Sidney Burris never expected a simple decision to save her son’s soccer season would change the course of her life.
In 2023, the South Farha YMCA faced a coaching shortage, leaving her son’s youth soccer team without someone to lead it. Rather than watch the season disappear, Burris volunteered.
That one decision has since led her from volunteer coach to a full-time role with the Greater Wichita YMCA Metro Office.
“I just couldn’t bear the thought of my son, or any of the other kids, losing their season,” Burris said. “What started as a quick decision to fill a volunteer gap ended up completely reshaping my life’s trajectory. Today, my journey has come full circle, and I now have the privilege of working full-time for the Greater Wichita YMCA Metro Office.”
While the career opportunity has been rewarding, Burris says the relationships she has built through the YMCA have left the greatest impact.
One of her favorite memories came from coaching a player who initially struggled with participation and sportsmanship. Burris saw potential in him and challenged him throughout the season.
Weeks after the season ended, the two unexpectedly crossed paths at a baseball event.
“He ran over to give me three giant hugs,” Burris said. “When I asked what they were for, he smiled and said he wanted to thank me for being a consistent, supportive presence in his life.”
For Burris, that moment reinforced that coaching extends well beyond wins and losses.
“Today, he is a team leader who actively lifts up those around him,” she said. “Watching him find his worth is the greatest reward I could ever ask for.”
Another unforgettable moment came when North YMCA Sports Director Alec nominated Burris for Coach of the Year.
Following what Burris described as an especially difficult personal chapter, the recognition carried special meaning.
“It was the first time in a long time I felt truly seen and appreciated,” Burris said. “It made me realize that while I thought I was just a volunteer coach handing out snacks, the community saw the heart I was putting into it, and the time I spent on the field was making a real, lasting impact.”
Burris credits the YMCA with helping her grow not only as a coach, but also as a person.
“The YMCA helped me heal and find my confidence when I had lost my own,” she said. “There were days I walked onto that soccer field carrying a very heavy weight, but I always left feeling lighter because of the children, parents, volunteers, staff and fellow coaches who surrounded me.”
Through those experiences, Burris discovered that effective leadership isn’t about perfection.
“I learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers or being perfect,” she said. “It’s simply about showing up and creating a space where people feel they belong. The Y gave me a profound sense of purpose and taught me that even in our hardest moments, we don’t have to walk alone.”
As someone whose life changed because she answered the call to volunteer, Burris encourages others to take the same chance.
“My advice is simple: just take the leap and sign up to coach,” she said. “You don’t need to be a professional sports expert, and you don’t need to have everything figured out to make a difference.”
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