UNITED STATES CONSORTIUM OF STATE ASSOCIATIONS EXPANDS TO 14 STATES ACROSS USA
When a good idea happens, people recognize it – and it grows naturally. What was once an idea of like-minded leaders in different US Youth Soccer state associations becomes a force for improving youth soccer in America.
The United States Consortium of State Associations (USCSA) was launched ‘officially’ just a short while ago with seven US Youth Soccer state associations agreeing they could come together to work together, allowing their synergies to increase efficiency and really return the focus on improving the quality of youth soccer in America. Within a couple of months, the organization has expanded to include an additional seven member state associations, bringing its current total membership to 14 state associations, representing more than 800,000 players.
According to Evan Dabby, president of the United States Consortium of State Associations (which may become known by its acronym USCSA) the organization is really a consortium … businesses working together because like minded individuals see the value of sharing ideas, aligning resources and streamlining operations.
“This is about leaders with a similar vision on how we do better to grow sport,” said Dabby in an exclusive interview. Dabby is also the Executive Director of New Jersey Youth Soccer. “There has already been proof of concept and a recognition of the benefits. The momentum of the organization’s growth is coming from the individual leaders themselves. The focus is on growing the game.”
While every state association across America faces unique challenges, the USCSA is the outcome of individuals rising to the responsibility of being stewards of the game and discovering common values, and making a pragmatic difference by sharing lessons learned.
The perspective makes sense. Those who run state associations are fundamentally running a business. “We all face challenges and we turn to our colleagues to discuss issues,” added Dabby. “The culture is shifting towards leveraging each other’s different expertise and sharing knowledge. In the USCSA, we respect each other and are confident enough to know we can learn from working together. We put ourselves in positions where we can do our best, and allow others to help us do our jobs better. We are looking at the broader states associations as a single business, instead of many small and independent ones, and we want to take advantage of our combined larger scale.”
One proof of concept involves the USCSA’s efforts growing sponsorship. All seven of the legacy member state associations engaged with Sports Sponsorship and Events Consulting to manage their sponsorship campaigns. As a result, according to Dabby, the seven state associations experienced growth, some as much as 200% while aligning with national brands like Dicks Sporting Goods and Wendy’s.
“Process and bylaws get stuck and are hard to change, and youth soccer in the USA has changed since the 1970s when many of these ideas were first formed,” said Gordon Henderson, USCSA Vice President and CEO of Ohio Soccer. “Any time you have large body (like with US Youth Soccer state associations) you will have a divergent opinion base. You have cultural and philosophical differences, as well as different sizes and structures and, therefore you will have differences of opinions. We have identified state associations that are like minded, so we can speak as a unified force,” added Henderson.”
Perhaps this clarifies why USCSA has doubled in size in less than 3 months from launch.
This initiative has the potential to test how a large national governing organization can adapt to change. While USYS and the USCSA have been engaged since the Consortium’s formation, only time will tell if they can succeed on their mutual interests of finding alignment and growing participation.
Instead of US Youth Soccer speaking to 54 state association’s voices, USCSA represents over 25% of US Youth Soccer states and can speak as one group.
The newly accepted members include:
- Arizona Youth Soccer – Jonathan Berzins, Programming
- Massachusetts Youth Soccer – Rob Holliday, Treasurer/Finance
- Michigan Youth Soccer – Thomas Faro, Risk Management
- New Mexico Youth Soccer – Gloria Faber, Grassroots
- South Texas Youth Soccer – Jennifer Davis, Women in Soccer
- Utah Youth Soccer – Bryan Attridge, Club Relationships
- Vermont Youth Soccer – Meg Munson, Administration
“The USCSA is thrilled to add these new members, and we know their expertise will help accelerate our efforts,” said Dabby. “Specifically, this expansion will enhance our efforts leveraging these individuals’ experience with Competitions, Finance, Grassroots Programming, Women in Soccer, Club Development and Administration.”
