Lexington, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Soccer Association joined State Associations across the country in supporting a historic step to make US Youth Soccer (USYS) part of U.S. Soccer, bringing the organizations closer together to invest more in local soccer and create better experiences for players and families. creating greater alignment across the game and new opportunities to strengthen soccer locally.
USYS State Associations voted to approve the change during their Annual General Meeting, which will begin a two-year integration process on September 1. The decision brings USYS’s decades of experience and reach across youth soccer closer together with U.S. Soccer’s resources and national scale.
“This is an exciting moment for soccer in Kentucky and across the country,” said Kris Zander, Executive Director of KYSA. “We supported this decision because we believe we can accomplish more for the game by working together. Our clubs, leagues and communities have built an incredible foundation for soccer in Kentucky. U.S. Soccer has made a real commitment to investing more in the game locally, which gives us an opportunity to build on what we’ve created with greater resources, stronger connections and the full weight of U.S. Soccer behind our shared goal of growing and improving the game.”
What This Means for Soccer in Kentucky
The integration begins a two-year process in which State Associations will work closely with U.S. Soccer and USYS to help shape the future of soccer in communities around the country.
The goal is to create a stronger and more connected soccer system that can:
- Bring more resources and investment to soccer locally.
- Strengthen State Associations and their ability to support and grow the game in their communities.
- Create more opportunities for people to play and stay in the game.
- Better support clubs, leagues, coaches and referees serving players every day.
- Make soccer easier for families to understand and navigate.
- Connect local communities more directly to U.S. Soccer and the resources, expertise and opportunities available nationally.
The integration is part of U.S. Soccer’s broader Pathways Strategy, which brings together members and stakeholders from across American soccer to create a more connected future for the game. For KYSA, that future starts locally building on the work already happening in our communities and creating the support, investment and opportunities to help soccer reach even more people across Kentucky.
About Kentucky Youth Soccer Association
Established in 1979, Kentucky Youth Soccer Association is the governing body for youth soccer in the Bluegrass State, dedicated to growing and promoting the game at every level. With programs spanning grassroots development, elite competition, coaching education, and player identification, KYSA provides opportunities for players, coaches, referees, and administrators to thrive in a positive and inclusive environment.