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EIGHTEEN USYS ALUMNAE FUEL SOCCER GOLD MEDAL WIN AT PARIS OLYMPICS 

PARIS (Aug. 10, 2024) – The United States Women’s National Team added to its record number of soccer gold medals Saturday afternoon in Paris, earning its fifth in Olympic Games history with a 1-0 win over Brazil at the famed Parc des Princes. The victory marked the third time (2004 and 2008) the Stars and Stripes have beaten the Seleção in a gold medal match. 

Two US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) alumnae – Korbin Albert and Mallory Swanson — combined to break the deadlock in the 57th minute, with Swanson’s fourth goal of the Olympics being her most important. Albert split the Brazilian defense with a pass that found Swanson and put her through on goal, with a clinical finish slotted in the far corner being the contest’s lone score. 

The United States’ roster of 18 featured USYS heavily, with 17 of the players – including Albert and Swanson – as well as head coach Emma Hayes, having ties to the largest youth sport organization in the country. 

US Youth Soccer Alumnae 

  • Casey Murphy – Olympic Development Program and National Championship Series 
  • Alyssa Naeher – Olympic Development Program 
  • Emily Fox – National League and Olympic Development Program 
  • Naomi Girma – Olympic Development Program 
  • Casey Krueger – Olympic Development Program 
  • Jenna Nighswonger – Olympic Development Program 
  • Emily Sonnett – National League and Olympic Development Program 
  • Korbin Albert – Olympic Development Program 
  • Sam Coffey – Olympic Development Program 
  • Lindsey Horan – Olympic Development Program 
  • Rose Lavelle – National League and Olympic Development Program 
  • Crystal Dunn – Olympic Development Program 
  • Trinity Rodman – National Championship Series 
  • Sophia Smith – Olympic Development Program 
  • Mallory Swanson – Olympic Development Program 
  • Jaedyn Shaw – National Championship Series 
  • Lynn Williams – National Championship Series 

Throughout its triumphant six-game run in Paris, the United States’ balanced roster – led by former regional USYS ODP coach Hayes – stood out on the world stage. Its defense, anchored by Olympic Development Program alumnae Naeher, Dunn, Girma, and Fox, earned four clean sheets, including one during every stage of the knockout rounds. With an impenetrable backline behind them, the United States’ front three of Rodman, Smith, and Swanson put the finishing touches on each opponent, with the US Youth Soccer alumnae combining for 10 goals during the event. 

For Dunn, Naeher and Horan, the Paris Olympics marked their third time representing the Stars and Stripes at the Olympic Games after previously competing in Rio and Tokyo. Horan is the current team captain. 

– USYS – 

About 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. 

INDIANA SOCCER REFEREES EARN THEIR SELECTIONS TO THE 2024 US SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN ORLANDO

Congratulations and thank you to the Indiana Soccer referees who earned their selections to the 2024 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Orlando. Your selections are a testament to your hard work and the positive steps our Indiana Soccer Referees are taking. Thank you Salem Abufares, Donald Williams, Blake Gibson, Rogelio Alvarez, Adrian Orciuch, Dana Hackney and Brian Alvarez!

We also are excited to congratulate Brian Alvarez for receiving a center assignment and Dana Hackney for her AR2 assignment at the Boys 16U Championship game.

FOUR INDIANA SOCCER TEAMS REACH SEMI-FINALS AT THE US YOUTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to these four Indiana Soccer teams who have reached the semifinals at the US Youth National Championships.  FW United 08G Elite 64 (G16U) needed a tie to earn their spot and did so 1-1. FW United 05/06G Elite 64 (G19U) finished group play with a 2-3 loss but were already through. Hoosier FC 2007 Elite Wolves I (B17U) were already through but finished with a 3-0 victory. Indiana Fire 2005B NL (B19U) needed a win to advance and secured a spot in the semi with a 2–0 victory! Congratulations to all the Indiana Soccer teams and best of luck in your semifinal games this coming Saturday. 

Ft Wayne United 08G Elite 64 

Indiana Fire 2005B NL

Hoosier FC 2007 Elite Wolves I 

Ft Wayne United 05/06G Elite 64 

US Youth Soccer Selects Indiana Referee Erin Paterson To A Select Group of Referees That Will Travel To England

FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 13, 2024) – For the first time, US Youth Soccer (USYS) will bring a select group of referees on an international trip to England.

