This week’s Ideal 11 post features news from the youth soccer world around the country. These events highlight the thriving world of youth soccer and it’s momentum.
Recent Matches and Performances (High School Soccer)
- The Haughton boys’ team opened their district play with an impressive 8-0 victory against Huntington. The Bossier girls’ team also secured a win, while the Benton girls’ team has moved up to No. 4 in the Division I poll. Read details here.
- Union High School Girls Soccer Honors: Two Union High School girls soccer team members in New Jersey were named to the Union County Conference Mountain Division First Team. Read details here.
- Sinton High School Soccer Push: The community in Sinton, Texas is advocating for the addition of soccer teams at Sinton High School. The Sinton Soccer Club wants to merge with the San Patricio Youth Soccer Association to support this initiative. Read the details here.
Events and Recognition
- Hall of Fame Induction: The Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame during a recent ceremony, celebrating contributions to youth soccer in the region. Read the details of these amazing honorees here.
- ECNL Girls St. Louis Event: From December 12-15, 246 teams in the U15-U18/19 age groups competed in St. Louis, Missouri. The event featured a Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game, showcasing top players selected by ECNL staff. Read details here.
- MLS NEXT Fest 2024: The premier winter showcase event in North American youth soccer kicked off on December 6 in Indio, California. Over 400 teams and 7,000 players participated, with nearly 630 matches played. For the first time, the event featured Generation Adidas Cup qualifiers for U16 and U19 age groups Read more here.
- IMG Academy Rankings: The latest updates to the IMG Academy Club Soccer Player Rankings have been released, spotlighting five standout players from the Class of 2025. This includes players like Tyra Chu from Nationals and Fiona Shin from Beach FC (CA), highlighting emerging talent in youth soccer. Read details here.
Community Engagement
- Donation to Youth Soccer: Christian Pulisic, a prominent U.S. soccer star, made headlines by donating 5,000 soccer balls to Somerville Youth Soccer. This generous contribution aims to support local youth programs and promote the sport within communities. Read details here.
- U.S. Soccer and Haleon Partnership: U.S. Soccer announced a new multi-year partnership with Haleon, which includes support for youth soccer initiatives. Read the details here.
- Coral Gables Young Stars Soccer Program Celebration: The Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center hosted a ceremony honoring over 100 young athletes from their Young Stars Soccer Program. Read the details here.
And one of our personal favorite stories this week…
- Cal South Free Soccer Clinics: Cal South partnered with cities like Bell and Downey to host free soccer clinics for children in Southern California. The initiative is part of a broader effort to make soccer accessible to every child and family in the region. Read the awesome details here.
As always, we hope you enjoy this week’s roundup. We are happy to highlight the great things happening in youth soccer in your community. Please email us your story at info@ussoccerparent.com
Have a great weekend and remember to support your young local athletes!