US Youth Soccer, the nation's largest youth sports organization, celebrates its 35^th anniversary in 2009.

 

The Game for All Kids!® exploded from 100,000 players in 1974 to over 1 million in the early nineties. Today, US Youth Soccer registers over 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19 through 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations.

 

""My children learned the game and good sportsmanship though US Youth Soccer and I continue to develop my passion of sharing the game with our young soccer players,"" said Larry Monaco, US Youth Soccer president. ""US Youth Soccer continues to grow, develop new programs and enhance the experiences of children. It has been an honor to be a part of the organization and I look forward to sharing our new ideas and to continually evolving the benefits of US Youth Soccer for years to come.""

 

US Youth Soccer programs and events continue to grow and add excitement at every level of the game. In the past five years, US Youth Soccer has further expanded its programs and benefits of membership.

Beginning this year, the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup will provide a progressive, competitive experience to US Youth Soccer teams from the state to regional to national level. The Presidents Cup gives players an additional opportunity to compete against teams from across the country at a high level for the joy and the challenge of the game. 

 

2008 marked a number of expansions to existing programs. US Youth Soccer's Soccer Start program expanded to help any area without an organized soccer program develop. The program is now known as Soccer Across America and is charged to provide every child with the opportunity to play soccer, regardless of location or socioeconomic status. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer), is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, and Soccer Across America programs have received over $2 million of US Youth Soccer grants and new programs continue to develop and evolve to expand the game.

 

The Kohl's US Youth Soccer American Cup expanded in 2008 to include two soccer experience vehicles. Kohl's American Cup now reaches more recreational tournaments than ever. Over 70 events are scheduled for 2009, promoting a fun, family-like atmosphere.

 

The sixth annual Youth Soccer Month doubled in size and added the Youth Soccer Month Giant Jersey Tour last September. Stickley, US Youth Soccer's mascot, lead the tour across America to share the excitement and promote the benefits of soccer.

 

2007 marked the 30^th anniversary for the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Boys and 25^th anniversary for the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls. These programs continue to lead the way in elite player identification with countless players advancing to college, U.S. National Teams, Major League Soccer and Women's Professional Soccer.

 

The US Youth Soccer National League was established in 2007 to provide development and identification opportunities to elite teams seeking the best competition year-round. The league's success was evident this summer when National League teams claimed all four of their age group titles in the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series continues to reign as the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament with over 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer State Associations. Players are given the opportunity to showcase their skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The Series consists of three levels and teams earn their way from their state to regional and ultimately the national championships. Annually the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.

2005 marked the first airing of The US Youth Soccer Show on Fox Soccer Channel. The 30-minute, monthly program is focused on highlighting those involved in the game and furthering the messages of US Youth Soccer. Season Four will kickoff this April and run monthly through December. 

 

Founded in the spring of 1974 by Karl Grosch of Washington and Don Greer and Robert Nessler of California, US Youth Soccer was created to unite all youth soccer programs throughout the United States by affiliation and self-government to enhance youth development through national programs. US Youth Soccer offers programs for every age and ability.