Meet Isaiah Rojas of i9 Sports in Frisco and Plano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Rojas.

Isaiah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to school to be a PE Teacher but found myself with a Masters in Sports Management from Cal State Long Beach 6 years later. Sports has always been a huge part of my life, but even after 11 years in the industry, I had not yet found the place where my love for sports met my life’s mission. For 11 years I worked in youth sports, adult sports, professional sports, and privately owned facilities. I enjoyed my experience, but after a long day working a 10U baseball tournament and breaking up three different fights between parents, I realized I was not making the impact I wanted.

For me, sports literally changed my life! I grew up as a 1st generation Mexican American in a small farm town in Northern California, and sports was where I found confidence, acceptance, and a place where I can excel. It started for me when my baseball coach gave me a simple piece of advice “Squash the Bug,” and the sport clicked for me. That sent me down a lifelong passion for baseball and all sports. It literally changed my life, and I wanted to make that impact on others.

Then in 2013, a received an email about a job in Hawaii for a company called i9 Sports. I applied for the fun of it, and then 1 month later I was flying out with my wife! It took me only a few days to realize that this program was different. The focus was on having fun, creating a positive experience for the kids, and making them the focus. I fell in love with the philosophy and having the opportunity to create moments that change lives. After 3 years of learning everything I could from the largest i9 Sports Franchise in the Nation, I decided to take my love for this company to the next level and I purchased my own Franchise in 2016. I moved my wife, and 1-year-old son to Frisco, Texas and we started our journey.

There have been many trials along the way, but every day is exciting, challenging and rewarding for me. I have the opportunity to change lives and give families and experience they will never forget. Whether it’s seeing their 3-year-old score their first goal or watching their shy 14-year-old feel accepted on the football field, after scoring a touchdown. No matter the age, the skill level, or the level of competition, being a part of creating impactful moments for a child is a feeling you never want to stop chasing.

Now we are 2.5+ years in the business, and our programs have grown from 187 kids in our 1st season to almost 1,000 kids playing this 2018 Fall Program! We operate mainly in Frisco and McKinney, but we will be growing into Plano in 2019. We now offer 5 different sports (Flag-Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and Zip Lacrosse) and 4 different types of programs (Leagues, Clinics, Camps, and Instructional Programs).

I am lucky to have 20+ staff members that have a passion for sports and together our goal is to provide the best sports experience possible for each family. We remember how sports changed our lives, so now we want to return that favor back to others.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The first year was the hardest. Not only did I realize that being the owner of the company, was a LOT harder than I expected, but we were 1,400 miles away from any friends or family. Add that to the fact that we moved in August, which meant we were quickly introduced to the Texas heat, made for a tough start.

In my first three seasons, I had 1/3 of my starting staff already gone, I had Cops remove us from a field over a miscommunication on a permit (on picture day!), and I ended my third season with negative funds in my accounts. I was drowning in things I did not have time to do, and I was extremely upset with myself for not delivering on my promise to my i9 Sports parents and my family.

It forced me to really look hard at my decision to leave LITERAL paradise, spend all our money, and start this company. There were many people and moments that got me through that first year. The most important person was my wife, who did not let me feel sorry for myself and forced me to continue pushing forward. The other person driving me was my son, who I desperately want to provide the best life for.

Besides those two people, there was a family who reminded me of my “WHY.” It was on the soccer field, and I stopped by our 10U team and checked in with a few parents watching their son practice. I asked them how the program was going like I normally do, and they went on to tell me what a difference this season has made in their son. Their son was admittedly a little uncoordinated, shy, and was at an age where being “cool” was something he was still figuring out. The parents went on to tell me that he played soccer 3 years ago, but the league was more focused on competing and he sat on the bench most of the time, which hurt his self-esteem and set-off his shyness.

After years of getting him to try again, they finally succeeded and he joined our league. And because of our philosophy of fun, sportsmanship, equal playing time, and inclusion they saw a big change in their son. As the Mom, teared up telling me about his confidence at school and home and the joy they experience seeing their 10-year-old score a goal for the first time, I was reminded of why I made this choice.

Of course, there is still struggles, frustration, and stress, but in those times I try and find a family to talk to or call so that I can remember why it’s all worth it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with i9 Sports – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
i9 Sports is a National Franchise that operates Youth Sports Programs. We offer recreational leagues, camps, and clinics for boys and girls, ages 3-14, in Flag-Football, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and Zip Lacrosse™.

What Are We Known For:
* Recreational leagues that focus on fun, above winning. And sportsmanship and effort over performance and outcome.
* We offer leagues for all skill levels, all year round (winter, spring, summer, and fall). Each season, we offer all 5 sports, so kids have the option to play different sports and combat early burnout.
* Great communication and advanced technology, that allows for parents to register and access everything they need from any device.

What I am most proud of:
* We provide a sports program that every child, of every skill level, and every background can enjoy. Our focus on the child first allows us to create a program that is age-appropriate, safe, inclusive, instructive, and fun!

What Makes Us Different:
* The biggest difference is that we are convenient for families. All our leagues are 1-day a week (Saturday or Sunday), with practice and games on the same day. Perfect for busy families who love sports.
* We are the only youth sports program that offers 5 sports every season, all year round.
* Every week we emphasize a different sportsmanship trait so that kids learn the importance of sportsmanship and not just developing their skill.
* Our website, personal sports accounts, and communication allow you to have everything you need in the palm of your hand.
* There is no required fundraising, no tryouts, and no required volunteering.
* All our coaches, staff, volunteers, and officials are certified and background checked.
* All skill levels are welcomed and rules are set in place to ensure that all kids are included and safe every practice and game.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Some big changes are coming in 2019 that we are really excited about:
* We are expanding our programs into Plano, starting spring, 2019.
* New programs also starting in Prosper, Melissa, and Little Elm in 2019.
* We are introducing our NEW Zip Lacrosse™ program in Frisco and Plano in spring 2019.
* We will be adding 4 and 7-week clinics during the season for families looking for some extra practice and development one day during the week.
* More camps will be added to the schedule for the 2019 summer, including basketball, and multi-sport camps.

Pricing:

• Regular Price for Soccer, Zip Lacrosse™, and Flag-Football Leagues – $149
• Regular Price for Multi-Sport and Baseball Leagues – $139
• Regular Price for Basketball Leagues – $159

Contact Info:

• Address: Programs offered in Frisco, McKinney, Plano, and surrounding areas.
• Website: www.i9sports.com
• Phone: 972-294-7109
• Email: isaiah.rojas@i9sports.com
• Instagram: @i9sports371
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/i9sportsIS371
• Twitter: @i9sportsIsaiahR

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.