Youth National Affiliates (Members of USSF)
US Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the United States and the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation. US Youth Soccer develops and administers recreational and competitive programs for all levels of skill and offers special programs for disabled and underprivileged players. Giving special emphasis to competitive players, US Youth Soccer offers national championships in several age categories for both boys and girls and supports the national Olympic Development Program.
Recognized as a leader in youth sports, the national business of US Youth Soccer is conducted by a nine-member Board of Directors and is made up of 55 member State Associations - one in each state, and two in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. The various states are then grouped together to form 4 Regions. South Carolina is in Region III along with the following 11 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas North, & Texas South. This structure allows US Youth Soccer to provide uniform rules and guidelines to facilitate intra-state, inter-state, and international competition.
Founded in 1974, US Youth Soccer is non-profit and educational organization whose mission is to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition.
US Youth Soccer is a nationwide body of over 600,000 volunteers and administrators, and over 300,000 dedicated coaches, most of who also are volunteers. US Youth Soccer registers over 3.2 million youth players between the ages of five and nineteen.
US Youth Soccer annually hosts the US Youth Soccer Workshop – the largest event of its kind for youth sports in North America. The Workshop features more than 90 educational workshops and demonstrations for administrators, coaches, referees, parents, and soccer enthusiasts with over 200 exhibitors displaying the latest soccer equipment, technology, apparel, fundraising ideas and more.
Note: As a member of SCYSA you are a member of US Youth Soccer.
Other National Youth Soccer Organizations include:
US Club Soccer - www.usclubsoccer.org
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization committed to the support and development of competitive soccer clubs. It is founded on the belief that soccer clubs, which are in the business of elite player development, need an organization of their own to foster growth, address concerns, and sanction and provide programs with a minimum of rules and restrictions.
Note: There are a few clubs in SC that are registered with US Club Soccer (they are also registered with SCYSA and therefore US Youth Soccer). At present no Spartanburg clubs are registered with US Club Soccer.
American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) – www.soccer.org
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was established in the Los Angeles area in 1964 with nine teams. It was the dream of a group of devoted soccer enthusiasts who started the organization in a garage. Today, AYSO has more than 50,000 teams and more than 650,000 players. It also employs 50 people at its National Support and Training Center in Hawthorne, California.
Over the years, AYSO has created many valuable programs and concepts. Most notably, AYSO revolutionized youth sports with its "Everyone Plays" and "BalancedTeams" philosophies. In AYSO, each child who registers is guaranteed to play at least half of every game. To help create evenly matched games, all AYSO players are placed on new or "balanced" teams each year. These decisions are made based on each player’s skill level and the overall ability of the team.
Note: I believe Spartanburg AYSO is the only AYSO organization in the state of South Carolina. See www.soccer.org/about/structure
The Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) was formed to provide an organization within which children could learn and play soccer, the world’s most popular sport. The fact that any size player can be successful at the game and the modest expense required to field a team, make it possible for many children to participate in organized competition.
Note: I am not aware of any South Carolina organization that is affiliated with SAY
