Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Ritson
Hi Barry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in South Shields, England, and grew up as an avid football (soccer) fan and player. My passion for the game led me to earn a scholarship to the US, which opened up new opportunities for me. After spending time in the States, I realized it was where I wanted to build my life.
I grasped the chance to work with a camp company in Pasadena, California, which is where I began my professional coaching career. From there, I rose through the ranks in the youth club soccer landscape, ultimately becoming the CEO of LA Surf Soccer Club. Along the way, I had the honor of coaching at the international level with the US Soccer Federation, working with the U23 and U15 age groups, and I’ve earned the highest coaching certifications available in the country.
Fifteen years ago, I launched my first company, Launch Sports, and have since become a serial entrepreneur with businesses spanning across soccer, health and wellness, technology, and digital media industries. Now, I’ve settled in Glendora, California, with my wife Viviana and our twin daughters, Olivia and Chloe, who continue to inspire everything I do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. One of the biggest challenges I faced was venturing out on my own, moving across the world from the UK to the USA, away from my family. It was a huge leap, not just geographically, but also in building a life and career from the ground up.
As my business ventures grew, managing the various components across different industries often demanded a lot of my time. This meant long days at the office, on the soccer field, and frequent travel, which inevitably took me away from my family. Balancing life and work has always been a struggle, and it continues to be, especially now with my twin daughters, Olivia and Chloe, as sophomores in high school. It’s become even more important for me to find that balance — to keep pushing forward in my business endeavors while also being present and living in the moment with my family.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I love most about what I do is helping people. Whether it’s kids playing soccer, individuals recovering through physical therapy, or working with businesses to craft compelling stories and position themselves at the forefront of their industry, the common thread is the impact I get to make. Collaborating with creatives here in Los Angeles to bring visions to life and helping others reach their goals is incredibly rewarding.
I specialize in sports startups and refining processes within sports organizations. With deep knowledge of best business practices, finance, and operations, particularly within the youth sports industry, I’ve been able to streamline systems and build more efficient paths to success.
What sets me apart, and what I’m most known for, is being a builder. I thrive in creating opportunities in a complex and competitive space by identifying the unique qualities in a service or product and finding a way to communicate that effectively to the customer base. It’s about connecting the dots between vision, execution, and market needs, and I’m driven by the challenge of doing that across the different industries I’m involved in.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is to focus on the controllable. In both business and life, there have been times when I’ve had leverage and control, and other times when I didn’t. Learning how to position yourself effectively when you do have leverage is critical to success, but just as important is recognizing opportunities when you’re the underdog.
Navigating relationships and situations where I wasn’t in the driver’s seat has taught me resilience and adaptability. It’s about making the most of what you can control and finding ways to turn challenges into opportunities. This mindset has served me well in navigating complex business relationships and maintaining momentum in competitive environments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wearelasurf.com/
- Instagram: @lasurfsoccer
- Facebook: @lasurfsoccer
- Twitter: @lasurfsoccer
