FRISCO, Texas (March 15, 2010) - US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, today announces the 39 recipients of its 13^th annual grants cycle. In all, through its partnership with adidas, US Youth Soccer awarded over $122,000 of adidas merchandise to 39 different groups nationwide for player development (10 TOPSoccer, 14 Soccer Across America and 15 Recreation groups for soccer development).

Also, for the first year, Kwik Goal, the official goal and field equipment supplier of US Youth Soccer, has also donated 40 Infinity® goal sets that have been allocated to select recipients in addition to their adidas equipment.

Since 1998, the organization has awarded more than $2 million toward the growth of the game of soccer through grants and other financial support.

 

New for 2010, the Recreation Grants were established to help recreation programs of US Youth Soccer State Associations and other organization members, in existence for at least three years and are in need of assistance to maintain and grow their recreation programs.  

TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability.

Soccer Across America (formerly known as Soccer Start) is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to children living in communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Soccer Across America provides soccer training and administrative guidance to players and organizations who might otherwise not be exposed to the sport. Soccer Across America also helps new programs find the funding and equipment to begin and then to expand their activities. In the past several years, US Youth Soccer has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial and material support to programs across the United States.
  

"We believe these US Youth Soccer programs further our mission of fostering the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition," said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer. "We are delighted with the overall quality of the applications received from around the country this year, and look forward to the many positives that are sure to follow."

 

Since the first grants were given in 1998, US Youth Soccer has issued 483 awards to groups large and small across the United States. Specifically for TOPSoccer, Soccer Across America and Recreation programs, these grants continue to assist in soccer development programs and furthering the game for all kids.

 

The 2010 grants represent a wide array of community-based initiatives from across the country.

 

2010 Soccer Across America grant recipients:

2010 Recreation grant recipients

Learn more about the Grants Program, TOPSoccer and Soccer America by clicking their respective links.

 

The 2011 US Youth Soccer grant applications are currently being updated and more information will be communicated at a later date. Contact Matt Moran, US Youth Soccer Member Services, to receive the most current information at mmoran@usyouthsoccer.org.  The 2011 applications will be announced in the US Youth Soccer Kwik Kicks monthly e-newsletter, to sign up click here.

  

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!^®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

 

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