There are moments in the life of a brand when you get to step back and see the full impact of the work.

For Lil’ Kickers, this was one of those moments.

At this year’s US Indoor Sports Association Hall of Fame celebration, three longtime leaders of the Lil’ Kickers system — Karen Crowe, Gene Hogan, and Ty Redinger — were honored for the extraordinary impact they have had on children, families, coaches, franchise owners, and the indoor sports industry.

It was a celebration of leadership, but even more than that, it was a celebration of purpose.

For more than two decades, Lil’ Kickers has grown because of a simple but powerful belief: children deserve a place where they can learn, play, build confidence, and be celebrated for who they are. Soccer may be the vehicle, but child development has always been the mission.

Karen Crowe was introduced by longtime franchisee and industry leader Brian Loftin, whose heartfelt tribute captured the quiet but powerful influence Karen has had on the Lil’ Kickers system and culture.

Brian recalled first seeing Lil’ Kickers in action in 2005 at a facility in Chicago, but it was a later trip to Seattle — what he jokingly called a visit to the “mothership” — that truly changed the way he understood the program.

“Listening to Karen explain the why behind Lil’ Kickers was an absolute aha moment,” Brian shared.

He described how Karen’s explanation of the curriculum brought the program into focus: why each age group is taught differently, why structure matters, and how every piece of class connects to cognitive development.

“It was the final piece I needed to fully understand that this was not simply a program to operate in a facility,” Brian said. “It was a mission.”

Brian’s tribute spoke to what so many in the Lil’ Kickers community already know: Karen helped define the heart of the program. Her background in psychology, counseling, communication, and play therapy helped shape a curriculum rooted in how children learn, grow, connect, and build confidence.

In one of the clearest descriptions of what makes Lil’ Kickers different, Brian said, “Lil’ Kickers isn’t a soccer program. It’s a child development program that happens to introduce soccer along the way.”

When Karen accepted the honor, she spoke with emotion about the purpose that has guided her work from the beginning.

“I am incredibly passionate about protecting children — protecting their childhood, nurturing them, and helping them be who they are meant to be,” Karen said.

Karen spoke about the many people who helped carry the program forward, including Ty, Gene, the corporate team, franchise owners, coaches, coordinators, and families throughout the system. She also shared the heart behind her work.

“I adore children, and not just in a cute kind of way,” Karen said. “I am incredibly passionate about protecting them, about protecting their childhood, nurturing them, and helping them be who they are meant to be.”

For Karen, Lil’ Kickers has always been about much more than teaching soccer. It is about giving children the kind of early learning experience they deserve — one filled with encouragement, structure, joy, and care.

“The work we do is really, really important,” she said. “It’s way more than just teaching soccer. We’re really changing lives.”

Gene Hogan was introduced by long-time New Mexico franchisee, Jeremiah Pena, whose tribute beautifully captured Gene’s steady presence, quiet leadership, and deep commitment to the people behind the business.

“When I think about Gene, the first word that comes to mind isn’t franchise BDM,” Jeremiah said. “It’s family.”

That sentiment reflected what many in the room felt. Gene has never been the loudest person in the spotlight, but his influence has shaped franchise owners, coordinators, coaches, and leaders across the Lil’ Kickers network.

Jeremiah described Gene as someone who shows up for people when things are going well — and especially when they are not.

“Every win, big or small, Gene celebrates it like it’s his own,” Jeremiah said. “He notices the effort, the progress, and the dedication, even when others might overlook it.”

His tribute also highlighted Gene’s rare ability to challenge people while still making them feel supported.

“He sets high expectations, not because he demands perfection, but because he genuinely sees the potential in others, even when they don’t see it in themselves,” Jeremiah said.

When Gene accepted the honor, he immediately widened the circle of recognition.

“Recognition like this may have three names attached to it,” Gene said, “but it really belongs to a much larger group of people who’ve helped build something meaningful over the years.”

Gene also spoke about the lasting responsibility coaches carry when they step onto the field with young children.

“The ability to engage young kids, some beginning as early as 18 months, to build trust, inspire confidence, and create joy through play has lasting impact far beyond the field,” Gene said.

He reminded the audience that nearly everyone can remember an influential adult from childhood — a coach, teacher, mentor, or role model whose belief stayed with them.

“Sometimes it was a simple sentence,” Gene said. “Sometimes it was encouragement during a difficult season. And sometimes it was just simply feeling included. Those moments stay with us for life.”

That, Gene shared, is the opportunity Lil’ Kickers coaches have every day.

Ty Redinger was introduced by franchise operator and industry consultant Gary Lindsey, whose tribute spoke to Ty’s ability to build, protect, and scale the Lil’ Kickers culture without ever losing sight of the field-level experience.

Gary described Ty as someone who has “quietly, consistently, and powerfully shaped” the way indoor sports facilities think about leadership, culture, and customer service.

Ty’s story began where so many Lil’ Kickers stories begin: on the field with kids. He started as a coach in college, later moved into coordinator and facility leadership roles, and eventually became president of Lil’ Kickers.

“A lot of people look at Lil’ Kickers and see a great revenue opportunity, and it is,” Gary said. “But those of us who have lived it know that the most important thing Lil’ Kickers brings to a facility isn’t just dollars — it’s culture.”

That culture is one of the program’s greatest strengths. When a facility launches Lil’ Kickers, the standard rises. Customer service becomes more intentional. Communication improves. Families feel welcomed. Children feel known.

“That doesn’t happen by accident,” Gary said. “That happens because Ty and his team have been relentless about teaching and protecting what this program stands for.”

When Ty accepted the honor, he spoke with gratitude, humor, and perspective. He thanked his family, the Lil’ Kickers team, Don and Karen Crowe, Gene, and the franchise owners who helped bring the program into communities across the country.

He also shared a favorite example of the developmental power of Lil’ Kickers: Cottontails, a class designed to help children gradually gain independence from their parents on the field.

“Day one, the kids are attached to their parents’ legs and hiding behind them,” Ty said. “By the end of the session, they’re already out, and parents are stepping off the field. It’s amazing to see the developmental aspects — and using soccer as our vehicle.”

Ty also spoke honestly about the process of building and improving the program over time.

“We failed a lot,” he said. “And that’s okay, because as we know developmentally, we learned a lot from it and we carried on.”

For Ty, the mission has remained consistent: to inspire. At first, that mission focused on the children in class. Over time, the team realized that inspiration extended to coaches, coordinators, leaders, franchise owners, and entire communities.

“Our mission to inspire 100,000 kids weekly could not happen without all of you and your venues in your markets,” Ty said.

A Legacy Beyond the Field

The Hall of Fame celebration was a powerful reminder that Lil’ Kickers has never been just about teaching soccer skills.

It is about helping children build confidence. It is about giving parents a place where their child is seen, supported, and celebrated. It is about helping coaches understand that their work matters. And it is about giving franchise owners a program that brings not only revenue, but culture, purpose, and community into their facilities.

Karen Crowe, Gene Hogan, and Ty Redinger have each helped shape that legacy in distinct and meaningful ways.

• Karen helped define the why.

• Gene helped strengthen the people.

• Ty helped scale and protect the culture.

Together, their work has helped Lil’ Kickers impact more than 2.5 million children and families — and counting.

Their induction into the US Indoor Sports Association Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of what they have built, but also of what Lil’ Kickers continues to make possible every day in communities across the country.

Congratulations to Karen, Gene, and Ty on this incredible honor, and thank you for helping create a program that continues to inspire children, families, coaches, and leaders far beyond the field.