Meet The Board: Brandi Young

Get to know our board members

We’re rolling along with new blog series, Get to Know Our Board, where we’ll shine a spotlight on the incredible volunteer board members who help keep Circle City FC moving forward.

These are the people working behind the scenes—giving their time, energy, and expertise—to support our players, families, and coaches and to help shape the future of our club. In each post, we’ll introduce you to one board member, share a bit about who they are, what they do, and why they’re passionate about Circle City FC, so you can get to know the faces and stories behind the club you’re a part of.

Today, we focus on our current club president Brandi Young.

q: What is your current board position and role at circle city fc?

As President of Circle City Futbol Club, I like to say I “wear all the hats” ... and sometimes a few extra jerseys too (ref, assignor, soccer mom...to name a few). Behind the scenes, my biggest responsibility is making sure we are living out our mission every single day: to provide a fun, safe, and healthy environment for all soccer players... because soccer is for everyone.

That mission isn’t just words on a page. It means ensuring we provide: Strong leadership, quality training, safe facilities, thoughtful programs, and positive welcoming culture. Our ultimate goal is bigger than wins and losses. We’re here to foster the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our youth through soccer. We want to develop confident kids, good teammates, strong character, and great sportsmanship, all while helping them grow their skills and love for the game.

But here’s what many families may not see. My role involves stewardship of our entire membership... and that’s a big team! That includes players, parents, coaches, referees, volunteers, and board members. We also have many operational roles within the board, and a big part of my job is making sure all those moving pieces are connected and communicating well. Think of it like being the center midfielder — helping move the ball smoothly so the whole team can succeed.

At the end of the day, my job is to help create an environment where kids can thrive, families feel supported, and our community grows stronger through the sport we all love.

q: When did you join the ccfc board?

I joined the CCFC board in 2006… Yes, 20 years ago! (I promise I don’t feel that old). At the time, my oldest daughter was just 4 years old and falling in love with soccer. If she was going to love this sport, I wanted to make sure her club had my full support and that I was using any talents I had to offer to help it thrive.

Back then, I was just a sideline parent and an age group coordinator. On practice nights, you could find me at the fields with my youngest (who had just been born) strapped to my front in a baby sling… painting field lines while my oldest practiced. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was meaningful. There’s something special about investing in the place where your kids are growing, not just as athletes, but as people.

Twenty years later (with a short two-year hiatus in there), I’m still here. And I still feel that same sense of pride and purpose. Now, I get to watch new young families walk onto the fields for the first time and find their place in our soccer community, just like we once did. And honestly? That might be my favorite part of all.

q: What inspired you to get involved with the club?

At first, it was simple: my daughter loved soccer. When your four-year-old runs onto a field with pure joy, you pay attention. I didn’t just want to sit on the sidelines, I wanted to be part of building the environment that was shaping her experience.

What drew me in initially was the community. Youth sports aren’t just about drills and game days. They’re about friendships, confidence, teamwork, and the adults who show up consistently to make it all happen. I saw an opportunity to support that, and I couldn’t resist stepping in.

I also realized something important early on: strong clubs don’t happen by accident. They happen because parents, coaches, and volunteers decide to care enough to contribute. At the time, that meant painting fields with a baby strapped to my front and helping coordinate age groups. Over time, it grew into deeper leadership and greater responsibility. But the heart behind it hasn’t changed.

I got involved because I believed, and still believe, that soccer can be a powerful tool for developing not just athletes, but resilient, confident, community-minded young people. And once you see that impact up close, it’s hard to walk away.

q: What's the most rewarding part of serving on the board?

Without question, it’s the people. It’s watching a shy 4-year-old step onto the field for the first time and, season by season, grow into a confident player. It’s seeing teenagers referee their first game. It’s watching parents who once stood quietly on the sidelines become volunteer coaches, team managers, and board members themselves. The most rewarding moments aren’t always big championship wins (although those are fun!). They’re the small, powerful ones. A player high-fiving a teammate after a tough loss. A coach staying late to encourage a struggling player. A new family telling us, “We feel so welcomed here.”

q: What's one thing families might be surprised to learn about running a youth soccer club?

Serving on the board means you often work behind the scenes, meetings, emails, scheduling, problem-solving; but then you look out over the fields on a Saturday morning and see hundreds of kids playing, laughing, competing, and belonging.

That’s when it hits you. All the logistics, planning, and long nights are worth it because you’re helping build something bigger than soccer. You’re helping build community.

