A look at Illinois Youth Soccer
Who We Are:
Proudly serving the Illinois soccer community since 1975, Illinois Youth Soccer has a strong history of credibility. Illinois Youth Soccer is one of Illinois’ largest youth sports organizations with approximately 95,000 players, coaches & referees.
Illinois Youth Soccer is:
- Illinois non-profit corporation
- Official State Association & Charter Member of US Soccer Federation
- Official State Association & Charter Member of US Youth Soccer (largest youth soccer association in the United States)
- Administers US Soccer Federation Coaching programs
- Administers US Soccer Federation Olympic Development Program
- Administers US Soccer Federation Referee programs
Mission:
Illinois Youth Soccer Association is a non-profit organization emphasizing education, whose purpose is to promote and conduct skill-based youth development programs in a safe environment that empower children, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, size, ability level, or economic status, to learn skills, lead a healthy lifestyle, value education, improve their social interaction and to focus their energy into a positive outcome. The Association also provides job training by offering and conducting nationally recognized coaching and referee courses; fun, age-specific, skill learning activities; and the Olympic Development Program that provides children with the opportunity to reach their potential.
- Player Development: Emphasis is on the development of players at all levels: Recreational, Competitive, Olympic Development
- Good Sportsmanship: Create good sportsmanship through a positive learning environment
- Positive Coaching: Encourage kids to have fun while learning skills
- Everyone Plays: Our goal is for all kids to play soccer
- Open Registration: Our programs are open to all children
- Opportunities: Allow kids to play to their potential
Member Benefits
Quality Insurance Coverage
Exclusive IYSA Member Only Tournaments & Activities
- Official statewide (not league) tournament for 13U-19U
- In existence since 1967
- Part of the prestigious US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
- Teams qualify through play for the US Youth Soccer regionals and nationals
- Exists in all 55 states associations and involves 10,000 teams nationally
- An alternative to the National Championship Series
- Part of the national US Youth Soccer President’s Cup
- Teams qualify through state event for advancement to President’s Cup regionals and nationals
- Statewide championship tournament for those teams that the State Cup or Presidents Cup is not the right fit for
- Offer a level exclusive to teams that play in the 3rd Division or lower of member competitive league play
- Official statewide tournament for 11U-12U teams
- Offered in three levels so that all teams can play
- Competitive but relaxed statewide tournament experience
- Provides top level league competition for teams from 14 states in the US Youth Soccer Midwest Region
- Teams qualify through play for US Youth Soccer regionals
- Teams qualify through play for participation in US Youth Soccer National Showcase Tournaments
Risk Management Standards
- Background Searches for coaches, referees, administrators, volunteers
- Goal Safety
- Concussion Awareness & Compliance
- Bylaws, policies, and Code of Ethics for the safety of its participants which have been reviewed by US Soccer Federation
- Conducts US Soccer coaching courses for competitive programs
- Free coaching clincs for member recreational programs
- Discounts available for Illinois Youth Soccer members
- Access to Illinois Directors of Coaching
- Hosts quarterly meetings with club directors of coaching
Benefits for Players
- Quality programs, events and opportunities
- Opportunity to participate in state-wide, regional or national tournaments
- Opportunity to participate in Illinois Olympic Development Program
- Quality insurance
- FREE subscription to Network News & Illinois Kicks e-newsletter
- FREE online soccer parent course
- FREE college recruitment seminars
- Exclusive special offers from Sponsors
- Coaching education standards
- Access to coaching and referee education
- Risk management standards including but not limited to goal safety and concussion awareness and compliance
- Required background searches for coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers
- Bylaws, policies, and Code of Ethics for the safety of its participants which have been reviewed by US Soccer Federation
Benefits for Member Clubs
- FREE club directory listing
- FREE club tryout listing
- FREE travel notifications for out-of-state tournaments
- FREE Online Tournament Roster
- Quality Insurance.
- Club Passes
- Ability to participate in Member Only tournaments and activities
- Ability to obtain IYSA Tournament Sanctioning
- FREE IYSA sanctioned tournament listing in Network News, state website and US Youth Soccer website
- Option to obtain Tournament Passes
- Resource Center
- Exclusive special offers from Sponsors
- Quarterly meetings with club coaches
- Consistent and even-handed regulations
- Neutral forum for dispute resolution with further appeals rights to USSF under a consistent applied set of rules
Benefits For Member Leagues
- Freedom to serve their constituents
- Determination of their own rules, policies and procedures
- FREE registration and scheduling system through GotSoccer
- Quality insurance
- Online background search option
- Risk management standards
- Club Passes
- Multi-formatted rosters
- Marketing opportunities
- Resource Center
- Consistent and even-handed regulations
- Governance for issues that involve the safety of participants and a system of behavior for activities among leagues and outside of league play
- Neutral forum for dispute resolution with further appeals rights to USSF under a consistent applied set of rules