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Forty-Eight US Youth Soccer Alumni Part of 2022 Men’s College Cup

FRISCO, Texas (Dec. 16, 2022) – Syracuse’s quest for its first national title in men’s soccer had never been closer than it was on Monday night. Standing on the other side of the field was Indiana, a program that had already won nine championships and played in 17 title games. In the end, fans and spectators alike were treated to one of the most memorable matches in recent times — with the Orange earning its first star after overcoming the Hoosiers on penalty kicks.

Syracuse had cemented itself as one of the country’s premier teams all season long, finishing with a record of 19-2-4. Eleven US Youth Soccer (USYS) alumni helped round out the talented Orange roster and will now be immortalized in Syracuse ­­history.

Nathan Opoku, the Orange’s leading scorer this season, delivered the first blow in this heavyweight matchup. His left-footed shot in the 24th minute was struck so perfectly that Indiana’s JT Harms could only stand and watch as it reached the top corner.

The Hoosiers responded not long after, something that’s become expected of a team with so much pedigree. Patrick McDonald’s first-time volley after an attempted Syracuse clearance stopped another keeper in their tracks, but this time it was the Orange’s Russell Shealy who was helpless.

Fueling more chaos into a frenzied first half, Curt Calov regained the lead for Syracuse just one minute later. Opoku again had a hand in the goal, providing an inviting cross that Calov poked into the back of the net.

Indiana, down 2-1, ramped up the pressure in the second half. It took until the 80th minute to get the tying goal, but Herbert Endeley, a former USYS National Championship Series (NCS) and Olympic Development Program (ODP) participant, fired off a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that found the top left corner.

Two of the best teams in the country were unable to separate themselves in overtime, sending the National Championship to penalty kicks. ODP alumnus Russell Shealy was the hero for Syracuse after saving Indiana’s final penalty, setting up Amferny Sinclair’s spot-kick to be the title winner (7-6).

The 2022 Men’s College Cup was full of talented rosters, intriguing storylines, and was highlighted by 48 US Youth Soccer alumni.

Creighton

  • Jake Ashford^*
  • Ryan Brakke^
  • Dominic Briggs~^
  • Jackson Castro~^
  • Liam Gilligan*
  • Sean Green~^
  • Andrew Karcher*
  • Duncan McGuire~^
  • Luke Mitchell*
  • Owen Nelson^*
  • Owen O’Malley~
  • Mark O’Neill^
  • Nathan Schnur^
  • Landon Sloan^*
  • Luke Waters^

Indiana

  • Herbert Endeley^*
  • Maouloune Goumballe^
  • JT Harms*
  • Karsen Henderlong^
  • Austin Himebaugh^
  • Lukas Hummel^
  • Cooper Johnsen*
  • Joey Maher*
  • Tommy Mihalic^
  • Daniel Munie^
  • Emerson Nieto^
  • Bryant Pratt~^
  • Jack Wagoner^
  • Ryan Wittenbrink~^
  • Grant Yeagley^

Pittsburgh

  • Noah Hall~^
  • Abraham Brown
  • Luis Sahmkow^
  • Josh Luchini~^*
  • Mateo Stoka*
  • Michael Sullivan^
  • Andrew Noel^

Syracuse

  • Stephen Betz^*
  • Lucas Daunhauer
  • Jackson Glenn*
  • Michal Gradus^
  • Camden Holrook~^
  • Jeorgio Kocevski*
  • Francesco Pagano^
  • Antonino Pagano^
  • Tony Shaw^*
  • Russell Shealy^
  • Gavin Wigg^

* – US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program

^ – US Youth Soccer National Championship Series

~ – US Youth Soccer National League

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.

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US Youth Soccer Statement On the Passing of Grant Wahl

Grant Wahl was an important voice in the soccer scene and a beloved figure. His positive impact on the game through his words will inspire today’s youth players to be tomorrow’s champions on and off the field of play. His passing is a tremendous loss. 

US Youth Soccer joins the sports community worldwide in offering condolences to his wife, Dr.  Céline Gounder, and all of Grant’s family and friends. 

While we will miss his keen insight into our beautiful game, we take solace that his legacy will remain part of the US soccer landscape.

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US Youth Soccer Celebrates 65 Alumnae in 2022 Women’s College Cup

FRISCO, Texas (Dec. 8, 2022) – UCLA’s stunning comeback over North Carolina during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship on Monday night earned the storied program its second National Championship in school history.

