Ginger Sport

What Ginger Sport does

Ginger Sport is an Australian proprietary limited company (Ginger Sport Pty Ltd, ABN 89008446780) founded in October 2009 by Ben Hutchinson in Brisbane, Queensland. The company delivers non-competitive, inclusive children's soccer coaching programs to children aged 2-12 across South East Queensland, organised around four core service lines: Childcare Fun Soccer (weekly on-site sessions at partner early-learning centres), Weekly Fun Soccer (Saturday park-based group sessions for ages 2-7), Birthday Parties (soccer-themed event packages with inflatable hire), and Book a Coach (flexible on-demand 1-2-1 and small-group coaching). Adjacent streams include inflatable equipment hire (Hungerball Arena, Soccer Bounce, Soccer Darts, Target Shot, Snookball), council-delivered community programs, school holiday camps, NDIS-funded sessions for participants with disability, merchandise sales via an online shop, and the Quest Football Academy sub-brand for older children. Distribution operates on a hybrid B2B2C model — direct-to-consumer bookings through the company's web-based booking system (app.gingersport.com.au) layered onto embedded delivery partnerships with 500+ childcare centres (including G8 Education, Goodstart, Affinity Education, C&K), OSHC providers (The Y/YMCA Queensland, Camp Australia, PCYC Queensland), and local government councils (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan, Moreton Bay). Revenue is primarily recurring via monthly subscriptions with automatic billing, supplemented by one-time event bookings (50% deposit, balance 7 days prior), hourly inflatable hire, and merchandise sales. The company operates a team of 25-30 dedicated early-childhood coaches and small office headcount, with historical peak weekly participation of 6,000+ children across 500 locations and 35 staff in 2013. Underlying technology is a custom-configured, multi-service booking and customer management platform with integrated payment processing and differentiated cancellation policies per service line; no AI/ML capability is evidenced. Proprietary brand assets include the registered Ginger Sport trade marks and the JoJo mascot character (introduced 2012).

Name

Ginger Sport

Legal name

Ginger Sport Pty Ltd

Website

https://gingersport.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ginger Sport is an Australian, founder-owned children's soccer coaching business founded in 2009 that delivers non-competitive programs for kids aged 2-12 via partner childcare centres, weekend park sessions, events, and council programs across South East Queensland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Sports Coaching

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Children's soccer coaching
• Youth sports programs
• Early childhood fitness
• Community soccer coaching
• Birthday party entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Weekly Fun Soccer Sessions: Monthly subscription-based fees for regular weekly soccer sessions for children aged 2-7, with automatic billing on first Sunday of each month. Pay-in-full option provides free personalised kit.
2. Childcare Fun Soccer: Monthly recurring fees for soccer sessions delivered at partner childcare centres, with continuous enrollment and automatic monthly billing.
3. Birthday Parties and Events: One-time event bookings requiring 50% deposit with balance due 7 days prior. Includes soccer parties, inflatable hire, and themed entertainment.
4. Book a Coach / 1-2-1 Soccer: Hourly and per-session coaching services for individual or small group training, with regular booking discounts and various payment structures.
5. Inflatable Hire: Hourly rental of inflatable soccer facilities including Inflatable Soccer Field, Hungerball Arena, Soccer Bounce, Soccer Darts, Target Shot, and Snookball with generator hire included.
6. Soccer Camps and Chessmates: School holiday programs offering soccer and chess activities with immediate payment required at booking.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online shop sales of soccer kits, personalised apparel, equipment (balls, gloves, shin pads), accessories, and Teqball products shipped within Australia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ginger Sport is a Brisbane-based children's soccer coaching business delivering non-competitive soccer programs to children aged 2-12 across South East Queensland. Its core services are weekly community soccer sessions (Weekend Park Sessions), in-centre soccer coaching delivered through 500+ partner childcare centres and OSHC providers, council-funded community programs, themed birthday party and event entertainment (with optional inflatable arena hire), one-on-one and small-group coaching booked at customer-chosen venues, and school-holiday soccer and chess camps. Supporting revenue includes branded merchandise (kits, balls, accessories) sold via an online shop.

