News

Clubs, Coaches, Parents, and Competitive Players,

It is getting to be that time of year again that causes the most stress and confusion in competitive soccer…tryouts. Tryouts are for Competitive players only…Recreational players may participate in as many activities and teams as they choose and cannot be restricted.

As noted on our website, clubs are allowed to have ID Sessions or “Kick-Arounds” or whatever they want to name them, and these can be attended by anyone. These sessions must be communicated as general sessions and CANNOT target certain players, teams, etc….targeting is recruitment and is illegal in Missouri. Player recruitment is a serious issue at any age and any coach, club representative or parent can be found guilty of recruiting and sanctions on those involved could include fines or suspension.

Some clubs may ask that you pre-register for an ID Session or Tryout, this is NOT a commitment by the player or the club for placement, offers of spots in the club cannot be offered to players from outside the club until the District Tryout date unless otherwise specified by the District. Offers within a club can be made to their existing players at any time but players are still able to attend tryouts before accepting should they choose. Some clubs will require you to pay a fee to attend their ID Session, if you would choose to pay this expense you should expect it to be non-refundable.

As a point of clarification, “Commitment Dates” should not be part of any offers that are extended to returning competitive players from your club.  If you offer a spot for the 2025/2026 season to one of your players, you should not tie a date to their acceptance other than the official tryout date. If the player/family knows that they are returning and they would like to start their payment process prior to the official tryout date that is designated for their Missouri District, that is fine, but not essential or required.

IMPORTANT: Every parent should carefully review all club documents before signing. These are financial contracts with potentially large monetary impacts and once signed binding agreements for payment whether you continue for the entire seasonal year or not. Once a player has registered and signed up for a competitive club there are very limited opportunities to change clubs past June 15^th and then during the seasonal year and those opportunities may be at an additional expense. It is essential that you understand the club’s policies on transfers, guest play, primary & secondary registration before you commit for an entire seasonal year. Missouri Youth Soccer Association is not part of any financial transaction between a club and a player/parent…it cannot collect fees owed by parents or force a club to reimburse fees that are previously agreed to by the parent/player.
 

The official tryout date within MO Youth Soccer Association along with any other instruction are determined by District per the MYSA By-Laws. Everyone is urged to review the full policies to be better equipped to navigate the tryout process and understand what recruitment is considered in Missouri.

Dates and additional information can be found on our website:

In the inspiring sports classic “Miracle on Ice,” U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks was selecting his squad for the 1980 tournament and said, “I’m not looking for the best players; I’m looking for the right ones.” This phrase has served as more than just a memorable movie quote for longtime Missouri youth soccer coach Jim Wipke, but rather the words have backboned his St. Louis Development Academy U19B Elite 64 (STLDA) team, leading them to capture their fourth consecutive Missouri State Cup championship.

The stakes were high for the boys this year.

On Friday, June 7 at Creve Coeur Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights, Missouri, they were set to face 026 Futbol Club 2005B Comesana in the semi-final match, a first-time State Cup playoff team hungry for the opportunity to lift a championship trophy. Despite the glaring three-time champion target on their back, STLDA dispatched a poised 5-1 win.  

With less than a 24-hour turnaround, they were back on the pitch for a grueling championship matchup against SLSG MO B 2005/2006 Navy (SLSG). STLDA went up quick off a free kick that secured a 1-0 lead through the entire first half of the match, but SLSG responded about 20 minutes into the second with a set piece of their own. Playing the ball quick after the whistle, they were able to put one in the back of the net to even the score to ones.

It was not long after, however, that STLDA sent a cross into the box for a brisk tap-in goal that cemented their title as State Cup champions with a 2-1 win. This season being the last before many of the boys graduate high school and move on to play in college made this victory all the more bittersweet.

Following in similar fashion to the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey squad, the STLDA boys have been a ‘miracle’ team of their own. They accomplished something most youth soccer teams merely dream of, winning not just one, but four uninterrupted State Cup titles.

And according to Wipke, they were able to do so because they had the ‘right players.’