As the final whistle blew, the Bruins — and their 17 US Youth Soccer (USYS) alumnae — had cemented a place in the record books.

Avery Patterson, a former National League and Olympic Development Program (ODP) member, as well as a 2017 Southern Regional Champion, gave the Tar Heels a commanding lead after scoring two goals in the second half.

UCLA showed its mettle by answering back, with ODP alumna Sunshine Fontes providing the assist to Lexi Wright that started the comeback. Reilyn Turner, the 2016 USYS National Championships 13U Golden Ball winner, brought the two sides level in the game’s dying seconds with a header from a corner kick.

Maricarmen Reyes scored the winning goal for the Bruins in double overtime to cap off the historic win.

The 2022 NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament was a tremendous showing of the talent at the collegiate level, and US Youth Soccer saw 65 of its alumnae compete at the College Cup.

Alabama

  • Marianna Annest^*
  • Allie Berk*
  • Macy Clem^*
  • McKinley Crone*
  • Felicia Knox*
  • Leah Kunde*
  • Ellie Lanyi~
  • Dylan Pixton~^
  • Raiger Powell~^*
  • Reyna Reyes*
  • Bella Scaturro*
  • Ashlynn Serepca~^*
  • Gessica Skorka^
  • Brooke Steere^*
  • Riley Tanner~*
  • Sydney Vincens^

Florida State

  • Olivia Garcia~^*
  • Amelia Horton*
  • Olivia Lebadaoui*
  • Sophia Nguyen
  • Jenna Nighswonger*
  • Clara Robbins~*
  • Cristina Roque*
  • Kaitlyn Zipay^

UCLA

  • Jennifer Alvarado^
  • Lauren Brzykcy*
  • Janae Defazio~^*
  • Madelyn Desiano*
  • Emma Egizii*
  • Sunshine Fontes^*
  • Jordyn Gather^*
  • Ally Lemos*
  • Quincy McMahon^
  • Kelly McManus^*
  • Faith Nguyen*
  • Neeku Purcell*
  • Lilly Reale~*
  • Kali Trevithick*
  • Reilyn Turner^
  • Mackenzee Vance*
  • Ellie Walbruch^*

UNC

  • Sarah Bayer*
  • Maycee Bell*
  • Isabel Cox*
  • Maddie Dahlien*
  • Tori Dellaperuta^
  • Talia Dellaperuta~*
  • Tessa Dellarose ~^*
  • Makenna Dominguez^*
  • Julia Dorsey*
  • Emerson Elgin
  • Kate Faase*
  • Tori Hansen^
  • Kayleigh Herr*
  • Rachel Jones~^*
  • Marzia Josephson^*
  • Sam Meza~^
  • Libby Moore~^*
  • Avery Patterson~^*
  • Maggie Pierce*
  • Riley Quinlan~^
  • Nona Reason^*
  • Ally Sentnor~*
  • Maci Teater*
  • Paige Tolentino*

~ – US Youth Soccer National League

^ – US Youth Soccer NCS

* – US Youth Soccer ODP

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.

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US Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert Returns to Helm of ACES

FRISCO, Texas (Nov. 30, 2022) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) Chief Executive Officer Skip Gilbert is returning to his role as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Chief Executive Officers for Sport (ACES).

He succeeds USA Triathlon’s Rocky Harris, who recently stepped down to join the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as its Chief of Sport & Athlete Services. ACES CEO Rick Mack made the announcement earlier this month. Other ACES Board Members include:

  • Virginia Sung, USA Table Tennis (1st Vice Chair)
  • Amanda Kraus, US Rowing (2nd Vice Chair)
  • Michael Massik, National Strength and Conditioning Association (Treasurer)
  • Martin Palmaz, US Hang Gliding & Paragliding (Secretary).

Gilbert was a co-founder of the organization in 2008 while serving as the CEO of USA Triathlon and was ACES’ first-ever Chair. He will again lead a five-person board for the non-profit, which is comprised of CEOs and Executive Directors of USOPC National Governing Bodies (NGBs) as well national sport organizations, similar in scope.

“It is very exciting to have Skip back as our Board Chair,” said Mack. “Without his vision and leadership in supporting the creation of our organization nearly 15 years ago, we may not even exist today. His leadership roles in recent years, particularly in his current role as CEO of US Youth Soccer, make him an ideal leader of the ACES Board.”

