Get Started Guide
All good things start with a conversation.
Start yours now.
For Older Players (14-17)
Recruit your teammates.
Assess the amount of interest to see if this program is feasible. Not every single player needs to be involved, but you need several committed players to make it happen. Start in the team chat — but don’t give up if there is not an immediate buzz from your team though, you may have to encourage that!
“Hey everyone! I’m looking to start a mentorship program where we help younger players build their game and connect as a team. If you’re interested, reply here so I can make a group chat with more info :)”
Talk to your coach.
Your coach is your best first adult ally. They know the other teams and coaches — and may coach a younger team — and can advocate with your club and parents.
"Hey Coach, our team wants to connect with a younger girls' team this season — like a big sister thing. Do you know a coach or club we could reach out to? We'd handle the sessions, we just need an introduction."
Connect with your club director.
If your club runs teams across multiple age groups, the director or program coordinator often knows which younger team could benefit.
"We're looking to start a mentorship connection with a younger team in the club. Is there a U10 or U11 team whose coach might be open to it? We'd love to set up a couple of shared sessions this season.”
Reach out to younger team's parent manager.
Every youth team has a parent who handles logistics — emails, schedules, communication — and they can help you make it happen.
"Hi — my name is [name] and I play on [team]. A few of us on our team are interested in connecting with a younger girls' team this season as part of a mentorship initiative. We'd love to set up one or two shared sessions where we can work with the girls, share what we've learned, and just be a resource for them. Would your team be open to that?”
For Parents/Coaches
SIS is designed to be led by youth athletes — but they need your help!
If you think your club would benefit from a peer mentorship, talk to your players to see if they are interested. If they are, let them lead and give them this site as a resource :)
Reach out to parents to let them know this is something you are thinking about and that a player will be reaching out.
Talk to your club to consider where you could want to host sessions and advocate for funds where/when needed.
For Younger Players (8-11)
Good for you for knowing the power of peer mentorship! If you think a program like this would be beneficial, ask your coach for guidance or reach out to an older player you know.
Then, ask around your own team to see who would want to participate
Session and Program Planning
Once you find interested mentors, set up an in-person or Zoom meeting to introduce them to the program.
Assess what they are comfortable doing (i.e. public speaking, working with others, etc.)
Talk about what makes a good mentor and why they want to be involved.
Reminisce and remember what it was like to play at a younger age — what was great? what was hard?
Get as sense of availability — do they want to do something once a season? 1-2x/season? Monthly?
Ask them their ideas, too. This is a team effort!
You don’t have to decide everything immediately — start small.
A few connection points and easy sessions are a great way to get going.
Plan to watch each other play or practice together if you need a simple first activity.
See what works and grow from there.
As you build and plan, figure out the modules that you would like to use before each session and overall.
Map out a loose calendar if you want to plan several sessions.
Be open to it changing as you go and learn — either growing or shrinking is ok!
Prioritize what your team of mentors is good at and what the younger team needs. It’s a good idea to talk to the younger team’s coach in advance so you know a bit about strengths and opportunities.
Decide roles and responsibilities for each session.
Not every mentor has to be working with younger players, some can connect with parents, advertise the event, setup/cleanup, present or provide other support.
Most of the Sisterhood and Self modules are designed to be done in small groups of mentees with one mentor per group. Sport/field sessions are designed to be whole group activities.
Determine what supplies you need and how you will source them — pens, laptops, balls, goals, etc.
Stay flexible — fewer or more mentors and players may show up. Have a back up plan either way (bigger groups, smaller groups, additional stations for activities.
Communicate early and often!
Invite the younger teams via their coach or parent manager.
Track RSVPs so you can plan group sizes.
Follow up to ensure you are recruiting all interested mentors and younger players.
Follow up after the event.
Check in with your mentors. What worked? What can be improved?
Check in with the parents of the younger players. What did the kids say? What went well? What can be improved?
Send thank yous to all the folks who helped. Every time!
Report back to your coach and the club to build support for future event
Finding Spaces
For Field Sessions
The easiest option is to do this at your local field, park, schoolyard, or community center.
You’ll want to be sure you can reserve the space or a portion of the space.
This is all obviously dependent on weather, availability, and the distance between parks and community spaces (which you can use for the classroom sections).
Have a back up plan if weather is bad, even if it’s a rain date.
For Classroom Sessions
Many places, like libraries and community centers, have quiet rooms that you can book for little to no money. Many will have projectors and tables that you can use!
If you are planning to do field and classroom modules in one session, it is important that you consider the distance between a learning space and a field
Funding Spaces
Many outdoor public spaces are free. If indoor or outdoor spaces or fields cost money — reach out. Many school gyms, park districts, and club facilities have off-peak time they'll donate to a youth-led program — it's worth asking directly.
Talk to your club to see about support. Connect with a coach or parent manager for options or ideas.
A short sponsorship letter signed by the team and sent to a handful of local businesses can go a long way. One yes often covers facility costs for the whole season.
You could also consider a fundraiser (a bake sale) or charging to cover space rental. If you do need to charge, keep it minimal and consider a pay-what-you-can option so no one is left out.
Building Good Relationships
You don't have to stick to the same groups every session. Mixing things up is actually the point! Fluid groupings mean younger players get to connect with more than one older athlete, and no one's experience depends too heavily on a single relationship. That said, if keeping groups consistent works better for your team, go with what feels right.
Start simple and maybe even silly. A passing drill where everyone shares a fun fact when they touch the ball — favorite pre-game snack or the song they always warm up to — is all you need to get things going. Names and positions first, silliness second, real conversation third. Building relationships that go deeper than favorite colors is the goal, but it takes time. Don't rush it.
If someone's nervous — mentee or mentor — give it a beat. Not everyone warms up at the same speed, and that's okay. If you notice a younger player hanging back, a simple "want to jump in with us?" goes a long way. If you're the one who's nervous, try starting with a question instead of a statement. Let them talk first. And if you see a mentor struggling to connect, join the group with some gentle support or ask an older player who’s assisting to “join the team.” Keep it light and check in quietly after rather than stepping in publicly.
Keep it positive — with the younger players and with each other. The way you talk to your mentees sets the tone for how they see themselves in sport. We’ve got modules on it, but it matters in the implementation too! That goes for how you talk to your fellow mentors too.
When something's working, let it run. If a conversation goes deep or an activity clicks, don't cut it short to stick to a schedule. The schedule is a guide, not a rulebook. The connection is the whole point.