Mass Youth Soccer

Where Every Experience Tells a Story

MISSION

VISION

To serve, educate, and provide safe soccer play for all. Lead, inspire & unite soccer communities to create environments that support development, encourage dreams and foster belonging.

MASSYOUTHSOCCE R FUN GROWTH

INTERGRITY

MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN: 327 member organizations and leagues

146,000 players

25,000 coaches, administrators, and volunteers

Winnah’sPicnic Winnah’sPicnic

DRIVENBYMCGOVERN AUTOMOTIVEGROUP

We had a blast closing out the spring season with two incredible TOPSoccer celebrations. Both Auburn and King Philip wrapped up with soccer, face painting, firetrucks, an ice cream truck, and a special visit from Winnah!

ACL CARE FOR A BETTER SOCCER SEASON ACL CARE FOR A BETTER SOCCER SEASON

If your child plays soccer, you’ve probably heard of the ACL. Short for anterior cruciate ligament, the ACL stabilizes the knee and stops it from bending or turning too far in any direction.

Soccer — with its sprinting, stopping, starting, and changes in direction — puts the ACL under almost continuous strain. No wonder ACL injuries take so many soccer players out of play

“The peak age for ACL injuries in the United States is age 16 to 18,” says Dr. Mininder Kocher, chief of the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital.

In a recent episode of Boston Children’s Answers Parentcast (“Could my child be at risk for an ACL injury?”), Dr Kocher goes into detail about ACL injuries, treatments, and why soccer tournaments, in which athletes play multiple games in one weekend, create ideal conditions for athletes to tear their ACLs.

Can you prevent ACL injuries?

To reduce their risk of an ACL injury, Boston Children’s recommends that soccer players make injury prevention part of their routine by the time they reach puberty, if not earlier.

If possible, work with a coach or a trainer on the following approaches:

Jump training (known as plyometrics) that strengthens the muscles around the knee

Agility training that focuses on changes in direction

Exercises that strengthen leg muscles, especially the hamstrings

Training that focuses on balance and positioning (known as proprioceptive training)

Flexibility exercises, including stretching

Dr. Mininder Kocher Chief, Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Champions

GIRLS:

Girls U15 IFA 2010 Girls NAL Blue

Girls U16 Seacoast United Mass 2009 Mass South

Elite Girls Navy

Girls U17 Seacoast United Mass 2008 Mass South

Elite Girls Navy

Girls U19 Western United Pioneers G2006/2007 DPL

BOYS:

Boys U19 IFA West 2007 Boys NAL

Boys U17 Seacoast United Mass 2008/U17 Boys: NAL

Boys U16 Liverpool FC EDP 2009B

Boys U15 NEFC South Boys 2010 APEX

ESSENTIAL PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLIANCE UPDATES

U S Soccer has recently introduced its Safe Soccer Clearance Program which may cause some confusion for Mass Youth Soccer Adult Participants Please review the information below carefully to ensure you understand what steps are needed as a Mass Youth Soccer Adult Participant.

As we look ahead to the Fall 2025-26 annual adult registrations opening (July 1, 2025), it’s crucial to understand that unless you are a Massachusetts State Referee Committee (MSRC) Referee or have been specifically told to submit a background check through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center platform, do not do so. The Background check on the US Soccer Learning Center is NOT required to participate in Mass Youth Soccer Affiliated Programs

U.S. Soccer charges a non-refundable $24.00 fee for this service and is not required for most Mass Youth Soccer adult participants.

Mass Youth Soccer’s Annual Adult Registration includes the required State and national background checks at no additional cost to Adult Participants during the registration process

Through the

U S Soccer Learning

You are only required to take:

Center - Phase 1 Only Required

Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments (required every two years; this also fulfills the concussion awareness training requirement).

SafeSport Abuse Prevention (required annually).

Important Note on Expiration Dates:

You may receive emails from the U S Soccer Learning Center about training expiration dates. Please remember that Mass Youth Soccer required training dates are different and are always noted on our Adult Registration webpage along with detailed information on all adult participant requirements

We look forward to seeing you on the field again this fall! &

Thank you for all you do for the children in your community!

MassYouthSoccer'sDiversity,Equity,Inclusion,andBelonging(DEIB) Committeeisthrilledtohostthisessentialsdriveinpartnershipwith SafeHomes,alocalorganizationthatprovidesservices,supplies,andsafe& supportivespacesforLGBTQIA+youth

Toincreaseourreach&impactacrossavarietyofneeds,wehaveidentified itemgroupings,providedexamples,andassignedleaguestoeachgrouping DropoffatCollectionTent–nexttotheregistrationareaduringMTOCweekend

GROUPS

BasicComfort

EXAMPLES

SockandUnderwear(Men’sandWomen’s)

Food Singleservinginstantnon-perishablefooditems(Soups,mac& cheese,oatmeal,ramen, tuna,togocuppeanutbutter)

Drinks

PersonalCare

SingleServeDrinks(Proteinshakes,juiceboxes,electrolyte&drink powders)

Washcloths,backpacks(neworlightlyused(norips),sleepingbags, bugspray,cottonswabs

Wellness Volleyball,SoccerBalls,YogaMat,JumpRope,TravelGames

NailCare NailPolish,nailpolishremover,nailfiles,footfile,cottonballs

Makeup

Snacks

Eyeshadow,brushes,foundation,lipgloss,makeupwipes

SingleServeSnacks(Chips,cookies,proteinbars,pretzels)

HairCare Elastics,clips,bows,hairbrushes,combs,hairaccessories

Berkshire&Roots

Essex

Middlesex

NashobaValley

Coastal

SouthCoast

SouthShore

Mass Youth Soccer is honored to have received the People of Courage – People’s Choice Award along with a citation from the State Senate, presented by Senator Robyn Kennedy. This recognition celebrates the impact of our annual Essentials Drive held at the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC), where we collect games, toiletries, snacks, school supplies, and more to support LGBTQIA+ youth served by Safe Homes.

The People of Courage Awards were first established in 2005 by Safe Homes and The Bridge of Central Mass (now Open Sky Community Services) to recognize individuals whose outstanding actions in support of equality and justice are making a difference in Central Massachusetts. Each fall, nominations are solicited from the public, and awardees are selected by the Safe Homes Advisory Committee to honor those who have demonstrated commitment and courage in support of LGBTQIA+ youth and other marginalized groups. Since its inception, over 100 individuals and organizations have been recognized for their contributions.

As the official representative of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer in Massachusetts, Mass Youth Soccer proudly serves over 150,000 players and 350 member or core values of fun, growth, inclusion, and integrity environments that foster development, encourage dreams, and suppor

SafeSport is a comprehensive program of policies, procedures, and processes created to help participants detect and report abuse and misconduct, respond to it, and prevent future occurrences through education and training.

The United States Congress (federal law) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), U.S. Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer Policy.

SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training (Yearly Requirement) - There are very few exceptions on who must complete SafeSport Abuse Prevention training, click HERE for to review those exceptions.

U.S. Center for SafeSport Reporting Requirements – There are no exceptions to this other than being the victim of abuse. Adult Participants are Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and are also required to report all Sexual Misconduct, Prohibited Conduct, and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) violations as outlined in the U.S. Center for SafeSport 2024 Code and MAAPP. Additional important policy information is also found in the MA Youth Soccer Athlete and Participant Safety Policy

For More Information, please review the Mass Youth Soccer Reporting Abuse and Misconduct web page. or contact the Mass Youth Soccer Director of Safeguarding at mrelic@mayouthsoccer.org. CLICK HERE TO REPORT A CONCERN.