The mission of ACES is to support and enhance the business interests of non-profit member sport organizations, share best practices, promote professional development, and formulate a collective voice on common issues. ACES features the following best practices groups, which include participation by USYS and other Member department heads:

  • Coaching Education
  • Events
  • Human Resources
  • Officiating
  • Public Relations & Communications
  • SafeSport
  • Women in Leadership
  • Membership

“It’s a privilege and an honor to return to this role and work alongside Rick and the other Board Members to best serve the needs of our ACES family and help fulfill our mission,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert will celebrate his third anniversary with USYS in January.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.

About ACES

The Association of Chief Executives for Sport (ACES) is a 501(c)(6) trade association comprised exclusively of CEOs and Executive Directors of non-profit sports governing bodies. The chief executives of most of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee recognized organizations are members of ACES, however, 20 of ACE’s 66 members lead organizations are outside of the Olympic & Paralympic Family.

ACES is a somewhat informal member networking and best practices organization focused on “members helping members.” This manifests itself in a variety of ways that include custom member surveys on a wide variety of topics, seven best practices groups that meet at least quarterly, regular meetings of the members every other month, and special meetings about hot topics.

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Fifteen US Youth Soccer Alumni Get Ready To Face Off In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

FRISCO, Texas (Nov. 17, 2022) – The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) will soon face its group to determine their fate in Qatar: Wales on Monday, November 21 at 1 PM CT, England on November 25 at 1 PM CT, and Iran on November 29 at 1 PM CT. 

US Youth Soccer (USYS) has a noticeable theme amongst those on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster, with 15 of the 26 (58%) having ties to USYS programs and its 54 State Associations.  

Most of the players on the squad, including DeAndre Yedlin, developed their skills as members of the USYS Olympic Development Program (ODP), the nation’s original player identification program that has continued its tradition of elite competition and player development for more than 30 years.  

Yedlin, a former US Youth Soccer ODP star and the only player on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster that has FIFA World Cup experience, is now the veteran after being the second youngest member on the 2014 roster. 

Walker Zimmerman, a top scorer in the 2009-2010 US Youth Soccer National League season, will aim to make a strong impression at his first World Cup. Zimmerman was selected by FC Dallas in 2013 as the seventh overall pick in the MLS (Major League Soccer) SuperDraft and has since appeared for the U.S. Men’s National Team 31 times since his debut in 2017.  

Jordan Morris, a former two-time top scorer in US Youth Soccer National League, became the first college player in 19 years to earn a cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team — and scored in his first international start against Mexico in 2015. 

U.S. Men’s National Team – 2022 World Cup Roster by Position 

GOALKEEPERS (3)

  • Ethan Horvath* 
  • Sean Johnson 
  • Matt Turner~ 

DEFENDERS (9)

  • Cameron Carter-Vickers 
  • Sergino Dest 
  • Aaron Long 
  • Shaq Moore* 
  • Tim Ream* 
  • Antonee Robinson 
  • Joe Scally*~ 
  • DeAndre Yedlin*_ 
  • Walker Zimmerman^ 

MIDFIELDERS (7)

  • Brenden Aaronson 
  • Kellyn Acosta*~ 
  • Tyler Adams~ 
  • Luca de la Torre 
  • Weston McKennie*~ 
  • Yunus Musah 
  • Cristian Roldan 

FORWARDS (7)

  • Jesus Ferreira~ 
  • Jordan Morris^_ 
  • Christian Pulisic 
  • Gio Reyna~_ 
  • Josh Sargent 
  • Tim Weah~ 
  • Haji Wright* 

* – US Youth Soccer ODP

^ – US Youth Soccer National League

~ – US Youth Soccer State Associations

_ – US Youth Soccer National Championship Series

  

For more information on US Youth Soccer’s alumni, click  here. 

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. 

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US Youth Soccer’s 2022 National Award Winners Announced

FRISCO, Texas (Nov. 11, 2022) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) announced today its 10 national award winners. The national selections were chosen from the 2022 regional award winners, revealed last week.

Each individual will be celebrated at US Youth Soccer’s 2023 awards event, “The Ball,” formerly known as the Awards Gala. In addition to recognizing the national award winners, USYS will also honor the 2022 Dr. Thomas Fleck Award recipient and the 2022 US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame class.