Sixteen officials, selected across all four regions of the country, will head overseas from March 1-9 alongside the Olympic Development Program’s Regional Select Teams for a one-of-a-kind opportunity in London. The following referees were chosen based on long-term officiating service and dedication provided to US Youth Soccer.

  • Lauren Aldrich (Louisiana)
  • Evan BarneR (Michigan)
  • Sean Conlee (Virginia)
  • Jordan Downs (Utah)
  • Marie Durr (Maryland)
  • Donovan Eubank (Tennessee)
  • Miklos Hendricks (Ohio)
  • Jake Joyce (Florida)
  • Albert Kyei-Mensah (Arkansas)
  • Patricia McCracken (Colorado)
  • Erin Paterson (Indiana)
  • Shevah Rezaee (Georgia)
  • Emily Rosenkranz (Arizona)
  • Laszlo Sandler (Eastern New York)
  • Anthony Sobolevsky (Kansas)
  • Bowen Taylor (Colorado)

WorldStrides, the nation’s largest educational travel company, curated the referee-laden group’s itinerary to amplify the experience for those traveling abroad. Throughout the trip, the officials will explore the historic city of London, observe professional training sessions, attend professional soccer matches, and have a guided visit to Stamford Bridge, home of the storied Chelsea Football Club.

“I could not be more excited to help facilitate this upcoming trip for these 16 aspiring officials,” said Daniel Radford, USYS Senior Manager of Referees. “When I was in their shoes, I was one of the lucky ones who was able to go abroad with a youth national team for this kind of experience. Two decades later — on behalf of US Youth Soccer — I’m honored to be able to bring this back full circle.”

In addition to Radford, USYS’ National Referee Administrator, Ryan Cigich and Director of Competition & Event Operations Chris Webb are largely responsible for the trip’s programming.

“It is really exciting to see the work being done at US Youth Soccer,” said Dan Meeson, the English Football Association’s Head of Refereeing. “The English FA is delighted to welcome the group here. We are hopeful that the games, development opportunities, and experiences planned will serve the officials well in the future as they continue to progress.”

-USYS-

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.

USYS National League Introduces Enhanced Format for National Events

2023) — The US Youth Soccer National League is excited to introduce an evolved competition format and pathway for its national events, beginning in the 2023-24 seasonal year.

The new national event pathway will allow the very best teams from the National League’s club-based and team-based leagues to come together in a common, unified pathway. Every team attending national events will compete in meaningful games, with the ability to ultimately advance to the USYS National Championships.

“We cannot wait for the players and teams to experience the excitement and competitive atmosphere that will come with the enhanced competition format and pathway provided at our national events,” said Simon Collins, National League Commissioner. “We have listened to feedback from teams and clubs, and we’re confident this will lead to more meaningful games and a great atmosphere that will be even more appealing to all in attendance, including college coaches and scouts.”

Regular season league play — in the National League Conferences and Elite 64 — will provide teams with advancement into the national event pathway, beginning with either the Conference Playoffs or the Elite 64 Playoffs.

Based on performances at either the Conference Playoffs or the Elite 64 Playoffs, teams in the 14U-18/19U age groups will advance to National League P.R.O., where Conference teams and Elite 64 teams will compete against each other for the opportunity to qualify for the USYS National Championships.

Under this new format for national events, National League teams will enjoy several benefits of the evolved competition that enhance their overall experience:

  • Every regular season league game, whether in the Conferences or Elite 64, continues to be meaningful, as regular season performances determine qualification and placement into the national events.
  • Any time a team travels to a national event, it is guaranteed to play meaningful games with the chance to ultimately advance to the USYS National Championships.
  • Based on performance at its respective Playoff event, each advancing team is placed into an appropriate pool at its National League P.R.O. event — increasing the likelihood of all games being competitive and evenly-matched.
  • The 18U and 19U age groups will be combined across all National League competitions — creating more flexibility and a higher, more consistent competitive level in a combined 18/19U age group.
  • Each national event will feature either group or pool winners and encourage players to compete with a focus on team success.
  • A competitive environment with meaningful matches provides an ideal setting for college coaches and scouts to evaluate players.

More information on gameplay formats at the national events will be available later this spring.

