MSYSA is the primary advocate for youth soccer in Maryland and DC and works collaboratively with our Affiliates, partners, and sponsors to grow the game by educating, promoting, supporting, and providing.
EDUCATE PROMOTE SUPPORT PROVIDE
Grow the game of soccer by educating, promoting, supporting, and providing
Provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in the game of soccer
Membership organization with more than:
230 member clubs and leagues
85,000 players
10,000 coaches, administrators, and volunteers
2,500 referees, assignors, mentors, and coaches
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREG SMITH
What an exciting year 2025 has been for MSYSA and for the growth of the game of soccer in Maryland and DC! This is a direct result of the countless hours that so many amazing people selflessly give to provide quality experiences for tens of thousands of people every day. Everyone from MSYSA is proud to partner with so many amazing clubs and leagues and we thank you for all that you are doing to help grow the game!
As we look ahead to 2026, many exciting initiatives will be launched to help celebrate MSYSAs 50th Anniversary! Initiatives will center around participant health and wellness, equitable access, and development. Additionally, with the FIFA World Cup taking place in our country, numerous community events will be offered for soccer enthusiasts to come together and celebrate and to encourage others to join the soccer family!
Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday season, and a truly fantastic New Year!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Soccer Academy
Registrations start January 2025
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUMMER SOCCER ACADEMY
Spring State Cup Registrations
Registrations start January 2025
LEARN MORE ABOUT MARYLAND STATE CUP
Presidents Cup Registrations
Registrations start January 2025
LEARN MORE ABOUT MARYLAND PRESIDENTS CUP
Referee Courses
Registrations start March 2025
LEARN MORE ABOUT UPCOMING MARYLAND REFEREE COURSES
AVAILABLE GRASSROOTS IN-PERSON COACHING COURSES!
2025 GRIP COURSES
HOST MSI
9v9 GRIP COURSE 12/4/2025-12/7/2025@ROCKVILLE, MD
2026 GRIP COURSES
HOST MSI
4V4 GRIP COURSE 1/7/2026-1/11/2026@ROCKVILLE, MD
HOST ST. MARYS SOCCER CLUB
4V4 GRIP COURSE 3/2/2026-3/7/2026@GREAT MILLS, MD
HOST MSI
7V7 GRIP COURSE 2/4/2026-2/8/2026@ROCKVILLE, MD
HOST MSI
7V7 GRIP COURSE 3/3/2026-3/7/2026@ROCKVILLE, MD
HOST ST. MARYS SOCCER CLUB
7V7 GRIP COURSE 3/3/2026-3/7/2026@GREAT MILLS, MD
2025 D COURSE
HOST SAINT MARY'S SOCCER
GREAT MILLS, MD – DEC 22ND - FEB 23RD (MONDAY EVENING GROUP)
Beginning August 1 of 2026, the cutoff date for registration is shifting from aligning with the calendar year to a window beginning August 1 and ending July 31 each year. st st st
Come join MSYSA Technical Director Gandalf French as we answer questions, discuss best practices, and share tools and ideas to help your teams facilitate a smooth transition during tryouts for next year.
Time & Date: Jan 6, 2026 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
2025 HALLOWEEN COSTUME
CONGRATULATIONS
Baltimore Celtic 2013 Girls Green CONGRATULATIONS
Baltimore Celtic 2013 Girls Green
A monster-sized thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Halloween Costume Contest! �� With over 40 teams showing off their spook-tacular creativity, we can’t wait to see your fang-tastic looks next year!
LET’S PLAY! 2025 WRAP-UP:
A Year of Growth, Community & Impact
In 2025, Let’s Play! continued its mission to bring soccer, fun, and meaningful life lessons to children across Maryland and Washington, D.C. This year, the program served 1,760 hild thi th h 65 th t d 29 schools in 9 school districts.
Every week students discover that soccer is a pathway to so much more than physical activity, it’s a foundation for healthier habits, stronger relationships, and lifelong skill They learn the value of staying active, choosing healthier foods, practicing emotional regulation, and working together with empathy and respect. At its heart, Let’s Pla is about community and equitable access. Our kids grow not only in their soccer abilities, but in confidence, resilience, optimism, and belonging. Supported by traine coach-mentors who serve as positive role models, every child experiences a safe, inclusive environment where they feel seen, supported, and proud to be part of a team.
