Dos Pueblos High School student-athlete John Duffy (11) started his own non-profit organization, Ready Set Play Sports, with the ultimate goal of helping young aspiring athletes like himself gain opportunities.
“I had teammates struggle with club tuition and fees,” Duffy said. “I knew that I wasn’t in a position to pay their yearly club fees, but I wanted to make sure that I found a way to help with sports accessibility through the community, because I know that there are some people that really struggle with that.”
With the idea of helping others in mind, Duffy set off with the goal of starting Ready Set Play Sports, though it wouldn’t come into fruition overnight.
“In terms of getting logistics to set up and actually having all the infrastructure to host the event, it took around nine months,” Duffy said. “From there, it took me another two or three weeks to get all my gear, secure my community partners. It was really nice because while it took a while, it allowed me to have a lasting foundation that I can now build all of my events on.”
The patience and persistence eventually allowed Duffy to ink a partnership with the local sports shop, Play It Again Sports, and in the process, help fellow athletes gain opportunities in their future endeavors.
“After the event, all gear that’s not donated or claimed by the community is then sent to Play It Again Sports, who’s a community partner of mine,” Duffy said. “All of the funds that are made from selling all this gear goes towards an athletic scholarship for a college-bound student athlete right here in Santa Barbara County.”
Outside of helping the community, Duffy is a multi-sport athlete. He has played on the Dos Pueblos varsity soccer team since his freshman year, spent two years running on the varsity track team, and one year running cross country. Duffy said that much of his love for sports comes from the appreciation that putting in work means getting out results.
“I’ve always gone after sports with hunger. I started at the lowest level of club soccer. I stayed down there for about four years, and then, finally, I was able to move up a level, and then move up again,” Duffy said. “For me, it’s making sure that you’re really enjoying what you’re doing, but also finding something that you really care about. If you really care about it, it’s a matter of meaning and effort.”
Beyond Duffy’s competitive drive, he says that sports have allowed him to develop relationships with others while strengthening both his character and that of those around him.
“Sports have built up my character, they built up my grit,” Duffy said. “But again, it builds the people that you’re with. I have been blessed to be around great teammates and great mentors.”
Whether Duffy is bagging goals on the soccer field or hitting PR’s on the track, he said he has always had bigger goals in mind.
“I want to make sure that the things that I can create leave an impact that doesn’t just benefit me,” Duffy said.
Duffy’s next Ready Set Play event will be held next month at Dos Pueblos High School and Santa Barbara High School. Donations of sports gear can be made in the red trash bins that will be around both campuses.
Edited 3/25/26 sentenece format
