From Pitch to the Planet: Eastside FC Alum Wins ESPY Award for Climate Leadership
- Jay Peters
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
When Eastside FC alum Rishin Tandon stepped onto the stage at the 2025 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles to receive the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, it was a proud moment not only for him, but for our entire Eastside FC community.
Rishin, now a junior at Issaquah High School, was honored for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of youth sports and environmental sustainability. As the founder of the Youth Eco Sports Scorecard (YESS), Rishin is leading a movement to make youth sports more eco-friendly — one team at a time.
Turning a Local Idea into a Global Movement
The idea for YESS was born on the same fields where Rishin spent nearly a decade growing up with Eastside FC. As a multi-sport athlete passionate about the environment, he began noticing the ways youth sports contributed to climate change — from plastic water bottles to gas-powered travel and extreme heat affecting play.
“Sports have the power to unite people and drive change,” Rishin said. “I wanted to use that same energy to make a difference for the planet.”
With support from the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, The Allstate Foundation, and the King County Play Equity Coalition, Rishin developed YESS — the world’s first digital scorecard that helps youth sports teams measure and improve their environmental impact.
Through a quick online survey, YESS evaluates how teams manage transportation, waste, energy use, and field maintenance. Teams receive a sustainability “score” along with simple, actionable ways to improve — like organizing carpools, switching to refillable bottles, or installing LED lighting at facilities.
“Think of it like a Fitbit for your team’s environmental habits,” Rishin explained. “It’s youth-led, data-driven, and designed to make small changes that add up to big impact.”
Data, Action, and a Generation of Eco-Champions
Since launching YESS, teams from more than 22 sports have joined the movement. Nearly half now report consistent use of refillable water bottles, while others are adopting new practices for heat and air quality safety.
The platform’s data — the first of its kind at the youth level — is helping coaches, leagues, and policymakers understand where support is needed most. Rishin is also building a network of “Eco-Champions” across the country to carry the mission forward.
“By equipping young athletes and coaches with education and measurable tools, we’re helping build a generation of climate-conscious leaders,” he said.
Rishin’s work has already been featured at the Green Sports Alliance Summit and Play the Game 2025 in Finland, drawing attention from sustainability leaders around the world.
From Eastside Roots to National Recognition
For those who knew Rishin at Eastside FC, his leadership comes as no surprise. The perseverance, teamwork, and responsibility developed through years of soccer have shaped his approach to problem-solving and community impact.
“Eastside FC taught me what it means to be part of something bigger — to lead, to listen, and to act with purpose,” Rishin said. “Those lessons are at the heart of YESS.”
Rishin’s achievement is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn’t end at the final whistle. His journey embodies Eastside FC’s mission of Building Champions in Life — athletes who take what they learn on the field and use it to create positive change in the world.
Join the Movement
Rishin is continuing to grow YESS and is inviting other student-athletes, coaches, and teams to get involved. Whether it’s through small sustainability steps or helping spread awareness, everyone has a role to play.
“You don’t have to run a league to lead,” he says. “With YESS, all you need is your phone and your team.”
To learn more or get your team involved, visit YESS.
Congratulations, Rishin — your Eastside FC family is proud of you! Your work proves that the next generation of leaders is already making a difference — both on and off the field.
