It Started With An Idea.

Posted by Scott Inamine, WSC DOC. Updated 4/11/2024

Club Owner Shawn Whitfield’s IDEA:  Could a soccer club be built around a people-first and moral culture? Essentially CULTURE DRIVEN.

The secondary goal is to deliver soccer content focusing on creativity, ball possession, understanding, and tactical discipline—all the things we love about the “Beautiful Game.”  

In other words, always keep sight of Youth soccer when content is delivered in a logical age-appropriate progression so that we help build players who understand and appreciate the Beautiful Game the way we understood it growing up.

At the youngest ages, we focus exclusively on ball handling and creativity, gradually progressing from Me and the Ball to Me and You and the Ball and then the tactical rigor needed to enable players who want to have an uncapped limit on their potential.

We wouldn’t shortcut “The Process” to attain winning vs. developing players. The culture-driven process wouldn’t result in benched players, negative pressure, and unrealistic expectations. All players wanting to do so progress in their way and on their timeline, but we could also provide a platform for a high-performance culture for those inclined.

For me, it started with a cold call from Coach Shawn 8 years ago. We knew each other, but not really. He laid out this bold vision. While a dozen or so ‘local’ clubs came and went, being taken over by branded mainland clubs. Whitfield SC remains one of the last Hawaii clubs standing, unwavering in its dedication to this idea.