Temperature Rising in Debate over Youth Soccer in San Diego #LetThemPlay

Surf Soccer Club hit with Cease & Desist order from San Diego County Health Officials Young athletes have been hitting the fields in 48 states. But not in California. California’s emergency COVID-19 health orders have kept young athletes from their sports for almost a year. Multiple scientific studies have shown that outdoor sports are safe. […]
HUGE News for San Diego Soccer Youth: SD Loyal to launch Loyal Select. PLUS: advice for families

San Diego Loyal Soccer Club recently announced huge news for San Diego’s aspiring soccer players. Loyal Select is coming and will be joining the USL Academy League (USL A). First things first: SD Loyal is NOT launching their own youth academy. SD Loyal will be leveraging the already-robust youth soccer landscape across the San Diego […]
Checking in with Arizona Arsenal, Back on the Fields

Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club has been enjoying their “new normal.” Kids and their coaches are on the fields enjoying the outdoors and the sports they love. SoccerNation checked in Director of Coaching, David Belfort, to learn more about what’s happening out in Arizona. Shutdowns began March 11th SN: How long were club operations shut down […]
Tournament Update: Attack Summer Classic 2020, Cancelled

California youth sports still have no projected date for when competitive games can resume. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new classification system for counties. The old numbered system is gone. The new blueprint for re-opening is color-coded. Californians can use THIS SITE to check the status of economic and social sectors. Youth Sports, […]
SD Youth Soccer Practices Can Begin Immediately. Soccerloco is open for you!

Late Friday, the San Diego Board of Supervisors announced that California would be allowing “youth camps” to begin. When California Governor Gavin Newsom released his guidance for counties, recommendations for “camps,” under which youth sports fall, were a start date no earlier than June 12th: San Diego Soccer Players, However, Can Hit the Practice Fields […]
UPDATE: Game On San Diego Proposal Is Still Sitting on Newsom’s Desk

Last week, SoccerNation explained the origins of San Diego County’s “Game On San Diego” proposal. The plan to return young athletes to the practice field was sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Plan Summary: Sports organizations must follow CDC guidelines and submit safety plans to San Diego […]
UPDATE: San Diego’s Plan for Returning Kids to Practice Passes 4-1

Yesterday SoccerNation described San Diego County’s plan to return young athletes to the practice fields. Plan passes through the SD Board of Supervisors on 4-1 vote. Now, San Diego awaits Governor Newsom’s response. The “Game On San Diego” plan was thoughtfully crafted with safety and multiple sports in mind. Supervisor Kristin Gaspar collected input from […]
SoCal Teenagers Living the Dream

It was a near perfect afternoon for Lynwood native, Ulysses Llanez. Imagine growing up in Southern California with the dream of playing soccer at the highest level possible. Add to that the opportunity to play for the US Mens National Team in your home town at just the age of 18. That is exactly what […]
Coming to SoccerNation: Alumni Corner

Stories of soccer journeys to educate and inspire SoccerNation is excited to announce Alumni Corner! Starting in February, we will be featuring a new soccer alum every month. 4 Weeks of Great Stories and Inspiration for Soccer Families Every week, we will journey along through the life of a successful adult who grew up playing […]
ECNL & DA. Is it just about high school soccer? (Spoiler alert: NO)

Fall League Soccer is in full swing. After a summer full of playoffs and tournaments, soccer leagues across the country are now in full-swing. Competitive youth soccer players will be spending their weekends on soccer fields nation-wide. They will be battling for wins, league titles, and the improvement that comes along with highly competitive matches. […]
EPL & MLS Champs in San Diego, Youth Edition #ManCityCup

Manchester City are the reigning English Premier League champions.Atlanta United are the reigning Major League Soccer champions.Both teams, as well as a host of other top international clubs, are sending their 2005 boys’ teams to compete in the 2019 Nexen Man City Cup International Super Group in San Diego over Memorial Day weekend. Games to […]
Jairo Guevara – Remember the Name

Jairo Guevara is no normal kid. Born in the United States to a Honduran mother and Salvadoran father, Guevara is on a path the becoming a professional soccer player via the Portland Timbers FC Development Academy program.
U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives Now Mandatory

As part of its mission to make soccer, in all its forms, the preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels, U.S. Soccer’s Player Development Initiatives (PDIs) are now officially integrated as a part of the soccer landscape. Following a two-year implementation window with […]
Outliers and Youth Soccer Development

If you are interested in youth soccer development and have not read the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, you should. In “Outliers”, Gladwell explains the 10,000-Hour Theory as a reason why people become great at something. You’ve heard it before, the idea that in order to become an expert or reach the elite level of […]
Youth Club Lawsuit Dismissed by U.S District Court

On Thursday, March 30th, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle reported that a class-action lawsuit against the MLS Players Union by three youth clubs where U.S. National Team players Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and DeAndre Yedlin played as children has been dismissed by order of the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division. This is the […]
Colorado Rush’s Nic Hartman on Professional Development, the USPL and the U.S. Open Cup

Colorado Rush has been at the forefront of youth development in America for generations. Originally founded by a union of two neighboring elite youth clubs, the organization has grown to include multiple affiliates around the country, the Rush REACH program, and a senior team competing in its inaugural United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) campaign. SoccerNation […]