Everyone Is Welcome: Kaig Lightner's Journey Against Pay-to-Play

In this episode of "Inside Scoop," host Neil Crawford interviews Kaig Lightner, founder of the Portland Community Football Club (PCFC). The podcast explores the challenges of the pay-to-play system in youth soccer in the United States. Lightner discusses the club's mission to make soccer accessible to communities facing financial barriers and emphasizes the importance of recruiting coaches who reflect the diversity of the communities served. The conversation delves into the impact of underfunding in recreational programs and the efforts of the Portland Community Football Club to provide quality soccer experiences at a lower cost, challenging existing norms in the sport. Listeners interested in supporting PCFC's mission can make donations via the following website: [https://www.pcfc.co/](https://www.pcfc.co/)