“The consortium is appealing as we are part of a unified group that wants to move soccer forward and advance the sport in our communities,” said Gloria Faber, Executive Director of New Mexico Youth Soccer. “We know things could be better. Things are changing in our world, we have to evolve and we haven’t been doing that well. Soccer should be the easiest sport to play in this country, and we are committed to lessening the barriers and making it simpler for kids to enjoy.”
“We need to think about what we are doing and why we are doing it.”
Gloria Faber
This is an ongoing and developing story that SoccerToday will follow closely. Below please find the USCSA press release on their remarkable growth.
The USCSA believes that State Associations can provide an anchor in the local soccer communities by providing exceptional service, resources and inspiration that grows soccer participation by unlocking the potential within every community. Traditionally, each State Association has its own governance, policies and procedures, and resources, which limits the ability to scale and incorporate efficient solutions. We aim to expand our influence, reduce costs, and enhance services by scaling operations together. The USCSA wants to evolve the traditional model by integrating business strategies and shared resources to increase efficiency and effectiveness of its State Association members.
To maximize its success and potential, the USCSA will rely on its core values: Trust, Innovation, Compromise and Alignment.
“Arizona Soccer Association (ASA) is honored to be joining the Consortium of Soccer Associations,” said Jonathan Berzins, CEO of Arizona Youth Soccer. “The ability to connect and share with like-minded leaders and forward thinkers truly aligns with ASA goals and mission. ASA is excited about what this consortium can achieve for all membership in conjunction with a continued partnership with USYS.”
ASA serves nearly 40,000 youth athletes across all corners of Arizona. With its inception in 1974, ASA is excited to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2024. ASA runs and supports various leagues throughout the state with 600+ teams participating in ASA run Advanced and Open Leagues, which supports all levels of ages 11-19. ASA also hosts a Youth Academy series, which has 260+ teams participating. These community driven events help players ages 6-10 fall in love with the game while supporting national standards of 4v4 and 7v7 teams. ASA also supports local communities with coaching education for all levels from grass roots to competitive and also recently launched a community driven foundation (Arizona Soccer Foundation or ASF) with a focus on supporting communities and individuals outside the lines.
“Mass Youth Soccer is excited to join the Consortium of State Associations to collaborate with like-minded organizations with a shared vision for the future of soccer in our nation,” said Rob Holliday, Executive Director of Massachusetts Youth Soccer. “The partnership represents our dedication to innovation, development, and the collective growth of soccer in every community we serve.”
Mass Youth Soccer is the representative of US Soccer and US Youth Soccer for youth soccer in Massachusetts, proudly serving over 150,000 players and 350 member organizations. The mission of Mass Youth Soccer is to serve, educate, and provide safe soccer play for all. Core values of fun, growth, inclusion, and integrity support our vision to lead, inspire, and unite soccer communities to create environments that support development, encourage dreams and foster belonging.
“This is a pivotal time for youth soccer in the US, especially with FIFA events coming to the US in the next few years,” said Thomas Faro, Executive Director of Michigan Youth Soccer. “I look forward to collaboratively working with other State Association leaders on collectively becoming more efficient and at growing our great sport.”
The Michigan State Youth Soccer Association, Inc. (MSYSA) is a nonprofit organization that represents 90,000 youth soccer players, 10,000 team officials, and 4,000 referees throughout Michigan. MSYSA consists of a vast number of clubs, leagues, and member organizations that register players (boys and girls) from ages 3 through 19 throughout the state. MSYSA is a member of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYS) and the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer).
“We are thrilled to be part of a unified platform where soccer associations come together to share resources, best practices and innovative ideas aimed at advancing the sport of soccer nationwide,” said Gloria Faber, Executive Director of New Mexico Youth Soccer. “By joining this esteemed consortium of state associations, we hope to share and leverage unique insights, experiences, and initiatives that will contribute significantly to the collective growth and success of youth soccer across the country.”