Product overview

Ginger Sport operates as a multi-service children's soccer coaching business offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across South East Queensland. The core offerings include Childcare Fun Soccer (delivered at partner childcare centres), Weekly Fun Soccer (Saturday sessions for ages 2-7), Birthday Parties (soccer-themed event packages), and Book a Coach (flexible personal coaching). The company also provides an extensive range of inflatable and game hire services including Inflatable Soccer Field, Hungerball Arena, Soccer Bounce, Soccer Darts, Target Shot, and Snookball. Related programs include Soccer Camps, Chessmates, Council Fun Soccer, PCYC Outside School Hours Care, Match Day, MiniRoos, Weekly Soccer Skills, Advanced Program, Soccer Club Programs, and Teqball. The Quest Football Academy (sub-brand) provides structured pathways for older children (6-11 years). The company also operates an online merchandise shop selling branded kits, soccer balls, and accessories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Fun Soccer Saturday morning community soccer sessions for children aged 2-7, grouped by age (2-3, 4-5, 6-7 years), with games tailored to each age group. Sold to parents as a monthly recurring subscription (or pay-in-full annual option including a free personalised kit) with a free trial available.
• Childcare Fun Soccer Weekly soccer coaching sessions delivered on-site at 500+ partner childcare centres (including G8 Education, Goodstart, Affinity Education, C&K). Sold as a monthly recurring subscription billed automatically, with continuous enrolment and sibling/staff discounts, targeting children in centre care.
• Birthday Parties and Events Soccer-themed birthday party and event packages including coaching, games, and optional inflatable hire (Soccer Bounce, Inflatable Soccer Field, etc.). Booked one-off via the website with a 50% deposit and balance due 7 days prior; weekday-from-4pm discount available.
• Book a Coach / 1-2-1 Coaching Flexible one-on-one and small-group soccer coaching delivered at a venue chosen by the customer, priced hourly or per-session (with regular-booking discounts). Includes tailored sessions for NDIS participants.
• Inflatable Hire Hourly mobile rental of inflatable soccer facilities for events, including Inflatable Soccer Field, Hungerball Arena (partnership), Soccer Bounce, Soccer Darts, Target Shot, and Snookball, with optional generator hire and locality charges beyond 60km from Brisbane CBD.
• Council Fun Soccer Community soccer sessions delivered in partnership with local councils (Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council), including free community sessions through Brisbane's Active Parks program.
• Soccer Camps (School Holiday Programs) Multi-day school holiday soccer camps (and combined soccer-and-chess camps via the Chessmates partnership) for children during school breaks, booked one-off with immediate payment at booking.
• Quest Football Academy Sub-brand football academy for kids aged 6-11 providing skill-based football camps and programs with a development-and-enjoyment focus, including match days and tournaments, designed as a progression pathway from Ginger Sport's core programs.
• Online Shop (Merchandise) Direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront selling Ginger Sport branded merchandise, including soccer kits (from $75), personalised kits (from $95), kit bundles ($99), kids' tracksuits ($80), soccer balls ($25), drink bottles ($15), colouring books ($30), accessories, and Teqball products, with shipping within Australia.
• OSHC Soccer Programs (PCYC and YMCA delivery) Soccer coaching delivered through Outside School Hours Care programs run by YMCA Queensland, PCYC Queensland, and Camp Australia, providing structured physical activity for OSHC-enrolled children.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 children participated weekly at peak (2013)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Y (YMCA Queensland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership continued through 2023 for OSHC families. YMCA delivers community programs including childcare, youth development, and health & fitness services.
• Camp AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for school holiday program delivery in OSHC settings.
• Chess MatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration to offer chess programs alongside soccer sessions for comprehensive child development.
• Quest Football AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Launched in July 2020 as a structured pathway for Ginger Sport graduates. Provides skill-based football camps and programs for kids aged 5-12, focusing on enjoyment and development. Offers match days and tournaments.
• HungerballcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership since 2019-2020 to offer unique inflatable arena experiences. Hungerball provides fast-paced, inflatable soccer arena game promoting teamwork and fitness.
• Brisbane City Council - Active Parks ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnered in 2017 to deliver free community sessions through Brisbane City Council's Active Parks program.
• Goodstart Early LearningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralia's largest not-for-profit early learning provider. Ginger Sport delivers soccer sessions at Goodstart centres.
• G8 EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of Australia's largest childcare providers. Ginger Sport delivers soccer sessions at G8 Education centres.
• Affinity EducationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of Australia's largest early learning providers. Ginger Sport delivers soccer sessions at Affinity Education centres.
• C&K (Creche and Kindergarten Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRespected community-based organisation providing inclusive early childhood education. Ginger Sport delivers sessions at C&K centres.
• PCYC QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering community programs for outside school hours care since 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Camp Australia: Australia's largest OSHC provider — Ginger Sport is a content partner inside Camp Australia venues, but Camp Australia is a much broader incumbent that could vertically integrate or substitute programming.
• YMCA Queensland (The Y): Large community-based OSHC, childcare, and youth programs operator — a current Ginger Sport partner across OSHC venues, and a broader incumbent in the community children's programs space.

Direct peers

• Ready Steady Go Kids: Australian multi-sport program for toddlers and pre-schoolers delivered through childcare centres and venues — directly comparable delivery model and customer base, though broader in sport coverage.
• Little Athletes: Australian multi-sport coaching program for young children delivered in childcare centres and after-school care settings; similar channel mix and family-facing subscription model.
• Little Kickers: International pre-school soccer coaching franchise with active Australian operations; matches Ginger Sport's 2-7 year-old age band and parent-pays subscription model with similar venue and class structure.
• Funky Monkeys: Australia-based kids' sports and physical activity programs delivered at childcare centres and parties — directly comparable B2B2C channel and party-event revenue model.
• Soccajoeys: Australian preschool and primary school soccer coaching franchise with similar age group, party offerings, and centre-based delivery to Ginger Sport.
• Grasshopper Soccer: Australia-originated children's soccer coaching franchise operating globally with structured age-grouped programs for toddlers through pre-teens — directly comparable age group, format, and franchise-style delivery to Ginger Sport.
• Kelly Sports: Australian children's sports coaching franchise offering soccer and other sports at childcare centres, schools, and OSHC — overlaps significantly on B2B2C childcare channel and2-12 age group.

Emerging players

• Quest Football Academy: Ginger Sport's own graduate pathway sub-brand for ages 6-11; serves as a direct downstream peer within the company's own ecosystem and illustrates the aging-up model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuJAkIaCF9NgaFrxZrJ-cUw
• Facebookfacebook.com/gingersport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ginger-sport
• Instagraminstagram.com/ginger_sport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ginger Sport