Board Directors, Staff & Coordinators
The operations of Vancouver Athletic FC are overseen by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors.
Board Directors
Roles & Responsibilities
Like other organizations, our Board members are responsible for overseeing the major aspects of the organization, including setting the budget, the club’s mission, vision and values, and the hiring of key positions. Each member has a distinct role and responsibility for which he/she is accountable for. As a group, we make decisions that benefit the club as a whole and vote on key initiatives.
Darren Sherbot
Bio Information
Darren originally joined the board of Vancouver Girls Soccer and helped build the partnership with Douglas Park and Grandview Legion to form the larger VAFC. He has continued in Board roles since then. While he joined the Board when his two children were playing with VAFC, now that they have both graduated from U18 he values the opportunity to continue contributing to the community as a volunteer Board member.
Darren is proud of the work the VAFC Board and staff do to ensure opportunities are available for players at all levels, and that youth soccer remains inclusive and accessible for all players. He values the partnerships that VAFC has built with TSS, across the lower mainland soccer community and with other sports organisations in Vancouver Sport Field Federation.
Chris Sinkewicz
Chris is a Prairie transplant to East Vancouver who grew up playing baseball and that other kind of football. He fell in love with real football, and got involved as a coach and manager once his two kids – now teenaged players – began as U6s.
He is also involved in Vancouver sports field advocacy and is keenly interested in BC’s growing football development pyramid.
Chris believes sport can be fundamental and transformative in the development of youth, and have a lasting positive influence throughout adult life. Chris sees VAFC Board participation as a way to pay forward just some of the joy the game has brought to his family.
Ryan McKee
With over 20 years experience leading iconic brands in the sports and hospitality industries, Ryan is a trusted source in delivering strategic marketing and brand strategy.
Ryan spent over 14 years in the sports industry, beginning with the Vancouver Canucks and then to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, where he led the rebrand and fan engagement initiatives that helped the lower-league soccer club move into Major League Soccer and BC Place Stadium. He then moved to Melbourne, Australia, to work with a leading Aussie Rules Football club, directing a major brand evolution that positioned the club as a community leader for LGBTQ+, indigenous athletes, and new migrants. Returning home in 2016, Ryan served as Brand Director for Mountain Equipment Co-op, winning the 2019 Marketing Magazine Brand of the Year for his stewardship around topics of gun control, diversity, and climate change.
After completing his Executive MBA at SFU in 2020, he took some much-needed time away from the corporate world to spend time with his young children. During that time, he launched elemeno, a healthier alternative to the current school lunch programs and continues to grow the business to this day. Over the last few years, he has provided strategic marketing consultation for a number of companies, including Fairmont Pacific Rim, Tourism Richmond and Lions Gate Hospital Foundation.
When he’s away from work, Ryan enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer team and dreaming up the next adventure to take his family on.
Rachel Richardson
Bio Information
Rachel is technical marketing and communications leader with over 15 years of experience in some of the world’s most exciting and rapidly growing organizations including Amazon and Google. Both of her daughters love playing on VAFC soccer teams, and with a husband who coaches the teams – VAFC is now a full family affair.
Rachel joined the board in 2023 with a goal to leverage her professional expertise to support VAFC’s continued growth and operations, enabling more kids to benefit from the joys of soccer.
Hitesh Chauhan
Bio Information
I have been involved with VAFC for about 15 years. I started as a parent and then became a team manager for several years for both of my kids. For the past 7-8 years, I have had the honor of serving as a committed board member. Do you remember those blue and yellow reversible jerseys at Douglas Park?
My primary responsibility involves taking care of equipment such as corner flags, nets, and the lockbox at various fields. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding equipment, please feel free to ask.
Darren Sherbot
Bio Information
Darren originally joined the board of Vancouver Girls Soccer and helped build the partnership with Douglas Park and Grandview Legion to form the larger VAFC. He has continued in Board roles since then. While he joined the Board when his two children were playing with VAFC, now that they have both graduated from U18 he values the opportunity to continue contributing to the community as a volunteer Board member.
