How we built trust, showed up, and served 630+ kids? No shortcuts, just the truth.
When you work with families who are breaking cycles, not just playing soccer, you need more than good intentions. You need systems that respect the hustle. These five principles power 703 Warriors and help us serve kids who’ve been overlooked, underestimated, and over it.
1. Text Is King
If you're still using email or asking families to download another app, you're already losing them. Life moves fast and texting is the only thing keeping up.
Action: Use WhatsApp for direct, low-barrier communication. For families with more complex logistics, set up chats that include the whole support system: grandma, siblings, counselors, etc.
Pro Tip: Some families need a second nudge. That’s not a bother, it’s how you build trust.
Bonus: Loop in more adults, and the kid shows up more consistently. It’s that simple.
2. Consistency Builds Trust
Unstable schedules are already part of their lives. Don’t add more.
Action: Lock in the same day, time, and location. We train every Sunday, same time, same place. We ditched league play and stick with tournaments families can plan for.
Pro Tip: Only share arrival time for games and not when the game starts. Trust us on this.
Bonus: Kids who know the schedule start managing it. They walk, bike, and remind their own parents.
3. Language Access Is a Non-Negotiable
If your message isn’t understood, it might as well not exist. Language is inclusion.
Action: Translate every message. We use ChatGPT to create fluent Spanish, Arabic, and Amharic versions of all parent communications.
Pro Tip: Sound human. Bad translations break trust fast.
Bonus: One mom is now learning English just by reading our side-by-side messages. That’s empowerment.
4. Give Clear Directions, Not Just Addresses
The #1 reason for missed sessions? Confusion about where to go.
Action: Share pins, test routes, give nearby reference points. When locations are tricky, send diagrams or even a photo.
Pro Tip: If Google Maps fails, use an address across the street that lands them in the right lot.
Bonus: Clear directions = calmer parents = on-time kids.
5. Outreach Must Be Human
Flyers and social ads? They attract strangers. Trust grows from real relationships.
Action: Partner with schools, housing orgs, and worship centers. We’ve grown less through marketing and more through referrals from families and community anchors.
Pro Tip: Talk to parents. Face-to-face works better than any funnel.
Bonus: We now serve 630+ kids! All through word-of-mouth. That’s how you know it’s real.
🔥 Final Thought
When kids miss training, it’s not because they’re lazy, it’s because the system wasn’t built for them. But when they start showing up on scooters, organizing carpools, and learning new languages just to participate… you know you’re doing something right. Build with empathy. Deliver with clarity. And always reach right.