While clubs of all sizes have their share of challenges, large club leaders often look back fondly on their small club days with a sense of nostalgia. We asked some what they missed most about their time at a smaller club, and their answers were consistent under four key areas:
Personal connections to staff and players. The hope of every large club leader is to know every single player, parent, and staff member in their club by name. But the reality is: it’s just not possible because of the sheer number of people that entails.
“Player and parent engagement is one of the main things I miss about being in a small club,” says Sean Cochran, Executive Director at Keystone FC. “I knew every player on every team and most of their parents and they knew me. That’s not the case anymore from both sides.”
Matt Barry, Director of Coaching at Highland FC, also agrees, reflecting on a time when he knew his players and their families so well, they got together off the field. “I went to my players’ graduations and college signings. There was a deeper relationship there that I think is hard to maintain when you scale up in size.”
“I do miss the connectivity to the full staff as well,” adds Steve Danbusky, Executive Director at Beach FC. “It could be weeks before I have a chance to get out onto the field and see the coaches and volunteers in action. Those interactive moments are fewer and farther between, and it’s harder to make meaningful connections.”
The sense of community. It’s common for a small club environment to feel more like a community, mostly because the size allows for a more intimate feel and makes morale-boosting activities more achievable.
“It’s much easier to do team-building events like barbecues and other club outings when you’re on the smaller side,” says Matt Tunis, Partner & Director of Operations at Chicago Empire FC. “That’s something I really miss and something I think all small clubs should take advantage of because it really helps with building club culture.”
These shared experiences become harder to manage, especially as you start to grow out of your primary space. Says Cory Munro, Chief Business Officer at Charlotte Independence: “In a small club, you’re all at one facility, so you have that daily interaction that makes you feel connected. You have to work hard to overcome the geographical separation in a larger club setting.”
The ability to be nimble in decision-making. With fewer layers and less red tape, small clubs can typically move more quickly and adapt on the fly. Leaders often find themselves missing that flexibility when they step into larger organizations.
“Decision making is much easier at a small club because those decisions impact far less people,” says Cochran. “That said, feedback is still an important part of running a club, and reaching out to your community is a great way to gather that. When you’re larger, that becomes harder to do.”
Indiana Impact SC Executive Director Fuzzy Steeno agrees, adding: “When you’re a small club, you have fewer people you’re responsible for, so you can make decisions in the moment. You don’t have to worry about the snowball effect that your decision could have.”
The “little things.” Whether it’s personal calls or pitching in where needed, these “little things” are what often define the small club experience. While they may seem minor, they actually help to shape a leader’s overall club experience.
“If I needed a break or a change of scenery, I could go paint the fields or help out with the rec program - just get a little relief from the pressure of it all,” says Steeno. “It’s little things like that that I miss most.”
Barry agrees, sharing that for him, something as simple as being accessible to people is what he misses most. “Just recently, I had a parent who was new to the area call and ask if I could call and remind him about supplemental tryouts when we got closer to the date. Unfortunately, I had to say no, because the reality is I just don’t have the time or bandwidth for those personal touches anymore.”
While large clubs offer incredible opportunities for growth, it’s important to acknowledge that the flexibility and community feel you get in a small club represent genuine competitive advantages. Hold onto these capabilities for as long as you can and remember that no matter your club’s size, the overall goal remains the same: creating meaningful experiences for young athletes.
Note: This post is part of a larger series called “Small Clubs, Big Wins” where top youth sports leaders share their wisdom with smaller clubs. For this purpose, smaller clubs are defined as organizations with 100 players or fewer.
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