US Youth Soccer (USYS)
Overview
US Youth Soccer is the largest youth sport organization in the United States, registering 2.68 million players annually through 54 member State Associations and 10,000+ clubs and leagues. Founded in 1974 as a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
USYS serves as the primary registration body for youth soccer, covering recreational through elite competitive levels. Its programs include the National League, National Championship Series, Olympic Development Program (ODP), and Presidents Cup.
CEO: Tom Condone (appointed April 2025) Board Chair: Tina Rincon
Structure
Competition Pyramid
| Level | Competition | Description |
|---|---|---|
| National | National Championships | Annual championship event, 13U-18/19U |
| National | National League (P.R.O.) | Top team-based competition across 13 conferences |
| National | Presidents Cup | Second-tier national competition |
| Regional | Regional Championships | Eliminated starting 2024-25 season |
| State | State Cups | State-level championship qualifying for Nationals |
| Local | Club/League play | Recreational through competitive |
National League Conference Structure
The National League comprises 13 Conferences operated by regional partners (including EDP Soccer managing multiple conferences). 3,500+ teams compete across conferences; the top ~10% qualify for Conference Playoffs leading to National Championships.
Age Groups
- Competition ages: 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U, 18/19U (boys and girls)
- 2026 Age Group Change: Beginning in 2026, USYS (along with US Club Soccer and AYSO) returns to seasonal-year age group formation, shifting away from the birth-year model adopted in recent years.
Olympic Development Program (ODP)
State → Regional → National identification and development pathway. ODP relevance has declined as ECNL and MLS Next have captured elite talent, but it remains a pathway, particularly in states without strong ECNL/MLS Next presence.
Major Format Change (2024-25)
Beginning with the 2024-25 season, State Cup champions from all 54 State Associations advance directly to the National Championships, eliminating the traditional Regional Championship round. This reduces travel and costs for families while increasing the significance of State Cup competition.
Club Requirements
- Clubs register through their state association affiliated with USYS
- Requirements vary significantly by state
- No national-level club standards comparable to ECNL or GA
- State associations set local registration fees, coaching requirements, and competitive structures
- Registration fees: $25-$100/player depending on state (MEDIUM)
Player Pathway
Recreational → Competitive Club → State Cup → USYS National Championships
→ State ODP → Regional ODP → National ODP
→ National League Conferences → Conference Playoffs → Nationals
The traditional USYS pathway has been disrupted by ECNL and MLS Next, which now capture most elite players. USYS remains dominant at:
- Recreational and lower-competitive tiers
- Markets without strong ECNL/MLS Next presence
- The National League level (team-based competition as opposed to ECNL’s club-based model)
Economics
Registration Fees: $25-$100/player depending on state association.
National League Fees: Additional fees for clubs/teams participating in National League conferences.
National Championships: Event participation fees for qualifying teams.
Revenue Model: Player registration fees (2.68M players), tournament sanctioning fees, sponsorship (presented by New York Life), merchandise, events. USYS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Scale Advantage: With 2.68M registered players, USYS generates significant registration revenue even at low per-player fees. This scale also gives USYS significant influence in U.S. Soccer Federation governance.
Champions (2021-2025)
2025 National Championships
| Age Group | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 13U | SCA 12B Purple (OR) | HTX Soccer 13G (TX-S) |
| 14U | LT Elite SGA 11B Premier (TX-S) | Columbus United G11 Lions (OH) |
| 15U | MI Stars 10B Academy (MI) | Columbus United G10 Lions (OH) |
| 16U | Raiders FC 2009 (IL) | Elmbrook United 09G Elite 64 (WI) |
| 17U | Utah Celtic 08B E64 Bradley (UT) | Michigan Tigers Elite 64 08G (MI) |
| 18/19U | JaHbat B06 Premier (IL) | Penn FC 07G Black (PA-E) |
Utah Celtic 08B became the sixth team — and first since 2017 — to win three consecutive National Championships. Columbus United (OH) won both 14U and 15U Girls titles.
2024 National Championships
| Age Group | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 13U | The Football Academy NJ 11B Black (NJ) | HTX 12 (TX-S) |
| 14U | Ponys FC 2010 (IL) | Galaxy SC 10G NL (IL) |
| 15U | AFC 09B Black NLFC (TX-S) | Las Vegas Surf SC 09G Elite 64 (NV) |
| 16U | Utah Celtic FC 08B (UT) | Team Boca 08G Elite 64 (FL) |
| 17U | Toca FC 07B Elite 64 (KS) | Nationals Union 07 Girls Black (MI) |
| 18/19U | Strikers Miami FC 06B Elite (FL) | NCFC Youth 06G Elite (NC) |
National League teams claimed 13 of 14 titles. Held during USYS 50th Anniversary.
