Grassroots

Soccer is more than a game. The Soccer for Success program uses soccer to improve children’s physical and mental health and overall well-being in underserved communities.

For more information, click here.

By uniting traditional soccer clubs, leagues, and associations with nonprofits that use soccer as a tool to positively impact the lives of young people and families in their communities, the soccer community has developed actionable steps, plans, and processes to reduce the barrier of entry to quality soccer programming.

Check back soon for more information on the 2027 Grassroots Symposium.

Help us celebrate Youth Soccer Month all September long! Each week focuses on a different theme — fun, family, friendship, and fitness.

By joining the celebration for Youth Soccer Month, you’ll…

• Raise awareness for soccer.
• Emphasize soccer as the number one youth participation sport in America — and a leading contributor to the healthy lifestyle of millions of families.
• Bring kids and families of all ages and abilities together for fun, friendship, and fitness.
• Highlight the various programs available to children interested in playing soccer, including inner-city, disabled, recreational, and elite youth soccer.

Anyone can spread the message about their positive experiences with youth soccer. Share your celebrations with us on social media, enter our giveaways to win great prizes, and get involved with your local communities.

US Youth Soccer continues to research soccer programming to identify the best playing environments that take a player-centered approach to advance player development. The goal of the Game Format Project is to support member clubs with the resources they need to apply a new game format to their U5 and U6 recreation age groups. Utilizing research from Europe and U.S. Soccer’s pilot program, this project shifts these age groups to a format that focuses on smaller fields with games of 2v2 or 3v3. Participating clubs can select the game format they would like to implement based on researched-informed recommendations for field size, team size, length of games, restarts, etc. By using smaller fields, larger goals, multiple goals, and smaller numbers of players, this new format supports greater individual skill development and decision-making.

2026-2027 Participants

• Pea Ridge Thunder Soccer Club (Arkansas Soccer Association)
• Attack Youth Soccer Club (Georgia Soccer)
• Harris County Soccer Association (Georgia Soccer)
• North Georgia Athletic Foundation (Georgia Soccer)
• Piedmont Soccer Academy (Georgia Soccer)
• Toombs County Soccer Association (Georgia Soccer)
• Youth Soccer Club of East Columbus (Georgia Soccer)
• Daviess County Youth Soccer Association (Kentucky Youth Soccer Association)
• Bayou Soccer Club (Louisiana Soccer Association)
• Jambalaya Soccer Academy (Louisiana Soccer Association)
• Four Corners Youth Soccer League (New Mexico Youth Soccer Association)
• Los Alamos Youth Soccer League (New Mexico Youth Soccer Association)
• Roswell Youth Soccer Association (New Mexico Youth Soccer Association)
• Taos Youth Soccer League (New Mexico Youth Soccer Association)
• Eleftheria Pancyprian Soccer Club (Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association)
• La Finca Futbol (Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association)
• Westchester Elite Soccer (Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association)
• Elk City Soccer Club (Oklahoma Soccer Association)
• Sporting Oklahoma (Oklahoma Soccer Association)
• Western Oklahoma FC (Oklahoma Soccer Association)
• Yankton Youth Soccer Association (South Dakota Youth Soccer Association)
• Gillette Soccer Club (Wyoming Soccer Association)
• RS Avengers Soccer Club (Wyoming Soccer Association)
• Sublette United (Wyoming Soccer Association)
• Western Nebraska Football Club (Wyoming Soccer Association)

This initiative was funded in part by U.S. Soccer’s Innovate to Grow grant. BazookaGoal is the official equipment partner of the Game Format Project and provides participating clubs with goals and equipment to support small-sided fields. Each club commits to implementing the model over two seasons of play and provides coach and parent feedback at the end of each season.  Coaches in these age groups are also provided with educational resources via membership to USYS University powered by etrainu and access to the USYS National Curriculum via MOJO.

Why This Project?

Research in the United States and Europe has shown the 2v2 and 3v3 game formats allow players to have more touches on the ball than 4v4 or 5v5. The smaller fields and fewer players allow individuals to be involved in each game more. This creates more 1v1 opportunities and chances to develop individual skills. The use of multiple goals increases scoring chances and allows for additional decision-making. The use of a larger central goal allows for more scoring as well. Furthermore, when a ball goes out of bounds, clubs can choose to restart the play with a dribble/kick-in option or a “new ball” from the coach. The dribble/kick-in option challenges players to decide how the ball should enter the pitch based on what space they see. The “new ball” from the coach allows the coach to pass to players based on the player’s needs. A coach can pass to a player who has not touched the ball or play to a player who may have just made a mistake and needs to get another chance. Research in several countries has shown that players’ enjoyment increased with touches on the ball and opportunities to score. In addition, in the United States’ pilot program, parents’ perception of their child’s experience with soccer was more positive when participating in the new format.

Sideline Resource Link | Game Facilitator Resource Link

Clubs interested in applying for the project can reach out to Chris Bentley.

Soccer Forward’s Resource Hub is a free bank of tried and tested approaches, tools, and learning resources to help coaches, clubs, and program leaders grow the game and strengthen communities. 

Explore tools, models, and curricula designed to strengthen soccer in schools and communities.