From Player to Volunteer

Leadership Development Through Community Soccer

Active Program
Chicago Neighborhood Soccer | 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt
Current Status: 100% Volunteer-Led | 6-7 Days/Week Programming

Program Overview

Our volunteer pathway demonstrates how pickup soccer players naturally evolve into community leaders. What started as Friday programming has grown to 6-7 days per week through developed volunteer leadership. This is a 100% volunteer-driven initiative where you join a close-knit group that meets biweekly, with board meetings weekly. We grow as friends while building community infrastructure.

Phased Leadership Development

Phase 1: Player Engagement

  • Regular participation in community soccer programming
  • Understanding of group culture and community values
  • Basic commitment to consistent involvement

Phase 2: Event Support

  • Assist with game setup and coordination
  • Support community events and tournaments
  • Join Discord communication channels

Phase 3: Leadership Responsibilities

  • Stand up and lead programming for specific days
  • Coordinate with existing leaders on expansion
  • Participate in biweekly volunteer meetings

Technical Contribution Opportunities

For technically inclined volunteers, we maintain open-source projects that support grassroots sports organizations:

Open Source Web Applications

  • Registration System: Web app for tournament and event registration
  • Community Management Tools: Designed for grassroots groups
  • GitHub Repository: openfutbol.github.io
  • Development Focus: Transitioning web apps to Flask/React framework architecture

Basic Dev Requirements

  • Basic proficiency in web development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript)
  • Understanding of Git version control
  • Ability to work collaboratively on open-source projects
  • Commitment to community-centered development principles

Community Structure

Our volunteer community operates with transparent, collaborative governance:

  • Volunteer Meetings: Biweekly community coordination
  • Board Meetings: Weekly operational planning
  • Communication: Active Discord community for real-time coordination
  • Growth Philosophy: Personal relationships and community friendship as foundation
"We are close and grow as friends while building sustainable community infrastructure that serves Chicago neighborhoods."

Join Our Volunteer Community

Ready to transition from player to community leader? Connect with us through our established channels:

Discord Community: Join Community Discord
Email Contact: nbhdsoccer@gmail.com
GitHub Projects: openfutbol.github.io

Include your current involvement level, specific interests (event coordination, tech contributions, program leadership), and availability for biweekly meetings.

Current Leadership Needs

We actively seek volunteers ready to stand up programming for additional days and expand our 6-7 day weekly schedule. Priority areas include:

  • Weekend morning programming coordination
  • Technical project management and development
  • Partnership liaison and business development coordination
  • Event planning and tournament organization
  • Grant writing and application support

All positions are currently volunteer-based with opportunities for significant community impact and personal leadership development. For business development and account management roles, we may open paid positions soon—volunteering is an excellent way to get started in these areas.

Note: We are actively applying for grants to support program expansion and potential staff positions.