Ex-Professional Soccer Player Starts Club for Kids

John Raus kicked his first soccer ball in Stamford, Conn., so it seemed natural that he should return there after playing professionally in England and the United States.

Raus set out to give back to his community and is now director of coaching for Pro Impact Soccer Academy (PISA), a league he co-founded with fellow professional player, Joe Funicello, to teach kids of all ages how to play the game competitively. Soon, he hopes to make the organization synonymous with the sport for Fairfield County residents.

“When people think of soccer, we want them to think of PISA,” Raus said. “It’s a family atmosphere where kids can feel comfortable and take their game to the next level.”

And as part of the process in teaching kids to take their game to that next level, Rause will incorporate what he learned about soccer in Europe.

“They eat, sleep and breathe soccer there,” Raus said. “There’s still a lot to learn in the United States.”

In addition to his soccer experience, Raus brings another quality to the venture: his roots. He grew up in Stamford and attended St. Luke’s School in New Canaan before going on to play college soccer at Seton Hall University.

“I grew up in Fairfield and came through the same system, and I think that resonates well with people," he said. "Plus, we didn’t have people helping us reach the professional level.”

PISA offers personal training, camps, clinics and even team coaching. The latter is especially useful during preseason training for high school sports, when coaches are not permitted to work with their players before a particular date. Coaches for PISA’s pre-season program train and strengthen players during that time to keep them a step ahead of the competition.

Most of all, Raus’ goal for PISA is to create a place where kids can learn how to play soccer regardless of their abilities.

“A lot of kids don’t get all the attention they need,” he said. “Others can be just as good, just a different type of player.”

On the side, Raus coaches soccer at the Field House in Fairfield. 

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