On Chicago’s West Side, access—not talent—is often the biggest barrier to playing soccer.
For Gabe Garcia, Director of Soccer at Intentional Sports, the goal has never been to build the biggest program. It’s been about creating a place where kids can show up, feel supported, and keep playing, without families needing to travel every weekend or pay thousands of dollars a year.
“We don’t need to collect thousands of dollars a year to give kids the experience they need,” Gabe said. “Our biggest mission is to keep costs low.”
That philosophy has shaped everything at Intentional Sports—from how programs are structured, to where games are played, to why no kid is ever turned away. And it’s what has allowed the organization to grow while staying rooted in the community it serves.
From the Ground Up
When Gabe first got involved with Intentional Sports, the facility didn’t even exist yet.
“I started off wearing hard hats and getting into the construction zone, it was an amazing experience for me” he said. “Andy was building this facility from the ground up.”
Gabe had known Intentional Sports founder and CEO, Andy McDermott for a few years through the local soccer community. They coached together at Arlington Aces, and Gabe even coached Andy’s two oldest sons. Soccer had always been part of Gabe’s life, but Intentional Sports offered something different.
“I’ve been around the coaching game for a while,” he said. “When Andy asked if I wanted to get involved, I was all in.”
From Clinics to a Growing Soccer Community
Before Intentional Sports officially opened its doors, programming was already taking shape.
“It all started with clinics,” Gabe said. “We had about 15 kids at first, then a 30-player clinic, and it just kept growing.”
As word spread, more kids showed up—many of them brand new to the game.
“Some of these kids had never played soccer before,” he said. “Helping a kid enjoy the game and fall in love with it—that was, and still is, an amazing feeling.”
By early 2023, the facility was open, and demand continued to grow. Clinics evolved into more consistent weekly programming, with kids coming in multiple times a week to build skills, confidence, and comfort on the ball.
“It didn’t matter if you were a beginner or someone who really loved the game,” Gabe said. “We don’t turn anyone away.”
As participation increased, Intentional Sports focused on creating more structured, age-appropriate game play, without changing what made the program accessible in the first place.
Keeping the Game Local and Affordable
One thing has always remained non-negotiable: keeping everything local.
“We always play here,” Gabe said. “Families don’t have to travel all over the place.”
That decision is intentional. For many families on the West Side, long drives and added expenses simply aren’t realistic.
“By hosting everything here, the program cost stays really low,” he said.
Today, Intentional Sports serves close to 200 kids weekly through its soccer programming. Sessions run year-round, with weekday training and weekend games—all on-site, all community-based.
“We’re building momentum the right way,” Gabe said. “Without losing who we’re here for.”
Growing With MLS GO
As participation grew, so did the challenge of organizing meaningful game play for large groups of kids sharing limited space.
“We were very new before we started with MLS GO,” Gabe said. “Managing space, staffing, equipment—figuring out how to give every kid a great experience—it was a challenge.”
Partnering with MLS GO helped Intentional Sports bring structure, consistency, and true league play to its soccer community, without changing its mission.
“Our MLS GO league plays by grade groups: first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth, seventh and eighth,” Gabe explained. “Each group has multiple teams that play each other. It was a really cool, unique experience.”
The partnership also helped Intentional Sports keep soccer affordable.
“Once we collaborated with MLS GO and received grant support, it made a huge difference,” Gabe said.
Through the MLS GO PLAY FUND, Intentional Sports was able to cover roughly 90 percent of uniform costs, without raising registration fees. Grant support also allowed the program to add coaches, improving the on-field experience.
“We’re now around one coach for every 14 players,” Gabe said. “That matters. It gives kids more attention and more support.”
Building More Than Players
Soccer is the foundation, but Intentional Sports’ impact goes well beyond the game.
“We want kids in our building,” Gabe said. “We want them to feel safe, have structure, and enjoy being here.”
Each session begins with intention. Before warmups, kids gather for a short conversation centered on a “word of the week.”
“Our word right now is Respect,” Gabe said. “We talk about what it means and how they can use it outside of soccer.”
For Gabe, success isn’t measured in standings or outcomes. Watching kids grow—especially those who had never played before—is what keeps him motivated.
“When they start to learn the game and you see those smiles, that’s the driver,” he said. “We want to keep giving kids a place where they’re excited to come back.”
Let’s Get More Kids Playing
Whether you want to start a league or find one near you, MLS GO makes it easy to bring recreational soccer to your community.
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