And after 20 years, that feeling still hasn’t worn off. And did I forget to mention the grandparents?! My favorite work out there is on the golf cart, moving fans who otherwise could not attend games, from the parking lot to the field and back again. What enjoyable conversations happen in those small trips!

q: Why do you believe community involvement and volunteer leadership matter in youth sports?

Youth sports were never meant to be a drop-off activity. They’re meant to be a community experience. Community involvement and volunteer leadership matter because clubs like ours don’t exist without them. Every practice, every game, every painted field, every referee assignment, every team email...it all happens because someone decided to step forward and serve.

But it goes deeper than logistics. When parents volunteer, coach, referee, or serve on the board, our kids see something powerful. They see adults investing in something bigger than themselves. They see teamwork modeled off the field. They see commitment, service, and leadership in action.

Volunteer-led clubs create a different kind of culture. It’s not transactional. It’s relational. We aren’t just customers... we’re caretakers of something shared. And in youth sports especially, that matters. When families are involved our kids feel supported, coaches feel backed, programs grow stronger, and community bonds deepen.

Volunteer leadership ensures that decisions are made by people who genuinely care about the players, the families, and the long-term health of the club — not just the bottom line. At CCFC, we don’t just develop athletes. We develop community. And that only happens when people raise their hand and say, “I’ll help.” That’s the heartbeat of youth sports, and it’s what keeps our club strong.

q: What would you say to someone considering getting involved with the club?

Do it.

You don’t need a soccer resume. You don’t need to know the offside rule perfectly. You don’t need years of experience. You just need to care. Clubs like ours are built by ordinary people who decide to step forward in small ways...helping with a team, lining a field, serving on a committee, coaching, organizing, supporting. No role is too small, and every contribution matters.

If you’re considering getting involved, here’s what I would tell you: You will make a bigger impact than you realize. You will gain friendships you didn’t expect. You will understand your child’s experience in a deeper way. You will help shape the culture our kids grow up in. And you won’t be doing it alone.

One of the beautiful things about CCFC is that it truly is a community. When someone raises their hand to help, others come alongside them. If you’re even thinking about getting involved, that little nudge probably means something.

Step in. Ask questions. Try it. You might just find, like I did, that what starts as supporting your child turns into investing in an entire generation.

q: What is your favorite soccer memory?

Oh, that’s tough. After serving in so many roles - parent, board member, referee, referee mentor - it’s hard to choose just one moment. Soccer has been woven into so many seasons of my life. If I had to narrow it down, my favorite memories aren’t just a single game or big win. They’re the moments of growth. I treasure watching the love of soccer grow in my own children, who are now young adults, and celebrating both their small victories and their big ones. The first goal. The hard-fought loss they handled with grace. The confidence that built season after season.

But it doesn’t stop there. I love watching our players truly support one another...the way they celebrate each other’s successes, the encouragement after a mistake, and yes… that fist bump after a great play. 👊⚽️ Those little gestures say so much about culture and character.

As a referee assignor and referee, I’ve also loved watching young officials grow on the pitch. Seeing them develop confidence, learn to manage a game, and establish themselves as leaders in the middle of the field gives you a completely different appreciation for the sport.

And then there’s the leadership side. Working alongside board members who genuinely want the best experience for our players and families is incredibly humbling. These are people who give their time not for recognition, but because they care deeply about our community. And they are my friends.

So maybe my favorite soccer memory isn’t one specific moment. It’s the collective picture... kids growing up in the game, referees finding their voice, teammates lifting each other up, and a community of leaders quietly working behind the scenes to make it all possible. That’s the kind of memory that lasts.

q: What soccer club (other than ccfc) do you support?

DUH… USWNT! The US women's national soccer team! They are an extraordinary showcase of what the sport can be...not just for our girls, but for all players. They represent excellence, resilience, teamwork, confidence, and an unapologetic belief in themselves. They compete fiercely, support one another relentlessly, and carry the weight of expectation with strength and grace. What I love most is that they don’t just play the game well, they elevate it. They’ve pushed for equity, inspired generations, and shown young athletes what’s possible when preparation meets courage.

When our players watch them, they’re not just seeing high-level soccer. They’re seeing leadership. They’re seeing belief. They’re seeing what it looks like to stand tall on and off the field. That’s the kind of example I want all of our players, boys and girls alike, to grow up watching. Because greatness in soccer isn’t just about talent. It’s about character.