Local dad to open KIDSUNITED in Appleton

Chris Rugowski

Contributor

August 24, 2026

APPLETON – KIDSUNITED is bringing its youth soccer program to Appleton, set to open its first Wisconsin location Aug. 28 with a focus on building skills both on and off the field. 

Owner Ben Lawnicki said the age-appropriate curriculum is designed to make soccer both beneficial and fun while helping children develop problem-solving, leadership, responsibility and teamwork skills. 

Discovering what was next

When his role at Kimberly-Clark was eliminated, Lawnicki said he found himself with something he hadn’t expected: time to figure out what came next.

“It was a nice little push to explore, and I did some reflecting on what the next chapter of life will give me the most energy,” he said. 

With the help of a franchise consultant, Lawnicki said he was introduced to KIDSUNITED and quickly saw the potential.

“I am a builder [and] a dad who has seen his kids grow in confidence with soccer and sports,” he said. “I’ve coached a lot of my kids’ teams, and seeing what KIDSUNITED was doing, I knew it was the right move.”

Professionally, Lawnicki said he was drawn to the opportunity to mentor and help team members grow while also contributing to the community and bringing a new approach to child development in the Fox Valley.

He said the opportunity also tapped into his passion for building businesses and brands.

The chance to build a new brand in the Fox Valley was something Lawnicki said he wanted to pursue.

Because coaching his own kids and working with children was something he had always been interested in, Lawnicki said the opportunity felt like a natural fit. 

“I was excited to find something related to kids, sports and soccer,” he said. “KIDSUNITED is first and foremost a child development program, and we use soccer to make it fun – because soccer is accessible by anyone. If you can walk, you can play. It’s a natural ‘first’ sport, so to speak.”

Lawnicki said his personal connection to soccer helped him recognize the opportunity in the sport’s growth, particularly as more children continue playing.

As he explored franchise opportunities, Lawnicki said he wanted something that would energize him while giving back to the community.

KIDSUNITED, he said, stood out as an opportunity to do both. 

What makes KIDSUNITED unique

KIDSUNITED, Lawnicki said, isn’t a typical soccer education program.

Instead, he said it uses soccer as a vehicle for child development, serving children ages 18 months to nine years old. 

For its youngest participants, Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED focuses on development through play, gradually introducing more technical soccer skills as children get older.

He said many traditional soccer programs begin around ages five or six and run for six to eight weeks during the summer, with schedules often dependent on the weather.

Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED operates entirely indoors and is open year-round, eliminating the seasonal and weather-related limitations of many traditional soccer programs.

The facility features 1,500 square feet of turf, he said, with lessons limited to 10-12 students and two coaches per session. 

“You can start at 18 months and go to nine years old and never have the same class twice,” he said. “You may have the same drills, but each class is focused on different skills. The fact that we cater to a younger audience by giving them a good first experience with sports is really beneficial.”

Lawnicki said the coach-to-student ratio – one coach for every five to six children at most – is “very reasonable.”

He said smaller class sizes allow coaches to provide more individualized attention to both children and their parents. 

One aspect of the program Lawnicki said he didn’t fully appreciate until he observed a class was the level of parent communication.

After each class, he said coaches speak with parents individually to provide feedback on their child’s progress that week.

At the end of each quarter, Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED holds “Champions Week,” featuring class assessments and an opportunity for parents to schedule a 10-minute meeting with a coach to discuss their child’s progress. 

“I think it’s helpful because parents have a say in what they want for their kids,” he said. “Whether that’s being a technical player or trying to build confidence, the coaches know how to help all the kids. Our goal isn’t to create the next [Lionel] Messi, but wouldn’t that be a really cool story to have.”

Focus extends beyond the sport

As the center’s opening approaches, Lawnicki said he has been fielding a range of calls – from parents looking for an introduction to soccer to those simply exploring sports and activities for their children and wanting to learn more about the program. 

Though many parents initially view KIDSUNITED as just a soccer program, Lawnicki said its focus extends beyond the sport. 