The Ball will be held Friday, January 13, 2023, in Philadelphia, in conjunction with the USYS Workshop at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

Administrator of the Year
NameState Association
Sheila EifertOhio
Boys Competitive Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Constance SmithNorth Texas
Boys Recreation Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Stephen De GaravillaMassachusetts
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Roger FriedmanVirginia
Girls Recreation Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Matthew HeerenMissouri
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year
NameState Association
Zoe LamWyoming
TOPSoccer Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Lin HurleyFlorida
Volunteer of the Year
NameState Association
Jason TargoffMassachusetts
Young Female Referee of the Year
NameState Association
Rebecca GreenbergFlorida
Young Male Referee of the Year
NameState Association
Dylan MillspaughNorth Texas

For more information on The Ball, click here.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

US Youth Soccer’s 2022 Regional Award Winners Announced

FRISCO, Texas (Nov. 3, 2022) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) is pleased to announce that the 2022 regional winners have been chosen for its 10 annual awards.

Each regional winner is now a nominee for the national award. The national winners will be announced later in November and celebrated at the 2023 US Youth Soccer awards event, “The Ball,” held on January 13, 2023, in conjunction with the USYS Workshop at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia.

Administrator of the Year
NameState Association
Nan BeckVirginia
Sheila EifertOhio
Tegan CorrieAlabama
Logan HoffmanOregon
Boys Competitive Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Frankie PampinEastern New York
Gabe WortmanSouth Dakota
Constance SmithNorth Texas
John McCallaOregon
Boys Recreation Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Stephen De GaravillaMassachusetts
Michael HoltWisconsin
Mallory PrassenosMississippi
Ross BolfOregon
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Roger FriedmanVirginia
Joe TaylorIllinois
Luis ZuazuaNorth Texas
Justin NajakaNew Mexico
Girls Recreation Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Guy Tassinari, Ryan Osterlind, and Laura DobleMassachusetts
Matt HeerenMissouri
Daniel SummerallMississippi
Michelle CanniciOregon
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year
NameState Association
Lauren ShewardDelaware
Riley SchimanskiIllinois
Amie DonathonNorth Texas
Zoe LamWyoming
TOPSoccer Coach of the Year
NameState Association
Kristin WikolDelaware
Mark SwinleyMichigan
Lin HurleyFlorida
Katie GitthensWyoming
Volunteer of the Year
NameState Association
Jason TargoffMassachusetts
Jason GreubelIowa
Abbie CravenNorth Texas
Christy LaFontNew Mexico
Young Female Referee of the Year
NameState Association
Audrey DeutschWest Virginia
Julia TsarovskyWisconsin
Rebecca GreenbergFlorida
Abigail DirksArizona
Young Male Referee of the Year
NameState Association
Luca BracalentiEastern Pennsylvania
Adam FestianMichigan
Dylan MillspaughNorth Texas
Cooper BeggsNew Mexico

For more information on The Ball, click here.

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

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19 US Youth Soccer Alumnae Win 2022 NWSL Championship with Portland Thorns

FRISCO, Texas (Oct. 29, 2022) – The 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with the Portland Thorns winning their third championship in the league’s decade of existence, overcoming the Kansas City Current 2-0.

US Youth Soccer (USYS) was a noticeable theme amongst those on the Thorns’ roster, with 19 of the 26 (73%) having ties to USYS programs. 2014 Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Training Camp participant Sophia Smith, who became the youngest player to ever win the NWSL regular-season MVP award, was also chosen as the championship’s MVP after opening the scoring in the fourth minute.

Crystal Dunn, a mainstay of the United States Women’s National Team since 2013, won her third NWSL Championship in five years after winning two with the North Carolina Courage. Dunn was a five-year member of ODP’s Region I squad and also competed in US Youth Soccer’s National Championship Series Region I Championships.

Becky Sauerbrunn, a former ODP Thanksgiving Interregional participant and another longtime USWNT member, also won her third NWSL Championship. Sauerbrunn won her first two while playing with the now-defunct FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015.