When a team has the right players, they may not necessarily be the best ones, but they have the ability to be the best team. STLDA has certainly shown that. They are more than just a chaotic mix of the best athletes in the area, but a talented group of boys with the right mindset and work ethic that has emblazoned a trail of success on the pitch.

“They’re unbelievable players. They’re awesome,” said Wipke. “But in terms of character and people, these are some of the best kids I’ve been around in my entire life.”

Wipke shared that what has been central to their success is maintaining a culture of discipline based on the idea that “the players understand that their actions impact their teammates around them, and they need to care about the person next to them more than themselves for results to come.”

After essentially rebuilding almost an entire team over COVID and having boys float in and out each year, that is the message every player has bought into. Even this season, after losing many 2005 players to colleges the year before, the boys have been playing for each other, nonetheless.

“This year has been really special because we had a lot of new kids coming in, and we wanted them to be able to get their first state championship too,” said midfielder Tyler Bouckaert. “We wanted them to be able to have one even more than the rest us that had maybe had one, two or three already.”

The apple does not fall far from the tree in terms of character, Wipke shares, contributing a portion of the team’s tremendous accomplishments as an extension of the families they come from. Being a parent-coach alongside Kyle Kocher and Ron Boschert, who does not have a player on the team, he emphasizes that “the sport of soccer is all about life lessons.” It is rewarding for him to see the team the learning from their parents and coaches, and in turn, they too are setting an example of their own.

“I am so grateful that I have had the privilege to coach the right ones,” said Wipke. “They have made me both a better coach and a better person.”

Moving forward, STLDA’s vision for their season is far from over. Finishing as a finalist in the regional championship last year, the team snuck their way into nationals as their opponent had already qualified. The goal is to be back on that stage again. Avid for another shot at regionals and the chance to chase a national title, the group has been working tirelessly day in and day out to get there.

“Right now, we are really focused and have been working really hard at our recent practices,” said Bouckaert. “I think it is in everyone’s head to get to that regional championship because last year at nationals we were one game away from moving on and we fell short. We all know we can get back to that position and we’re just working hard to get back there.”

Joining STLDA in seizing a 2024 Missouri State Cup championship and earning the opportunity to compete in the Midwest Regional Championships June 21-26 in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas are the following teams:

• U13 Boys: St. Louis Stars SC 11 Boys Academy Red
• U13 Girls: CarShield FC 2011G Academy NL
• U14 Boys: SLSG MO B 2010 Elite
• U14 Girls: LFA Blue Star Premier 2010G
• U15 Boys: SLSG MO B 2009 St Johnstone
• U16 Boys: STLDA U16B Elite 64
• U17 Boys: SLSG MO B 2007 Elite
• U18 Boys: JB Marine Academy McKeon 06B

Winners from each age group will head to Orlando, Florida July 23-28 for the 2024 National Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

After three days of arduously competitive matches amongst over 100 of the highest-ranking youth soccer teams in the state, the pool play rounds of the 2024 Missouri Summer State Cup have come to a conclusion. With just four teams remaining in each age group, the stage now is set for the championship weekend, each team merely two wins away from lifting the trophy and being crowned a Missouri state champion.

The pool play weekend was a resounding success, having taken place June 1-3, 2024, with all matches being held at Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The event featured play from U13-U14 age groups for girls and U13-U19 age groups for boys.

It was a vibrant atmosphere as thousands of spectators gathered at the fields to watch as each team played a series of three matches, one per day, showcasing the passion Missouri holds for youth soccer. Between game-winning penalty kicks, underdogs prevailing and Missouri’s unpredictable weather, the weekend was nothing short of entertaining, keeping fans on their toes.

Despite Monday’s temperatures neighboring close to 90 degrees and afternoon thunderstorms causing a short lightning delay, all scheduled matches were able to be played.

Though there was a surplus of talent present at the tournament, only the highest-finishing teams in each bracket progressed to the next round. Four teams advanced from each age group with wild cards being awarded to the next highest-finishing team in age groups with less than four brackets. The ability for these teams to play in the next rounds of State Cup is a testament to their hard work, success and capability to perform under pressure.