Darren is proud of the work the VAFC Board and staff do to ensure opportunities are available for players at all levels, and that youth soccer remains inclusive and accessible for all players. He values the partnerships that VAFC has built with TSS, across the lower mainland soccer community and with other sports organisations in Vancouver Sport Field Federation.
Mark Choi
Bio Information
Hi, my name is Mark Choi, and I joined the VAFC Board in July 2023. I have also had the privilege of coaching my daughter’s team for the past three years (U8-U10) and will be doing the same with my second daughter starting this fall (U7). My primary focus on the VAFC Board is youth engagement through the Youth Coaching Program and the Youth Scholarships Program.
I have lived in Vancouver since 1986 and have always loved watching and playing sports. Soccer was the first organized sport I joined, and I quickly grew to love the game. I also realized that soccer met many needs I didn’t know I had, such as providing a sense of belonging and community. Coming from an immigrant family whose parents worked a lot, having this added sense of connection was crucial to my emotional development and upbringing.
Professionally, my background is in Social Work. I graduated from UBC with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work. I have worked as a therapist for over 13 years and currently run my own counselling practice locally. Previously, I also worked in drug and alcohol prevention, where I realized that investing in grassroots programs and fostering a sense of community and connection are some of the best forms of prevention.
If you have any questions or ideas that you’d like to explore feel free to reach out to me!
Technical Staff
Certified CSA Professionals
The Technical Director and Staff will provide leadership and strategic direction to support the technical development hand quality of soccer by overseeing the organization of all technical programs and coaching staff.
Steve Weston
Coaching Philosophy:
At all times to keep soccer fun and enjoyable, as well as install good discipline and strong work ethic. All players must continually work on the technical ability and ball control. Players need to enjoy having the ball. Without the volunteer club coach, the player cannot play and cannot develop. All coaches need to be in an environment where they can learn, grow and be constantly supported by their club and the club’s Head Coaches & Technical Director.
Experience:
Over 35 years of coaching experience both in England and Canada. Over 12 years as a professional soccer coach.
Qualifications:
Canadian Soccer Association National B License
Technical Director Diploma
Canadian Soccer Association National A License – in progress
Previous Coaching Roles:
Surrey Youth Staff Coach
Douglas Park Soccer Head Coach
BC Soccer Provincial Coach
Present Coaching Roles:
Head Coach and Technical Director, Vancouver Athletic FC
BC Soccer Coach Certification – Learning Facilitator
Lauren King
Lauren has extensive soccer experience, playing from age 5 through to playing at Grand Valley State University, a top DII school in Michigan, winning a National Championship, and graduating with a bachelor in Health Sciences.
Upon moving to Canada, she began her Canadian coaching career in Whistler. In her move to Vancouver, she has coached for the Whitecaps Academy, NSGSC, VAFC and TSS Rovers League 1 Women’s program.
Canadian Soccer Association Qualifications:
Canadian Soccer Association National B License
Canadian Soccer Association Children’s license
Canadian Soccer Association Provincial B License
Canadian Soccer Association Youth License
Respect in Sport – Active Leader Program
BC Soccer – Technical Director Diploma
Previous Coaching Roles:
Whistler FC Coach
Sea to Sky Whitecaps Academy Coach
Whitecaps Academy Coach
Assistant coach, TSS Rovers; League 1 BC
VAFC development sessions, camps & team training
Present Coaching Roles:
VAFC Head Coach Divisional U11-U18 Girls
Steve Hood
Steve has over 25 years of coaching experience having worked as a coach and technical leader, in England, Wales, the US and Canada. Before moving to Canada Steve worked at several professional clubs in the UK within their development
center and community scheme programs. During the summer months Steve would travel across to the US and work as a soccer camp director for Challenger Sports.
Steve moved to Canada in 2003, where he worked as a coach at European Football Schools, before becoming the Program Director for the North Shore Soccer Development Center which provided technical support to the 4 Soccer clubs on the North Shore. After his time on the North Shore, Steve spent 2 years as the Technical Director at Prince George Youth Soccer Association, before returning back to the lower mainland to take on the role of Technical Director at Richmond FC.