Portland Thorns Roster by Position

Keepers (3):

  • Bella Bixby*
  • Shelby Hogan
  • Abby Smith*~^

Defenders (8):

  • Natalie Beckman*
  • Kelli Hubly*­­
  • Meghan Klingenberg*
  • Natalia Kuikka
  • Tegan McGrady*
  • Emily Menges^
  • Meaghan Nally^
  • Becky Sauerbrunn*^

Midfielders (8):

  • Sam Coffey*
  • Crystal Dunn*^
  • Olivia Moultrie*
  • Taylor Porter
  • Gabby Provenzano^
  • Rocky Rodriguez
  • Yazmeen Ryan*^
  • Hina Sugita

Forwards (7):

  • Janine Beckie*^
  • Hannah Betfort^
  • Marissa Everett^
  • Christine Sinclair
  • Sophia Smith*
  • Michele Vasconcelos
  • Morgan Weaver*

* – US Youth Soccer ODP

~ – US Youth Soccer National League

^ – US Youth Soccer National Championship Series

For more information on US Youth Soccer’s alumni, click here.

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

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US Youth Soccer and Veo Partner Up

FRISCO, Texas (October 20, 2022) – US Youth Soccer is joining forces with Danish sports technology company Veo Technologies to offer its members — more than 10,000 clubs and millions of players — groundbreaking technology.

Founded in 2015, Veo Technologies is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a a renowned industry member. It has developed an intelligent sports camera platform that enables sports teams of all levels to record and stream matches automatically in high-definition, alongside an analytics platform that allows users to analyze their games and share highlights.

“US Youth Soccer is thrilled to partner with Veo Technologies — the ultimate soccer camera,” said USYS CEO Skip Gilbert. “Veo’s technology and global success furthers a key part of our mission — to bring world-class support and resources to the US Youth Soccer family, helping fulfill their goals on and off the field.”

The League Exchange between USYS and Veo Technologies is a landmark agreement that will bring the Danish company’s trademark sports technology and innovation to the largest youth soccer organization in the country for the benefit of millions of members. US Youth Soccer has a commitment to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership to its network of teams, coaches, and players — and this partnership represents a unique opportunity to amplify a successful path for every member.

“We are incredibly humbled and privileged,” said Veo Technologies Founded and CEO Henrik Teisbæk. “This partnership is the perfect example of Veo’s commitment to make state-of-the-art sports technology as accessible as possible. We are so excited at the prospect of so many teams, players, coaches, families, and communities benefiting from our technology to maximize their enjoyment and development of the sport of soccer.”

You can get the newest Veo camera at an affordable price with a US Youth Soccer discount. Read more about the partnership details and the special offer here.

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About Veo Technologies

Founded in 2015 by Henrik Teisbæk and Jesper Taxbøl, Veo Technologies is a Danish sports technology company with offices in Copenhagen, Miami and London — with 220 employees in eight countries. Veo is currently used by more than 15,000 clubs in 80 countries, and passed a milestone one million recorded matches this past March. Veo Technologies’ hardware and software is created, designed, and developed at its headquarters in Copenhagen.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

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Where Has Team Gone?

The following article was written by US Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert

Part of my role as CEO of one of the largest youth sport organizations in the US is to recognize trends in the marketplace and adapt our current slate of programming to best support the needs of tomorrow’s players today. That might sound odd but we must anticipate what the sport will look like in the future and how we will support players, coaches, referees, and families. By adapting now, we will be ahead of the curve, increasing the overall development pipeline while creating an environment that will keep kids playing the game throughout their teenage years and becoming fans for life.

One emerging trend that could have significant impact across our sport is what I call the de-escalation of a team ethic. When you watch sports highlights and listen to stories from other sports, the attention is so focused on the individual player, the danger is that the underlying responsibility to the team could potentially now take a backseat.

Perhaps I’m showing my age but I learned years ago that there was “no ‘I’ in team.” We pushed our teammates, we supported our teammates and no matter what, we won as a team and we lost as a team. I have been interviewed many times throughout my career and I often say that much of my professional focus and success is what I learned from being a goalkeeper. Being able to see the entire game play out in front of me, reading how the opposing team builds an attack, positioning our team to defend and being the start to our offensive challenges. It had nothing to do with my individual performance on the field.

To support that narrative, USYS is taking steps to highlight the benefits of team play and the character development team sports like soccer can offer. The examples are hard to miss.

