of soccer while also emphasizing and fostering social-emotional development.

Rise Up SC hosts spring and fall sessions, each spanning four weeks of soccer training alongside their approach of developing a championship mindset. After their first-ever session this spring, enrollment more than doubled for the fall, with 100 percent of the spring participants returning for round two.

Rise Up Soccer Club provides a pathway for women in soccer

While personal development and the game of soccer are the points of focus for participants, Rise Up SC’s vision is a much larger one aiming to bring better access and equity to the beautiful game. Financial concerns are often the biggest hurdle for kids to advance in a sport, and Rise Up is actively working to remove those barriers. In addition to the after-school sessions being free, Rise Up has even sponsored two young women coaches this year in attaining their US Soccer Grassroots Coaching License, an expensive process that often leaves out qualified candidates.

As Rise Up notes, only 37% of soccer coaches are women – a trend they are hoping to help reverse by keeping women at the forefront. To that end, the entirety of Rise Up’s staff, board and volunteers are women “who strive to be the change they wish to see in soccer.”

“Our team aims to build girls’ confidence and self-respect through the beautiful game of soccer,” Rise Up says. “We coach girls to believe that with effort, there are no limits to what she can achieve. She is meant to break barriers, learn about herself, stay true to herself, and to do whatever it is she aspires.

​“Our lessons allow girls to create a sense of identity and self-expression – the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Sessions meet the unique needs of all girls, no matter her ability, background, or circumstances; we believe all communities should have access to great coaching, positive representation, and of course, the beautiful game!”

In the future, Rise Up plans to expand beyond the after-school sessions and become an even more impactful organization for girls of all ages throughout Tampa Bay. They are actively working on getting in more elementary and middle schools, and hope to eventually host summer camps at area high schools.

“The ultimate dream,” Jolley said, “is to build a pathway from third grade through middle school so that when the girls reach high school, they’ll have the knowledge and confidence to try out for their high school teams. Right now, that’s really the only space where kids can play for free.”

Learn more about the organization, including opportunities for support and volunteers, at riseupsoccerclub.org.