Open Goal Soccer — Where every player has a shotOPEN GOAL SOCCER

New York City · Our legacy of inclusion

Where every
player has
a shot.

More than soccer. A place to play, grow, and belong. Open Goal brought children of different abilities together through the simple joy of the game.

Discover our mission
Different abilities. Shared joy.
Children practicing soccer with a coach among colorful cones on an outdoor grass field
Moments from the Open Goal story
Small steps.
Extraordinary belonging.
InclusionPatienceGrowthBelongingSafety

01 / The heart of Open Goal

The game was soccer.
The goal was belonging.

What if every child had a place to play—and truly belong?

That question was at the heart of Open Goal Soccer. Traditional programs could move too fast or leave too little room for different ways of learning. Open Goal set out to make that experience different.

Our mission was to create a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment where children—whatever their abilities, background, or learning style—could learn, grow, and feel part of something.

01

Belonging came first.

A welcoming, mixed-ability environment where children could feel seen, supported, and part of the team.

02

Play, not pressure.

Patient coaching and playful activities made room for different learning styles, comfort levels, and starting points.

03

Every small victory.

Joining a warm-up. Trying a first pass. Encouraging a teammate. Effort mattered as much as the goal.

02 / How we played

A little structure.
A lot of encouragement.

A look back at the approach.
These programs are no longer offered.

The foundations

Soccer skills.
Life-sized confidence.

Soccer Foundations introduced dribbling, passing, ball control, and movement through small-group, play-based activities. Predictable routines gave children space to settle in, participate, and learn at their own pace.

  • Patient, adaptive coaching
  • Familiar routines and playful challenges
  • Effort celebrated, not compared
The power of a teammate

No one had to
find their feet alone.

Buddy Support offered a steady, encouraging presence alongside players. Buddy Leaders helped with transitions, celebrated effort, and made space for connection—supporting coaches without taking their place.

  • Mixed-ability play and peer connection
  • Gentle guidance and encouragement
  • Leadership through patience and kindness

Rooted in NYC, from the open fields of Queens to indoor play in Brooklyn.

03 / Our story

Built from
the sidelines in.

Soccer should open doors,
not close them.

Jeffrey Cortez and Virgilio Baez shared a belief: no child should be left on the sidelines because the environment wasn’t built with them in mind.

Jeffrey brought a vision for inclusion shaped by family, education, and community. Virgilio brought a lifelong connection to soccer and a coaching philosophy grounded in patience and encouragement. Together, they created Open Goal.

The organization is no longer active. What remains is a story of children finding their confidence, families finding community, and a game becoming a place to belong.

Read the February 2026 community feature

04 / On the field, together

The moments
that mattered.

Not every victory ended in a goal.
Some started with a high-five.

Open Goal players and a coach bringing their hands together in a team huddle
A shared moment

One team.
Many ways to shine.

From the Open Goal Soccer photo archive

To our Open Goal community

You made the
field feel like home.

Thank you to the families, players, coaches, and community partners who supported Open Goal Soccer. This chapter belongs to you.

About this preserved chapter