1998. Coach John, fresh out of college, coaching soccer full time.
2001. Coach John, hired to coordinate a neighborhood soccer league in Minneapolis, and then a kindergarten program, followed by a preschool program. Later that very same year, Coach John was chosen by the city’s Park and Recreation Board to coach soccer year round, for a program that would soon become citywide, encompass multiple sports, and welcome five hundred groups annually.
2026. Coach John, now a coacher of coaches, spreading the powers of athleticism, positivity, and teamwork across the Twin Cities.
“And soon, hopefully, across Minnesota, and then someday the whole country,” said Coach John Richardson, founder of Revolutionary Sports, which provides world-class athletic programs for children of all ages to schools, community centers, park and recreation boards, early childhood learning centers, and sports associations.
“Revolutionary Sports is pretty unique among businesses that make it to twenty-five years,” Coach John continued. “We have never been driven by profitability. Instead, our primary goal is supplying as many great coaches as we’re able. The rest kind of just falls into place.
“That commitment makes Revolutionary Sports fairly selective of our team members. If we receive three hundred fifty applicants, only twenty-five will meet the criteria for professionalism, reliability, and genuine ability to connect with kids we require of a leader.
“We’re currently gearing up for growth: improving our administrative infrastructure, and establishing ties with new community partners who want the highest standard of coaching for their children. But as we add more and more full-time coaches to our current roster of seventy-five, we’ll never lose sight of our primary goal.
“I started out coaching the same sport I had played through college. Many of our new hires begin the same way, and become central to the robust single-sport programs we offer. But by following our proven ‘Learn, Practice, Play’ approach, any one of those novice coaches can quickly learn to teach baseball, T-ball, basketball, soccer, flag football, and any other sport they set their mind to.
“Multitalented coaches like those are invaluable. There is nothing inherently wrong with raising a child on only one sport, but I believe their life becomes richer when they play several. It helps them avoid burnout, make friends, and discover new pastimes they’ll cherish long into adulthood. In other words, I believe our renaissance coaches are making the world a better place.
“Remember: the best athletes play multiple sports! Michael Jordan’s stint playing outfield for the Birmingham Barons might not be as memorable as his time with the Bulls, but he certainly proves the rule.
“No matter how big we grow, we’ll never lose sight of sports’ true purpose: fun. That’s not to say we wouldn’t be delighted if someone we coached should happen to go on to play for the Vikings. But so long as they’re engaged and enjoying themself during their precious few years of childhood, we’ll consider our job a success.”
Go to the Parks and Recreation Programs page on Minnetonka.RevSports.org for RevSports’ upcoming sessions. They’re also active in Hopkins Community Education, plus Eden Prairie, Edina, Plymouth, and many other neighboring communities. Visit RevSports.org to hire them!