All matches of the 2024 Missouri Summer State Cup semi-final rounds will be played at Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex on June 7, 2024, as follows:

U13 Boys:

• St. Louis Stars SC 11 Boys Academy Red vs JB Marine Gold Gober 11B, 1:45 p.m., Field 2
• STLDA U13B Elite 64 vs SLSG MO B 2011 Elite, 1:45 p.m., Field 5

U13 Girls:

• CarShield FC 2011G Academy NL vs LFA Blue Star Championship 2011G, 9 a.m., Field 2
• LFA Blue Star Premier 2011G vs MO Rush 2011G, 9 a.m., Field 5

U14 Boys:

• SLSG MO B 2010 Elite vs SLSG MO B 2010 Premier Navy, 11:30 a.m., Field 3
• STLDA U14B Elite 64 vs St. Louis Stars SC 10 Boys Academy Red, 11:30 a.m., Field 4

U14 Girls:

• MO Rush 2010G United vs LFA Blue Star Premier 2010G, 6:15 p.m., Field 2
• SLSG MO G 2010 Elite Navy vs KC Athletics Academy Premier 10G, 6:15 p.m., Field 5

U15 Boys:

• STLDA U15B Elite 64 vs KC Legends 2009 Academy Black, 1:30 p.m., Field 4
• LFA Blue Star Premier 2009B vs SLSG MO B 2009 St Johnstone, 1:30 p.m., Field 3

U16 Boys:

• STLDA U16B Elite 64 vs SLSG MO B 2008 Celtic, 9 a.m., Field 3
• SLSG MO B 2008 Elite vs MO Rush 2008B Academy, 9 a.m., Field 4

U17 Boys:

• MO Rush 2007B Academy vs SLSG MO B 2007 Elite, 11:15 a.m., Field 2
• STLDA U17B Elite 64 vs Gunners 2007B BLUE, 11:15 a.m., Field 5

U18 Boys:

• JB Marine Academy McKeon 06B vs Sporting Columbia 06B, 3:45 p.m., Field 2
• LFA Williams 2006B vs Gunners 2006B BLUE, 3:45 p.m., Field 5

U19 Boys:

• STLDA U19B Elite 64 vs 026 Futbol Club 2005B Comesana, 4 p.m., Field 4
• SLSG MO B 2005/2006 Navy vs KC Athletics Academy Elite 05/06 NLMC, 4 p.m., Field 3

Of these elite squads that have earned the opportunity to continue competing for a state title, two teams have notably made history for their respective clubs. With CarShield FC 2011G Academy NL completely dominating their bracket, going 3-0 with no goals scored against them, they are the first team in the club to ever advance to the semi-final round of a Missouri State Cup. In a similar manner, 026 Futbol Club 2005B Comesana snuck their way into the next round, going 2-1 and putting 12 goals in the back of the net for a goal differential that grabbed them the wild card spot for their age group. They too will be the first team from their club to play a Missouri State Cup game beyond the initial pool play rounds.

The privilege to play in the second round is not a new feeling for some teams, however, as there are some seasoned state champions in the mix. SLSG MO B 2010 Elite, STLDA U15B Elite 64, JB Marine Academy McKeon 06B and MO Rush 2010G United all look to capture their second consecutive state title, while STLDA U16B Elite 64 is looking to add a third consecutive to their resume. One team in particular, STLDA U19B Elite 64, has controlled the success of the Missouri State Cup like no other, though. Moving on to the semi-final round with three consecutive state titles on their back, the boys will fight to continue their legacy with a fourth and final before they move on to college.

The teams that prevail in the semi-finals will then play on June 8, 2024, in the championship round. Winners from each age group earn the honor to represent the state at the 2024 Midwest Regional Championships in Overland Park and Olathe, Kansas on June 21-26, 2024.

As the pool play rounds of the 2024 Missouri State Cup conclude and players and coaches prepare for the upcoming semi-final rounds, it is important to note the seamless flow of the tournament is due to the hard work of the Creve Coeur Soccer Park and MYSA employees, the referees, the outstanding vendors, J&K Soccer Store, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, Kona Ice and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck and the cooperation of all players, coaches and spectators. Stay hydrated and see you next weekend!

