our family story

 

Hi, I'm Coach Matthew. JMG SportsWise is a local, minority, family run business. Originally from the East Coast, My sister, Jennifer and I grew up playing soccer and volleyball. Our father was a High School Biology teacher and mother a psychotherapist specializing in group dynamics. Where I excelled in soccer, Jennifer became a trained dancer. After graduating from The University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, I established a fitness company catering to New York City’s elite, training CEO’s and their families.

A decade later our family (Jennifer, my mother and I) moved to Hawaii for 7 years. There we began performing and teaching swing dance for a living. Later on we used dance as a vehicle to run corporate team building programs and taught socialization skills to Youth at Risk.

In 2005 the we moved to Los Angeles, CA. I eventually returned to my first love, soccer. I began teaching for a franchise that caters to children ages 3-12 years of age. I quickly realized that children needed a more comprehensive and in-depth enrichment program using soccer as a vehicle to teach not only athletic skills but socialization and communication skills. SportsWise was born! Jennifer became Regional Director. She has organized and streamlined the business as the demand for classes continues to grow. We believe that building our school and community are equally as important as having a strong family foundation.

Speaking of family, I became a father and the lessons my 10 year old daughter has been teaching me as a parent are always being applied to our students and their families! 2 of my favorites that we reference in our coaching is Mindset by Carol Dweck and The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson.

When the Eaton Canyon Fires devastated Altadena my family was thrown into crisis. We lost our home, my daughter's school and the majority of our Aftercare Business. But we didn't lose our Spirit, we still have each other! And our belief and love for our community rose up to meet the challenge! Never before have we been more grateful for the people we work with and the community that we call our own!

We are slowly getting back on our feet and we are here to help our fellow families do the same!