All national events will be scheduled to reduce high school soccer conflicts, when possible. The Conference Playoffs will take place in early December, and teams advancing out of the Conference Playoffs will be assigned to one of two National League P.R.O. events — taking place in either late February or early May.

Half of the Elite 64 teams will attend an Elite 64 Playoff event in early November, with advancing teams moving on to the National League P.R.O. event in early May. The other half of Elite 64 teams will attend the Elite 64 Playoff event in mid-to-late January, with advancing teams moving on to the National League P.R.O. event in late February. All dates are subject to change.

Elite 64 teams in the 13U age group will not advance beyond the Elite 64 Playoffs.

In addition to the national events, all teams in the Conferences and Elite 64 will continue to have access to National League Regional Showcases. More Regional Showcase options are expected to be added in the coming season, allowing teams with additional opportunities to play showcase games closer to their home markets and prospective local college programs.

For more information on the Conferences, click here.

For more information on Elite 64, click here.

US Youth Soccer Announces Locations for Future Midwest and Far West Regional Events

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FRISCO, Texas (April 21, 2023) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) is happy to announce future regional host locations for two of its longstanding events — National Championship Series and Presidents Cup — in the Midwest and Far West regions.

  • 2024 Midwest Presidents Cup: Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • 2024 and 2025 Midwest Regional Championships: Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex in Olathe, Kansas and Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kansas
  • 2024 Far West Presidents Cup: Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah
  • 2024 Far West Regional Championships: Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex in Honolulu, Hawaii

2024 will mark a special milestone for US Youth Soccer as the largest youth soccer organization in the country will celebrate  its 50th anniversary. It also marks a return to the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex — which has hosted the USYS National Championships on three separate occasions — and the Yankton Trail Park, Regional Athletic Complex, and Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex, which each hosted regional events in past years. For the Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex, the Midwest Regional Championships will be the first US Youth Soccer events held at the facility since it opened in 2019. Each location will add to USYS’ special events and enhance the experience for the US Youth Soccer family, including the players, parents, referees, and volunteers.

The Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex and Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, which will share the Midwest Regional Championships, offer nine and 12 state of the art fields, respectively, while the larger Regional Athletic Complex (16), Yankton Trail Park (21), and Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex (21) will offer their renowned facilities while serving as sole host sites.

“As US Youth Soccer celebrates its 50th anniversary, I couldn’t think of a more impressive lineup of hosts to help support our elite competitions,” said USYS CEO Skip Gilbert. “It’s not just great complexes that create moments in the lives of our players, coaches, referees, and families, but it’s the entire experience on and off the field. We look forward to working with our hosts to build those great memories for some of the best teams in the country.”

US Youth Soccer’s National Championship Series and Presidents Cup remain a significant source of revenue for local economies due to the influx of people they bring to the area. Each event will field more than 125 teams, bringing more than 4,000 people to each area and generating an estimated economic impact of $4,200,000 across each city.

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.

US Youth Soccer Awards Grants for TOPSoccer Programs

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FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 14, 2023) – US Youth Soccer (USYS) announced today that $100,000 in grants was awarded as part of its support for TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) programs across the country.

Grant funds were allocated to 66 recipient organizations, including 16 USYS State Associations and 50 local clubs. In total, grants were awarded to clubs and organizations within 32 different US Youth Soccer State Associations.

“Our vision is to bring communities together through the power of soccer, making lifelong fans of the sport,” said USYS CEO Skip Gilbert. “This is only effectively done when including every child with a disability that wants to play the game. The grant program is but one step to move TOPSoccer to a position where it fully supports the disabled player — and we’re proud to be able to do so.”

Applications for the grants, which included requests for items such as soccer balls, goals, and more specialized equipment such as parachutes, sound cancelling headphones, and sensory toys, were submitted and reviewed by US Youth Soccer. Recipients were selected and grants were awarded to lower barriers that state and local programs face when bringing the sport to children who are too often left on the sidelines.

“I am very pleased with the work our TOPSoccer Committee has done to award these grants,” said US Youth Soccer Board Secretary Thomas Sowinski. “Providing the grants has a direct and immediate impact on the investment of TOPSoccer at the grassroots level. USYS is committed to providing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities across our 54 State Associations and these grants are a part of that overall effort.”

TOPSoccer is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive.

For more information on US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer, 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 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.