Let’s start at the younger age-groups. While a select few U8 or U9 players are being recruited to play in elite leagues with the sales pitch that players need a higher level of professional coaching, travel schedules and top-line apparel to get that D1 scholarship, a vast majority of our players depend on volunteer coaches, young referees learning their craft and parents verbally supporting the great plays on the field. It’s these stories that we need to constantly promote to ensure that soccer becomes a passion-point for these players. It becomes part of their lifestyle and they want to play right into and through adulthood.

As players move up in age-groups, we see a select few families that will switch clubs and then switch clubs again looking to find that team and/or a coach that will place their daughter/son in a starting position with the promise they will excel. Some have suggested that the pay-to-play model is to blame for this behavior. Because of the skyrocketing costs and travel commitments to play at an elite level, families now believe that they have every right to hold everyone accountable. If their daughter/son doesn’t get the spotlight, the glory, and the visibility to the next level of the sport, the grass has to be greener at the next stop.

But for most parents, they support the dedication of the players to one team. They see friendships develop that will last a lifetime, they trust the guidance and instructional mentoring from the coach and the camaraderie of the other parents cheering for the wins and consoling for the loss. The result is there is a significant value to the rewards earned as a team, or the desire and excitement to emulate their peers that previously had won State Cups, Regional Championships or National Championships. 

Yes, we all know those parents and families that are constantly looking for something better. It’s a fear that a player is not in the right league, at the right event, or with a team/club to get them to the next level in college and/or beyond. Moving forward, we see new technology to make a players’ game footage and data accessible to every college coach/scout. One of the upsides of this technological trend is it will reduce the cost on everyone involved, it will reduce some of the fear, it will stabilize clubs and stop players from jumping from one club to another under the promise of being given access to an event no one else gets to play in.

With this in mind, USYS has doubled down on its commitment to the team ethic. At the elite level, we have our USYS National Championship Series. More than 10,000 teams enter and by summer’s end, only 14 age-group teams will be able to say they are National Champions. Soccer is first and foremost a team sport. Those teams have earned their place by winning. Not by paying a simple registration fee that anyone could submit. No, they entered a season-long competition. They train hard, they play hard, they prove their capabilities and some, not all of them, will win. Win or lose, those players should be celebrated, they should be rewarded, they should be proud of their collective efforts.

For individual players, we continue to promote our Olympic Development Program (ODP). ODP has been around since the 1970s and has provided a dynamic pathway to greater on-field success for the elite or emerging elite player. I for one, am a product of the ODP success. This year, we are replacing our ODP National Camps with game competition, taking the older players to Dallas Cup and the younger ones to the Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup. This again, takes the great individual player and puts them right back into a real team test. It should be exciting.

This story is not to say that only National Champions or ODP players deserve to be recruited to the next level of competitive play. There are just too many great players out there that deserve to go to the next level. But as stewards of the game and because our vision as a non-profit sport development association states that we should “bring communities together through the power of soccer, making lifelong fans of the game,” our focus must be on the integrity of the game, the success of players through the game, and a commitment to ensure that players, coaches, and parents respect the game.

Some of the above, of course, focuses on the elite player. But what about the vast majority of players that are there for fun? Our commitment is the same. We created League America Festivals for each State Association to bring a dynamic on-and off-field experience ideally suited for any level of player. We are increasing our focus on short-sided curriculum to provide options to players of all ages and skill. And most important, we launched USYS University to provide an incredible resource center of content to support the entire USYS Family on and off the field of play.

USYS last year launched National League P.R.O. — focused on individual teams, this year we launched Elite 64 — focused on the club model. Combined, we have more than 120,000 of the best players in the country playing within the USYS National League. The rationale for what we do between our National League and our National Championship Series is to provide a forum that tests all players to come together to help their team win.

Within each State Association, we collectively support another 2-plus million soccer players that are playing for fun or simply beginning their journey with the greatest sport in the world. We’ve created a League America concept so that all players of any skill level can come together, to be a part of something bigger, to play under one unified umbrella, creating the largest youth soccer league in the world. We’ve tested a skills competition with New Jersey Youth Soccer to great success and are attempting to bring that concept to communities all around the country.

USYS may not do everything right. But by staying true to our vision and our mission of providing “world-class resources, support and leadership, helping every member to fulfill their goals on and off the field of play,” we will remove the “I” now being seen across too many team sports and ensure that every child that wants to play soccer receives a true team experience for all to enjoy today and for the rest of their life.

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