September 13, 2023
 

U.S. Soccer Family:

We are on the cusp of the most consequential era in the history of American soccer. The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will bring the biggest sporting event in history to our shores in less than three years. Opportunities like these are once-in-a-generation, which is why we are committed to working with all of you to use this moment to transform the game in our country forever and for the better. Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to inspire millions of players, coaches, referees and fans of all ages.

After countless conversations with our members, staff, partners and other key stakeholders, today we’re outlining our strategy to guide this important work. We listened to what everyone had to say and came up with a plan that directly addresses what you told us is most important. The strategy is built around five incredibly ambitious key pillars that will be imperative to our success moving forward:

1. Grow the game.
    
2. Foster the best playing environments.
    
3. Develop winning teams.
    
4. Grow the soccer economy to fuel reinvestment.
    
5. Create a world-class organization.

Achieving ambitious goals takes time, resources and hard work. That is in part why we’re sharing this vision with the entire U.S. Soccer community today. You can read more about our strategic framework as well as the key philosophies that will drive our decision-making through 2026 and beyond here.

It will require all of us working together to take the next steps, to build benchmarks, timelines, detailed programmatic initiatives and budgets. U.S. Soccer’s external engagement team will be reaching out to discuss what this means for you and to determine next steps to operationalize these goals.

We will share a detailed plan next year that describes how we will use the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and other major soccer events to transform our landscape over time, but in the meantime, we are already taking concrete steps to deliver more value to our members and stakeholders. We’ll be sharing updates on these accelerated initiatives – including growing the number of referees in our game, implementing our new Safe Soccer Clearance Program, sharing soccer knowledge across the landscape, rolling out an ambitious new sporting strategy and more – regularly on our website in the months ahead.

As we’ve developed our strategy, we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm of the entire soccer community. Everywhere we have traveled, at all levels of our game, folks are busting at the seams with ideas for how to grow the game. We welcome your energy – along with your continued feedback and engagement. We are committed to transparency and will continue to communicate with all our members as we execute our five key pillars. Working with all of you, we are confident in our strategy and our ability to come together as a soccer family to make the most of this transformational moment.

On behalf of the entire U.S. Soccer team, we are honored by the opportunity to lead this critical work and look forward to collaborating with each and every one of you to make it happen.
 

Onward,

Cindy Parlow Cone
President, U.S. Soccer

JT Batson
CEO / Secretary General, U.S. Soccer

Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) believes that soccer is for absolutely everyone who wants to take part in the beautiful game. Our Mission Statement is: The Missouri Youth Soccer Association is dedicated to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer in the state of Missouri.

Making the game safe and fun for all participants is one big reason for helping us meet our Mission.

Lately, some in our great game have taken to using slurs/gestures against their opponents and others around the game. This is wrong and needs to stop. The Laws of the Game include penalties for this type of behavior.

Game officials are expected to take appropriate steps against anyone using inappropriate language or gestures, and everyone around the game should do their part to make sure that this is never accepted or tolerated. This is true for all of our participants in the game; players, coaches, referees, and spectators. Using any type of slurs does not belong in our game or in our world.

Missouri Youth Soccer Association stands behind the US Youth Soccer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy. In addition, MYSA has its own Code of Ethics policy. We expect all players, coaches, referees, and parents/spectators to always abide by these codes and policies. I would like to share the US Youth Soccer Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy:

At US Youth Soccer, we embrace diversity and inclusion and strive to be the sport of choice for players, officials, coaches, and administrators of all backgrounds. We encourage the participation of individuals of all ethnicities, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, ability, or disability, realizing that diversity and inclusion makes us stronger. We further encourage the advancement of diverse individuals throughout our organization, and we seek to provide a culture where all individuals feel safe, respected, and are treated fairly.

US Youth Soccer respects the diversity of individuals throughout our organization. It helps us achieve our mission of being the preeminent youth sports organization in the United States. WE ARE YOUTH SOCCER