“We’re helping build confidence, coordination and life skills – soccer is just the vehicle to do that,” he said. “A big part of it is the curriculum. KIDSUNITED, [as a company], uses child development experts to create curriculum.”

For its youngest participants, Lawnicki said that means incorporating early learning concepts such as colors and numbers into the activities.

Children, he said, may be asked to find and match colors around the space while also participating in age-appropriate soccer drills. 

Lawnicki said he has heard plenty of stories from other KIDSUNITED locations and is looking forward to creating some of his own as the Appleton location gets underway. 

Classes offered

Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED Appleton (720 W. Northland Ave.) will offer three core programs – Foundation, Fundamental and Advanced – with two to three training levels within each program. 

The Foundation program, he said, begins with a parent-and-child class (Kub), where parents play an active role.

Lawnicki said parents may underestimate just how involved they will be.

At about two and a half years old, he said children move into the Little Champs program, which runs until roughly age three and a half.

At that stage, Lawnicki said parents remain nearby but move to the sidelines as coaches begin helping children develop independence.

Around age three and a half, he said children transition into the fundamental stage of the program – Drills to Skills.

At that point, Lawnicki said parents move into the lobby, where they can relax and watch.

“The Drills to Skills programs are intermediate focused on building technical soccer skills and life skills,” he said. “These are broken down into age groups of roughly three and a half to five, five to seven and seven to nine.”

Lawnicki said he plans to launch with the Foundation and Fundamental programs for the first three months as the Appleton location gets up and running, with Advanced classes to follow.

However, “Advanced,” he said, doesn’t necessarily mean older.

Each core program has different training levels, Lawnicki said, based on a child’s skill development. 

The goal, he said, is to group children by ability and development rather than simply age.

More details on class offerings are available at kidsunited.com. 

Preparation for youth leagues, more

Beyond the life skills and technical development, Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED also can serve as preparation for youth leagues.

He said he views the programs as complementary rather than competing with traditional soccer.

“I want our students to go play in a league, too,” he said.

Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED’s indoor turf gives children a place to develop technical skills in a smaller setting, while league play provides the opportunity to apply those skills on a larger field and in a full-game environment.

Before children reach the youth league stage, however, Lawnicki said KIDSUNITED aims to help them build a positive relationship with sports. 

“I think having a really good first experience can create a lifelong love of sports and being active,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to set up with this environment – small class sizes, fun and engaging activities and promoting a positive experience.”

Lawnicki said he has seen that progression firsthand with his own son, who initially struggled with sports, was speech-delayed and was uncomfortable in social settings.

Then, in spring 2025, after several years of playing, Lawnicki said he had what he called a proud parent moment.

He said he watched his son direct teammates on the field, recognize where everyone was positioned and respond to cues during the game.

Lawnicki said for him, it was a clear example of how sports can become about much more than the game itself.

“It was hard to believe that the same kid who had no confidence back then is now a leader on the field,” he said. “That’s something they might not always get the opportunity to do in school.”

Community reception

As he builds awareness for the new location, Lawnicki said community events have been an effective way to connect with prospective families, coaches and young players. 

“We did National Night Out in early August and brought three of our coaches there,” he said. “We set up some dribbling lanes, and it was really cool – the kids kept coming back. We were at the Butterfly Festival and Kids Expo, too. All these events have been really great where we can get the kids’ activities going.”

Lawnicki said he plans to continue that outreach as the Appleton location gets established.

Overall, he said the community response has been “great” – even booking its 300th trial class before officially opening its doors.

Though opening KIDSUNITED represents a “big bet and investment on his life and career,” Lawnicki said he is all in and eager to welcome families through the doors. 

Appleton, he said, will be the smallest market among KIDSUNITED’s 53 locations nationwide. 

“Out of all the clubs that are in pre-opening right now, we’re by far doing the best, but I attribute a lot of that to the events and getting the name out there and showing people I’m just a local dad from the area opening this up,” he said. “We’re a locally owned franchise, not a giant corporation.”

Keep an eye on KIDSUNITED’s Facebook page for the latest updates, or check out the previously mentioned website for more information.