Let’s Play! Program Manager Daren Olsen shared a reflection on the heart behind the program: “Coach Mentors for Let's Play! are critical to the success of the program. They are not just coaches, we're not just teaching technical soccer skills, we are really looking to connect with the students, building those relationships that are so important to foster positive change. Through their efforts and a supportive environment, we strive to instill confidence, compassion, and good character traits in all of the children we serve. Their dedication to creating transformative change and desire to give back to the community are what makes them coaches, mentors, role models, and game changers."
Our team of Coach Mentors is the foundation of everything we do. Their passion, consistency, and care help create safe, joyful spaces for every child who steps onto the field.
We extend our gratitude to the school district partners, administrators, parents, families, and most importantly, the children who make this program possible. Let’s Play! thrives because of their enthusiasm. We look forward to continuing our mission of inspiring healthier kids, stronger communities, and accessible soccer for all.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MSYSA OUTREACH MANAGER, ANN KITT-CARPENETTI
This year marked a milestone for MSYSA’s commitment to developing confident, knowledgeable, and impactful coaches across Maryland and Washington, D.C. During the 2024–2025 cycle, MSYSA proudly supported 1,472 coaching candidates, delivered 91 total coaching courses, and awarded 202 Coaching Education Scholarships, a testament to our mission of growing the game and transforming lives through education.
At MSYSA, we believe that strong coaches create strong players. When coaches receive high-quality training, support, and opportunities for continued learning, it creates a ripple effect that touches every level of the game. Better-educated coaches lead more engaging, inclusive sessions; they teach with purpose, inspire young athletes, and help shape environments where players can thrive. This chain reaction results in better-prepared, better-equipped, and better-supported players across Maryland and D.C., strengthening the game at its foundation.
This year also included another meaningful step forward in expanding opportunities for women in coaching. Our second annual free all female D Course provided a supportive, focused environment designed to empower female coaches, build confidence, and encourage more women to pursue leadership roles in the game. These courses are an important part of our continued efforts to ensure that coaching education is not only accessible, but representative of the diverse communities we serve.
Our investment in scholarships showcases our dedication to ensuring that coaching education remains accessible to all. By reducing financial barriers, we empower more coaches, new and experienced, to elevate their craft, stay current with best practices, and contribute to the long-term success of their teams and communities.
The growth we’ve seen this year is a reflection of the broader Maryland soccer community. We are proud of the clubs, directors, and coaching staff who continue to prioritize learning and professional development. Their commitment to raising the standard is not only transforming individual lives but helping shape the future of soccer in our state.
As we look ahead, MSYSA remains steadfast in advancing coaching excellence and providing opportunities that support the continuous growth of the game. With each course, each scholarship, and each newly licensed coach, we move closer to our goal of creating a stronger, smarter, and more connected soccer community.
On The Line Podcast Episode 8: FROM CLASSROOM, TO FIELD, TO LIFE AT HOME: THE REAL IMPACT OF COACHING EDUCATION
Episode 8 of On The Line is HERE and we’re diving deep into the world of coaching education with two powerhouse Maryland ODP Pool Coaches and USSF B License candidates, Diana and Jen. This week, Priestly sits down with the duo to unpack how coaching education has shaped not just their work on the field, but their lives off it. From leadership to confidence to community impact, they break down why continued learning matters for every coach, at every level.
Then we take the pod out of the studio and On The Line at the Maryland USSF B License course itself. We link back up with Diana and Jen in real time as they share what the course looks and feels like from the inside.
Two trailblazing female coaches. One mission: empower players, elevate our soccer communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
If you care about coaching, development, or growth, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
The Soccer Lab has begun Phase 2 of the Let’s Play! study designed to measure the extent to which Let’s Play! affects academic achievement, attendance, and in-school behavior.
This study has been approved by the Towson University Institutional Review Board (approval # 3247).
