The decades-long internal takeover and exploitation of Rainbow Soccer

donbosco

donbosco

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I never played Rainbow Soccer as I didn't grow up in Chapel Hill but I've got many friends that did and some who have coached or had kids who played so I've always heard about those doing. I imagined that some here might have connections and the like and perhaps would find this of interest.



"In 1973, Vicky Brawley used a portion of her wedding money as seed funding to co-found Rainbow Soccer, a nonprofit recreational soccer league open to Chapel Hill residents from all walks of life. For Brawley, Rainbow was never about winning — it was about community.

“It was born to include boys, girls, skilled people, non-skilled people, disabled people,” Brawley said. “It was all-inclusive.”

Rainbow’s first season began with only eight teams, but the organization quickly gained traction. Anson Dorrance — former head coach of the UNC women's soccer team — began his coaching career with Rainbow Soccer. According to a survey conducted by Rainbow Soccer in 1978, more than 50 percent of respondents from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area felt that the organization was an important recreational activity in the community."

There's more...
 
donbosco said:
I never played Rainbow Soccer as I didn't grow up in Chapel Hill but I've got many friends that did and some who have coached or had kids who played so I've always heard about those doing. I imagined that some here might have connections and the like and perhaps would find this of interest.



"In 1973, Vicky Brawley used a portion of her wedding money as seed funding to co-found Rainbow Soccer, a nonprofit recreational soccer league open to Chapel Hill residents from all walks of life. For Brawley, Rainbow was never about winning — it was about community.

“It was born to include boys, girls, skilled people, non-skilled people, disabled people,” Brawley said. “It was all-inclusive.”

Rainbow’s first season began with only eight teams, but the organization quickly gained traction. Anson Dorrance — former head coach of the UNC women's soccer team — began his coaching career with Rainbow Soccer. According to a survey conducted by Rainbow Soccer in 1978, more than 50 percent of respondents from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area felt that the organization was an important recreational activity in the community."

There's more...
Click to expand...
I read the story today
Sad Now 2 of my kids had great experiences in Rainbow and Triangle Futball Club
But I had no idea execs were making $100,000
 
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Long been discussions around Chapel Hill and the Triangle about how surprisingly lucrative it is running youth soccer programs.

Too many parents stupidly think their little darling is the next Mia Hamm.
 
The cults of travel sports are incredible.... Baseball and soccer seem to be the worst

If you're a parent who largely wears nothing but your child's travel team apparel, you need to really look at yourself.
 
Zoo_View said:
Long been discussions around Chapel Hill and the Triangle about how surprisingly lucrative it is running youth soccer programs.

Too many parents stupidly think their little darling is the next Mia Hamm.
Click to expand...
One of my girls played for Years at the highest level in TFC
Of all those girls one was "on the team" at dook-she was going anyway and was going tuition free via Parent faculty there. Don't know if she played
One went to went to UNC-G where she played
One ended up being a goalie in field Hockey at Princeton-weird
One might have played at Campbell?
 
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Grew up playing rainbow soccer. started when I was seven. The kids who matured early went on to the Raleigh Durham Strikers and one became a college star at Stanford before breaking his leg. It was a great program back in the 80's
 
my parents had a big role in founding a youth rec soccer league in the early aughts, it is still running today.

totally separate entity from the more competitive and expensive local travel soccer club.
 
I coached Rainbow Soccer for several years while I was an undergrad; it was a very gratifying experience and really had me step out of my comfort zone. I learned a lot about being a coach from that experience. I also played in the adult level (one of the perks of coaching) a couple of times where I got a reputation for sharp elbows. Vicky was great...she was tireless.
 
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