I acquired a passion for soccer growing up in England. My childhood team experience was organic – focused on fun, with minimal structure and adult intervention. This more casual play atmosphere resulted in a relationship with soccer and teammates that taught me transferable skills and values and established friends for life.
It was sheer joy. There was a love of the game that really shone through every player and coach involved.
Upon arriving in the U.S. in 2000, I found a dramatically different approach to children’s soccer. The rigid structure and drills so common in the States don’t inspire creative play or coaching. The intense schedules and performance-driven atmosphere stunt the lessons and relationships kids should take away from their soccer experience. The pure joy of playing is compromised as a result, for both players and their families.
I started attending Saddleback Church in Orange County in 2004. This is when the Pure Game concept started forming as I was lucky enough to take a short-term missions trip to Nigeria with the church small group I had joined. I found I could use my love of soccer and connect to the local children on a deeper level. This was further developed with more trips to Nigeria, Brazil and Rwanda. During these trips, soccer was a focal point of my activities with youth, and despite the children’s often difficult background, this wonderful game bought joy and happiness. Seeing children so receptive to a positive message that could be delivered through sport, I started developing the Pure Game system.
The Pure Game vision of bringing hope to those who most need it was born out of my compassion for these children. I discovered my desire to help change the lives of the world’s at-risk youth and knew I could do this through my passion for soccer. At the same time, I realized the Pure Game model could give the children of today an opportunity to become the positive strong adults of tomorrow, living full, abundant lives, and investing into the next generation as leaders and caring responsible citizens in their communities.