Qualifications
CSA National B License
CSA Children’s License
BCSA Technical Director Diploma
BCSA Goalkeeping Diploma
BCSA Provincial B License
NCCP Learning Facilitator
NCCP Coach Evaluator
NCCP Master Coach Developer
Science Of Soccer (HND) University of South Bank (London UK)
FA Level 2 (London UK)
Previous Roles:
Richmond FC – Technical Director
PGYSA – Technical Director
NVFC – Program Director
North Shore Development Center – Program Director
BC Soccer – Grassroots Tutor
Mountain FC – Staff Coach
Whitecaps FC – Assistant Prospects Coach
European Football Schools – Staff Coach
Challenger Sports – Soccer Camp Director/Coach (US)
Cardiff City, Fulham FC, Millwall FC, Wimbledon FC – Community Scheme Coach (UK)
Present Coaching Roles:
BCSA Learning Facilitator
VAFC Head Coach Boys
Administration
Managing the Operations of the Largest Grassroots Youth Soccer Club in Vancouver.
The Administrative Staff performs diversified administrative duties including assisting at board and staff meetings, working to improve and manage workflow and information flow systems, and managing organizational data.
George Mrsic
Professional Summary
I have an extensive history of involvement in community sports as a marketing and events coordinator, academy program marketer and registrar, website management, tournament chair and coordinator, development manager, soccer coach, tryout evaluator and coordinator and as a board director. Building strong relationships with club partnerships, technical staff, coaches, players and families.
Skills
Professional, committed and goal oriented. Proven strong work ethic. Able to inspire and manage people in a team-oriented environment. Motivated, organized and able to improve communication climates and manage interpersonal conflicts constructively. Experience and proven applicable skills in providing direction and leadership.
Playing Experience
SFU 1982 – 1986 (National Champions 1982 – 1983 / Finalists – 1986)
Senior Nation Team 1987 – 1989
Francophone Games 1989 – Gold Medal
Vancouver 86er’s 1989
Futsal World Cup 1988 – Australia
Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame – 2012 (Team of Distinction)
BC Hall of Fame – Vancouver 86er’s – 1989
SFU Hall of Fame – 1982 / 1983 National Championship teams
Caroline Daniels
Caroline is the VAFC Registrar – responsible for player registration, league registration, and compliance with the club’s leagues and governing bodies. She is a professional systems librarian by trade. Caroline has been involved in sports for decades both as a participant and an organizer. She has had two children move through the VAFC program.
Caroline joined VAFC as a volunteer in 2015 and took on the Registrar responsibilities in 2020. She uses her belief that sport can physically, emotionally and socially benefit youth to motivate her work within the club.
Devon Dooling
After many years as a manager at VAFC for her 2 step-kids teams, Devon joined VAFC in an official capacity in 2020 as a Club Coordinator originally working with our U5-U7 age groups. After a couple couple of years in that position, Devon expanded her role to take over the entire “House” sector where she is responsible for kids aged U5-U10 across all chapters of VAFC (Douglas Park Boys and Girls, Trout Lake Girls, and Grandview).
Devon’s role is composed of helping create teams each season, scheduling games and practices for all age groups, liaising with coaches and team managers, communicating with parents, equipment pickup and much more. In addition Devon organizes photo day for the entire club each year, as well as the end of season Jamboree for the house teams. When Devon is not working at VAFC, she spends most of her time running her own small business! If you can’t find Devon on the soccer field, or working at home, she is usually riding horses, walking her dog Molly, or spending time gardening or reading!
Club Coordinators
Managing Specific areas of the Club that needs quality giving individuals.
VAFC has the best volunteers in the game.
Siobhan Jackson
Bio Information
Siobhan’s two kids played with VAFC (Grandview Legion) until U18. She enjoys helping out the club in the role of Uniform Coordinator, and supporting the club’s environmentally responsible approach to uniforms that reduces waste and avoid families having to pay for annual uniform purchases.
Volunteers
Be Part of the largest Grassroots Vancouver Soccer Club.
VAFC’s success as a soccer club (over 2,900 youth members) is based on the generous volunteer efforts of our membership. We always need and welcome new volunteers; and greatly appreciate those dedicated individuals who return each year.
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