USYS Announces Major Format Change to National Championships
FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 23, 2025) – US Youth Soccer (USYS), the largest youth sport organization in the country, is proud to announce a landmark format change to its National Championships aimed at creating the best youth sport experience in America. Beginning with the current season, State Cup champions from all 54 USYS State Associations will advance directly […]
Inside the Mind of a Scout: How We Identify Talent
By Julio Cesar Gomez, Co-Founder & Academy Director, and Daniel Arribas, Head Coach Let us be direct. At Madrid Euro Soccer Academy, we don’t run trials to discover stars. We run them to discover people. Players. Workers. Learners. We built MESA with one goal in mind: to create an academy where players could live the […]
San Diego FC’s MLS NEXT Academy Signals Nationwide Shift to Free Elite Youth Soccer
The Start of Something Bigger in Youth Soccer This fall marks an extraordinary moment: San Diego FC’s MLS NEXT Academy is launching its inaugural season with a fully funded, residential soccer school for the region’s youth. The significance? San Diego is the first in a growing wave of cost-free, elite academies designed to give every […]
Yes, Coach! — How Parents Can Lead a New Era of Accessible, Supportive Youth Soccer
Recently, we wrote about the cost to parents of youth soccer in the U.S. in this blog: Is U.S. Youth Soccer a Money-Making Scheme? We concluded that greater community involvement in Europe is why the parental burden is much lower there. This new initiative, YES, COACH! is exciting and an example of the type of […]
Is U.S. Youth Soccer a Money-Making Scheme?
Probably the most frequent comment we get around our content is an observation to the effect that the system is “all about the money”. This ties into a real concern about accessibility, since as we’ve written, the cost of participating in a high-level travel team program can range from $5 – $10k or more, depending […]
Real Madrid Doesn’t Wait: Lessons from 90 Minutes Against the Best
Some games start long before the first whistle. For a group of young players from all over the world, this journey began months earlier, when they left home, joined the Madrid Euro Soccer Academy, and stepped into the rhythm of Spanish football. New language. New teammates. New expectations. They trained. Adjusted. Earned minutes. Then came the […]
NJ United AC and U.S. Soccer Parent: Supporting New Jersey Soccer Parents Through Community Engagement
This past weekend, I had the privilege of speaking with a group of dedicated parents at a free clinic in New Brunswick, hosted in partnership with NJ United Athletic Club (NJ United AC). As the founder of US Soccer Parent, my mission is to provide resources and support to soccer parents across the country. This […]
The Experience of Attending a Big EDP Tournament
The Anticipation: Early Mornings and Long Drives As a parent, if you haven’t attended your first big soccer tournament yet, you’re in for a treat (and some early mornings, long days and possibly long drives). We attended many tournaments like Jefferson Cup with our son, but the ones that stick out most in my memory […]
Youth Soccer Recruiting Season 2025
What Every Parent Should Know Spring is in the air, and for thousands of families across the United States, that means one thing: youth soccer recruiting season is in full swing. Whether your child dreams of playing in college, making a top club team, or simply wants to take their game to the next level, […]
Unlocking Peak Performance: Why Mental Coaching is Essential for Soccer Players
When it comes to soccer, we train our bodies to be faster, stronger, and more agile. But what about our minds? Mental performance coaching is about personal development, leveling up mentally and emotionally, and unlocking our full potential. It helps young athletes: Build Self-confidence Manage Setbacks Better Deal with the Natural Ups and Downs of […]