2023 National Championships
| Age Group | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 13U | Club Ohio 09B National (OH) | Columbus United SC (OH) |
| 14U | Utah Celtic FC 08B (UT) | FC Hawaii 09G Red (HI) |
| 15U | La Roca FC - J Milla’s (UT) | Galaxy SC 2008 CvC (IL) |
| 16U | — | Wasatch SC 07G ZB (UT) |
| 17U | Sparta FC | DASC (PK shootout vs Solar SC) |
| 18U | Libertyville FC 1974 Elite 05 (IL) | Patriots FC Girls 05/06 (NY-E) |
| 19U | Inland Surf (CA-S) | North Oaks (MN) |
Nine state associations had champions. Utah led with 4 titles.
2022 National Championships
| Age Group | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 13U | Boca Orange County B09 (CA-S) | KC Legends KCL Academy Red 2009 NL (KS) |
| 14U | Toca FC 2008 (KS) | Arsenal Colorado 08 Girls (CO) |
| 15U | Michigan Tigers 2007 Gold (MI) | Wasatch SC 07G ZB (UT) |
| 16U | — | Libertyville FC 1974 Elite-06 Girls (IL) |
| 17U | Libertyville FC 1974 Elite-05 (IL) | Philadelphia SC Coppa 05 Rage (PA-E) |
| 18U | Cedar Stars Academy North Newark (NJ) | Galaxy SC 2004 Blue (IL) |
| 19U | Sporting Blue Valley Academy 03 (KS) | Celtic (WI) |
Illinois led with 4 champions. Five finals went to extra time, three to penalty shootouts.
2021 National Championships
| Age Group | Boys Champion | Girls Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 13U | — | Team Boca-SABR 2008 White (FL) |
| 14U | — | Albion SC San Diego 07 (CA-S) |
| 15U | — | Solar SC South 06G Adames (TX-N) |
| 16U | KHA B05 Red (KY) | — |
| 17U | Real Jersey FC 2004 (NJ) | Penn FC Youth 2004 Lightning (PA-E) |
| 18U | Kingdom SC 03 Red (MI) | Impact MN (UT) |
| 19/20U | Chicago FC United 02 Pre-Academy (IL) | Team Boca-SABR 2002 White (FL) |
14 teams crowned champions at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, FL.
Current Trajectory
Format Simplification: The elimination of Regional Championships (starting 2024-25) streamlines the pathway from State Cup directly to Nationals, reducing cost and travel for families.
Age Group Reversion: The 2026 return to seasonal-year age groups (from birth-year) aligns USYS with US Club Soccer and AYSO, reducing confusion across the youth soccer landscape.
National League Strength: Despite losing elite players to ECNL and MLS Next, the National League remains robust — National League teams won 11-13 of 14 titles in recent years, demonstrating the competition level.
Leadership Transition: Tom Condone’s appointment as CEO in April 2025 signals organizational renewal. Board refreshes with new independent directors suggest modernization efforts.
Collaboration with US Club Soccer: Increasing collaboration between USYS and US Club Soccer, including the ECNL-RL/NPL postseason integration for 2026-27 and shared age group standards.
Scale vs. Elite Tension: USYS’s greatest asset (2.68M players, 54 state associations) is also its challenge — it must serve recreational players through state associations while competing for competitive relevance against ECNL and MLS Next at the elite level.
Key Clubs
USYS National Championships regularly feature clubs from:
- Illinois (Libertyville FC, Galaxy SC, Raiders FC) — consistently among most champions
- Utah (Utah Celtic, Wasatch, La Roca) — dominant in recent years
- Michigan (Michigan Tigers, MI Stars, Kingdom SC)
- Ohio (Columbus United, Club Ohio)
- South Texas (HTX, AFC, LT Elite)
- Kansas (Toca FC, Sporting Blue Valley, KC Legends)
- New Jersey (Cedar Stars, Real Jersey, The Football Academy NJ)
Industry Context
USYS is the foundational layer of American youth soccer:
- Universal requirement: Virtually every competitive youth club registers players through a USYS State Association. USYS membership is not optional for clubs seeking competitive sanctioning — it’s the baseline infrastructure.
- National Championships access: The USYS pathway to Nationals (via State Cup and National League) provides the most accessible route to national-level competition for any competitive club.
- State association relationships: State associations control registration, scheduling, and sanctioning — their requirements and politics shape how clubs operate in each market.
- ODP relevance: While diminished as ECNL and MLS Next have captured elite talent, ODP still matters in some markets, particularly those without strong ECNL/MLS Next presence.
- Competitive positioning: For most mid-tier and community clubs, the USYS/National League pathway is the primary competitive outlet (supplemented by ECNL-RL, EDP, or similar for top teams).