August, 2023
WAGS REFLECTIONS BY ADELE DOLANSKY Last article, I discussed the initial birth of WAGS—from its conception to its first official league season in the Fall of 1974. But while the foundation for the first competitive all-girls travel soccer league was being laid, in the background, a new association was born in New York City. I would be remiss not to mention its creation, and how it shaped WAGS going forward. In August of 1973, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) held an annual general meeting, in which a motion was presented to establish a US Youth Soccer Association (USYSA). The following year, the motion was passed, with then-current USSF 5 th VP Don Greer acting as organization’s chairman. From this moment, USYSA was a national organization, and they wasted no time in enforcing their power. My first encounter with the USYSA was at a club meeting at the Annandale Boys Bingo Hall. Around this time, I was acting as the Fairfax Police Youth Club (FPYC) representative. USYSA had sent two representatives to the meeting, Region I Commissioner Henry “Hank” Horn and Trevor Hunt, President of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association. From the beginning, their intent was clear: they wanted every club team to affiliate with their association. Some club officials believed that they had no need to affiliate their teams with USYSA. They’d been operating viable club programs on their own and were of the mindset that they didn’t need to be a member of a National Organization. However, USYSA was adamant in their request. States Associations were told to register their clubs and leagues with the association, or travel/tournament permissions would be revoked for all teams.