New Mexico Youth Soccer Association, a non-profit corporation and National Youth State Association for the United States Soccer Federation, and member State Association for US Your Soccer, currently serves approximately 22,000 registered players and coaches throughout New Mexico. As the largest youth sports organization in the state, its mission is to foster a safe environment for the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of New Mexico’s youth through the sport of soccer.
South Texas Youth Soccer, an affiliate of US Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer, offers club-based programs designed to meet the needs of kids at every level, from recreational players who play for fun to accomplished athletes playing at a National level. Through 29 member associations, South Texas represents more than 225 clubs and 100,000 members across the region, from El Paso to Beaumont and Temple to Brownsville.
“We are thrilled to join the USCSA to network, support and help build up other like-minded state associations, while learning from our peers and continuing to grow what we’ve built in Utah,” said Bryan Attridge, CEO of Utah Youth Soccer.
Utah Youth Soccer has long been known as an organization that is not afraid to push the boundaries of innovation to provide the best soccer experience for our members. Its mission is to be the leader in promoting, developing and governing youth soccer in Utah; providing quality educational and developmental opportunities for all members and our track record continues to speak for itself. With 55 member clubs, nearly 60,000 players, 6,000 coaches and administrators and 2,500 referees, Utah provides some of the best teams in the country each year, while running excellent recreation programs and competitive leagues for players of all levels. Utah Youth Soccer also provides over 70 coaching education classes and 40 referee training courses each year to better train and educate the adults in their association, which leads to a better experience for all players and parents.
“Vermont Soccer Association is thrilled to join the United States Consortium of State Associations,” said Meg Munson, Executive Director Vermont Youth Soccer. “This decision reflects our commitment to advancing soccer across Vermont and aligning with a broader network dedicated to the sport’s growth and development nationwide while collaborating on best practices.”
The Vermont Soccer Association (VSA) stands as the premier governing body for soccer in the picturesque state of Vermont, nestled in the heart of New England. With a rich history and a steadfast commitment to promoting the beautiful game, the VSA serves as a unifying force, fostering a vibrant soccer community that spans all ages and skill levels. From organizing leagues and tournaments to providing coaching education and referee development programs, the VSA endeavors to cultivate a culture of excellence, sportsmanship, and inclusivity across the state. Through its dedication to nurturing talent and passion for the sport of soccer, the Vermont Soccer Association continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the soccer landscape and enriching the lives of players, coaches, officials, and fans alike.
The full list of Members listed below including their USCSA specialization (New Members Bolded):
- Arizona Youth Soccer (Jonathan Berzins, Programming)
- Georgia State Soccer Association (Marketing)
- Indiana Soccer (Dave Guthrie, Secretary/Governance)
- Iowa Soccer (Dan Cataldi, Referees)
- Kentucky Youth Soccer Association (Kris Zander, Technical)
- Massachusetts Youth Soccer (Rob Holliday, Treasurer/Finance)
- Michigan Youth Soccer (Thomas Faro, Risk Management)
- New Mexico Youth Soccer (Gloria Faber, Grassroots)
- New Jersey Youth Soccer (Evan Dabby, President)
- Ohio Soccer (Gordon Henderson, Vice President/Innovation)
- South Texas Youth Soccer (Jennifer Davis, Women in Soccer)
- Tennessee State Soccer Association (Hans Hobson, Sponsorship)
- Utah Youth Soccer (Bryan Attridge, Club Relationships)
- Vermont Youth Soccer (Meg Munson, Administration)
To learn more about the USCSA visit ConsortiumOfSoccerAssociations.org. Also make sure to follow our official LinkedIn page.
About the United States Consortium of State Associations
The United States Consortium of State Associations (USCSA) is a game-changer in our soccer eco system, currently representing 14 USYS State Associations and more than 800,000 players. Our mission is to maximize and unlock the true potential of state associations by creating a highly functioning network of state associations.
