LEADERSHIP REPORT
IMPORTANT DATES
6/22/24 - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT ALEXRENEW IN ALEXANDRIA VA
6/22/24 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, ALEXANDRIA, VA
6/13/24 - 6/18/24 - PRESIDENT CUP REGIONALS IN WVA
6/26/24 - 7/2/24 - REGIONALS IN WVA
WHAT’S NEW
MOTIONS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE VYSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Motion to recommend a Bylaw amendment to change the VYSA fiscal year
Motion to recommend the 2024-2025 VYSA Draft Budget to the membership
Motion to approve Anne Thompson as Vice President.
Motion to approve John Simpson as Secretary.
Motion to approve the report of the Nominating Committee
RECREATION AND TRAVEL PLAYER DATA
Clubs should have completed uploading and registering new players and coaches for this spring season.
Recreational players and coaches must be uploaded and Directly Registered through VYSA to have full registration for the season
Remember to complete the last step of Direct Registration!
For questions contact Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa.com.
Virginia Youth Soccer Association is eager to host members from across the association at the 2024 VYSA Annual General Meeting on June 22nd in Alexandria, Virginia
Please note there will also be a meeting of the VYSA Board of Directors, Staff, and VSYA membership at 10:30 AM that same day/place to discuss the ongoing Strategic Planning process.
VYSA looks forward to your participation and hearing your voice regarding the state of the game in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Saturday, June 22
10:30 AM - Strategic Planning
12:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - AGM
AlexRenew 1800 Limerick St, Alexandria, VA 22314
AGMMEETINGAGENDA
COMPLIMENTARY MLS MATCH TICKETS
Each Official club representative will receive 2 free ticket to the D C United vs. Houston Dynamo match, that same evening, at 7:30 PM
For questions and to RSVP to the Annual General Meeting, please contact Kristen Osteen.
Kristen@vysa.com
REGISTER HERE
VIRGINIA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION MAY 2024
GOVERNING BODY UPDATES
US SOCCER UPDATES
US Soccer is making significant progress on it’s Strategic Vision View the US Soccer Strategic Pillars, Core Philosophies, and Accelerated Initiatives HERE.
VYSA received an ITG grant from US Soccer support of the “Get on the Bus” initiative. To learn more about this program, read HERE.
The US Soccer senior leadership (led by President Cindy Cone and CEO JT Batson) and their staff are evaluating ideas on a reimagined youth soccer ecosystem.
Over the next several months this thorough evaluation will continue
VYSA Executive Director, Don Rawson, is serving on the Competition Working Group Survey: “Why do Parents Enroll their Children in Soccer?” Take survey HERE.
USYS UPDATES
The USYS Board of Directors will meet on June to consider a proposal to significantly change the National Championship Series. It is expected that the State Cup winning teams will advance directly to the national finals. Wichita, Kansas held their first ever TOPSoccer event which was very successful Read more HERE.
USYS launched a monthly Grassroots Coffee Talk Series to engage state associations, their members, and others involved in grassroots. To register for an upcoming sessions hosted by Dr. Sari Rose click HERE.
USYS announced that the 2024 Grassroots Symposium will be in Salt Lake City, Utah in September. To register or learn more click HERE.
VYSA UPDATES
VYSA has enlisted the services of The Collective Global to assist VYSA in a strategic planning initiative Initial work is expected to be completed by June 2024.
The VYSA Annual General Meeting will be held on June 22, 2024 at 1 PM at AlexRenew in Alexandria, VA. A strategic Planning session with Board of Directors, staff and members will begin at 10:30
See the day’s agenda HERE.
VYSA has partnered with the Get on the Bus program and earns US Soccer ITG grant. Read more HERE.
Fourteen C4C courses have been completed since mid January
The 2024-2025 registration fees for players, coaches (team officials) will remain the same as 2023-2024. View member fee structure HERE.
THE STATE CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP
The State Cup and Presidents Cup semifinals and finals weekend took place May 11-12th at PVSTC. Congratulations to the 11U, 12U, 13U, and 14U teams who earned State titles!
The U12, U13 & U14 age group champions along with wild-card selections, will advance to US Youth Soccer East Regional Championships and USYS Presidents Cup East Regionals, alongside the 15U. 15U, 17U, and 18U age groups
The Eastern Presidents Cup regionals will be held Charleston & Barboursville, West Virginia on June 14th – June 18th, 2024. Stay tuned for more coverage as teams prepare to represent Virginia at Regionals!US Youth Soccer Eastern Regionals will be held in Charleston & Barboursville, West Virginia on June 27th - July 3rd, 2024
The State Cup Regionals
Presidents Cup Regionals
TOPSOCCER
FC Richmond recently launched a TOPSoccer program There are currently 14 athletes enrolled in the program, with plans to expand. With inclusivity at its core, the program has already garnered significant attention and support from both participants and volunteers.
TOPSoccer programs in Ashland and Fredericksburg are currently underway
Reach out to VYSA TOPSoccer Committee Chairman, John Schlenker, for guidance on all things TOPSoccer in Virginia. piedmonttopsoccer@gmail.com
GET ON THE BUS
US Soccer awarded $3 million in funding to benefit member organizations through the 2024 Innovate to Grow Initiative.
