Soccer For Kids

The US Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) is the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body for soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer is made up of 55 member State Associations; one in each state, and two in California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. US Youth Soccer registers over 3,000,000 youth players between the ages of five and nineteen.

US Youth Soccer is non-profit & 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. The job is also to make it fun, and instill in young players a lifelong passion for the sport.

From its humble beginnings in 1974 with just more than 100,000 registered players to its current registration of more than 3 million, US Youth Soccer has always been recognized as a leader in youth sports organizations. Through a democratic structure, the membership of US Youth Soccer is able to provide uniform rules and guidelines.

The US Youth Soccer membership is divided into four regions, each with a Director elected to the board. The regions are essentially East (Region I), Midwest (Region II), South (Region III) and West (Region IV). Each State Association has a Board of Directors, elected by delegates from their member leagues, clubs or teams.

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.

Program Description History
In 1979 the program expanded, the organization became more efficient and multi-year plans were developed. State Associations were encouraged to develop programs which supported and worked in tandem with National and Regional programs. At the beginning of 1982 a formalized program for girls was created, with the addition of a full committee (one member from each Region).

Current Organization
From 1982 until the present, international events for youth national teams have increased substantially and the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program has kept pace by instituting trials and player pools for five age groups in the boys' program, and five age groups in the girls' program.

The US Youth Soccer ODP Selection Process
Each State Association holds ODP try-outs on an annual basis. Age Groups and try-out dates may be different from state to state, based on seasonal and state considerations. Your first contact should be to your State Association for try-out information.

How are Players Selected?
Players are selected, in most states, on the basis of open tryouts. These tryouts are conducted by state association coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Some state associations combine scouting techniques and invitations to certain players with the open tryouts. Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association head coach or State Coach will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches from the club or league level. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:
Technique
Tactics
Fitness and Athletic Ability
Psychological Component (attitude)

What are Regional Camps?
US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions, each which offers a regional camp for state association ODP teams in each eligible age group. The camps are designed to provide high level competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for possible national team camp, pool, or team participation. Each region varies somewhat as to the specifics and the cost of their camps. Your state association or regional administrator should be contacted for more information.

What is a National Camp?
National Camps and Interregional events are held throughout the year at various locations in the United States. The National Team Coach or a National Staff Coach is present at these events to observe, train, and indentify players for placement in the national pool or on a national team.

What are the Benefits of Participating in US Youth Soccer ODP?
Development as a player. The opportunity to train and play with the best player's in one's age group.
Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
Quality competition. Games against other state association ODP teams.
Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
The opportunity to represent one's state, region, or country in competition.
Exposure to college coaches.

US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Website!

Alabama Youth Soccer Association

Alaska State Youth Soccer Association

Arizona Youth Soccer Association

Arkansas State Soccer Association

California Youth Soccer Association - North

California Youth Soccer Association - South

Colorado State Youth Soccer Association

Connecticut Junior Soccer Association

Delaware Youth Soccer Association

Florida Youth Soccer Association

Georgia Youth Soccer Association

Hawaii Youth Soccer Association

Idaho Youth Soccer Association

Illinois Youth Soccer Association

Indiana Youth Soccer Association

Iowa State Youth Soccer Association

Kansas State Youth Soccer Association

Kentucky Youth Soccer Association

Louisiana Soccer Association

Maryland State Youth Soccer Association

Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association

Michigan State Youth Soccer Association

Minnesota Youth Soccer Association

Mississippi Youth Soccer Association

Missouri Youth Soccer Association

Montana Youth Soccer Association

Nebraska State Soccer Association

Nevada State Soccer Association

New Hampshire Soccer Association

New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association

New Mexico Youth Soccer Association

New York State West Youth Soccer Association

New York East Youth Soccer Association

North Carolina Youth Soccer Association

North Dakota Youth Soccer Association

Ohio Youth Soccer Association - North

Ohio South Youth Soccer Association

Oklahoma Soccer Association

Oregon Youth Soccer Association

Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association

Pennsylvania East Youth Soccer Association

Rhode Island Youth Soccer Association

South Carolina Youth Soccer Association

South Dakota State Soccer Association

Tennessee State Soccer Association

Texas North State Soccer Association

Texas South Youth Soccer Association

Utah Youth Soccer Association

Virginia Youth Soccer Association

Washington State Youth Soccer Association

West Virginia Soccer Association

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association

Wyoming State Soccer Association

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Much of the information used here has been researched from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.