Get on the Bus is an after-school program for recreational level players that includes tutoring, personal development, free equipment, free transportation, and free participation
Two teams from Woodburn Elementary School will participate in the McLean Rec program this spring through the Get on the Bus program. The funds from the grant will cover the costs of transportation, facilities, equipment, league feeds, food, and coaches and teachers.
Click below to read more about the Get on the Bus program
The US Women’s National team is playing their Olympic send-off match against Costa Rica at Audi Field in Washington DC on July 16, 2024!
The US Men’s National team is playing an International Friendly match against Colombia at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on June 8, 2024!
LEARN MORE MATCH DETAILS MATCH DETAILS
FC Richmond TOPSoccer Volunteers
USMNT VS COLOMBIA USWNT VS COSTA RICA
SPOTLIGHT
US NATIONAL TEAM MATCH
COACHING EDUCATION
Member Clubs and Leagues are encouraged to host an in-person grassroots course If you have 13-15 coaches then your club is the perfect candidate for hosting a course.
The 2024 National B License that begins next September has filled and has a waiting list
If you are interested in registering for future 2025 VYSA hosted National License courses, please contact Jessica Cottet at Jessica@vysa com
COACHING FOR COMMUNITY
VYSA has announced a new, free coaching course supporting the recreational coach! The Coach For Community (C4C) is a FREE two-hour course that is designed to help prepare entry level coaches with practical and theoretical knowledge. This course is conducted by a qualified US Soccer/VYSA Coach Educator and can be requested by VYSA member clubs at the U6, U8, U10 and/or U12 levels
The First hour is classroom presentations that consist of player characteristics, age-appropriate games, running a practice, role of the coach, and tips to survive. The second hour is field/gym demonstration Age specific players will participate in an organized practice session
For questions contact Jessica at jessica@vysa.com today!
IMPORTANT NOTICE
GOTSPORT TRAINING AVAILABLE TO CLUB AND LEAGUE REGISTRARS
GotSport is the association's official technology partner Club and league registrars are encouraged to visit the VYSA website for resources on navigating the GotSport registration platform.
Several GOTSport representatives held workshops in Fredericksburg, va on February 18th to assist registrars with both group discussions as well as 1 on 1 time with members who need additional training.
Contact Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa com for GotSport related questions or to set up a one-on-one inperson or zoom meeting with a GotSport representative
Onboarding Website
US “C” LICENSE COURSE
36 coaching candidates are currently participating in the US National "C" License course hosted by VYSA.
The course is hosted by Gordon Miller, Paul Shaw, and Bill Furjanic, and included both in classroom and on the field workshops!
A National “B" License will be coming into Virginia beginning in the fall.
FREE COACHING COURSES AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED FEMALE COACHES
US Soccer approved VYSA for a three-year extension of the 'Women in Coaching' Innovate to Grow Grant to further support female coaches in Virginia and the District of Columbia. This grant supports female coaches seeking to further their education with US Soccer Grassroots Coaching Courses and Licensures. The grant allows VYSA to support all women registered for any US Soccer coaching course as well as those coaches registered for all-female courses
In 2023, nearly 150 female coaches have enrolled in a US Soccer coaching course through VYSA supported by the US Soccer ITG Grant.
For clubs interested in hosting coaching courses, please contact Jessica@vysa com to get started.
Host a Course Sign Up Registrar Resources Learn More
SAFESPORT COMPLIANCE
All VYSA Member Clubs are REQUIRED to submit a SafeSport Compliance Form to VYSA in accordance with U.S. Soccer Federation mandates and VYSA SafeSport Policy.
Contact Kristen Osteen in Member Services, at Kristen@vysa com, for any questions regarding SafeSport.
GOALKEEPER TOURNAMENT
In partnership with Keeper Wars Ink, VYSA will host Virginia's inaugural goalkeeper tournament on June 14-16, in Fredericksburg, VA. Over 90 athletes have already registered to compete
STATE OFFICE OPERATIONS
M-F | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (540) 693-1430
4805 Lassen Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
DON RAWSON Don@vysa.com
Executive Director
ROBERT CAREY Robert@vysa.com
Director, Finance and Administration
JESSICA COTTET Jessica@vysa.com
Director, Technical Department Operations
KRISTEN OSTEEN Kristen@vysa.com
Manager of Member Services
DEVIN BEST Devin@vysa.com
Assistant Manager of Facilities
Technical Director
GORDON MILLER Vysatd@vysa.com
Senior Manager of Finance and Administration
THOMAS TRUSLOW Thomas@vysa.com
Director, Events RAY FORD Ray@vysa.com
DAVID COFFEY David@vysa.com
Director of Facility Operations
Manager of Marketing and Communications
CHLOE ERAZO Chloe@vysa.com
STAY CONNECTED @vayouthsoccer
VYSA SAFESPORT POLICY US SOCCER SAFE SOCCER DOWNLOAD COMPLIANCE FORM
Learn More Register Here SAVE THE DATE FOR VIRGINIA-DC SOCCER HOF GOLF TOURNAMENT The VA
will take place on
26, 2024 at the Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Chantilly, Virginia Register online by September 13, 2024!
DC HOF Golf Tournament
Thursday September
