Causes: Soccer, Sports

Mission: For more than 40 years, eastern pennsylvania youth soccer has workedthroughout eastern pennsylvania to promote, foster and perpetuate thegame of soccer to the regions youth. Through competitions,educational programs, workshops and coaching clinics, eastern pennsylvania youth soccer impacts the lives of more than 122,000 youth soccer players from ages five to nineteen.

Programs: Eastern pennsylvania youth soccer's olympic development program is part of national program emanating from the us olympic committee, us soccer and us youth soccer to identify and develop elite and potentially elite level athletes. Over 500 players compete on behalf of our association nationally and internationally. Our teams travel to virginia, new jersey, delaware and north carolina for events against the other states. Our teams regularly compete in europe, going to countries such as england, spain, germany and denmark. We regularly send at least one team to the odp national championship held in places such as dallas or phoenix. Fees collected and funds raised go to the operations of the program and scholarships for disadvantaged players. Approximately 35 players received financial aid last year. We provide assistance to players whose parents volunteer and chaperone the many events we travel to. We instituted local training programs for our younger age groups to also stimulate growth and awareness in farther reaching areas of the state. It also provides an opportunity for 60 of the best coaches in our state to work with these fine players. These coaches are also identified for additional work at regional or national levels.

fees collected from individual, team and organizational registration are a primary source of income for the association. Fees directly support the association wide insurance programs and fees owed to our national organizations. Registration allows us to properly track approximately 50,000 travel level players as well as the adults involved as coaches and administrators. This also includes our risk management program and background checks. The association spends over $35,000 annually on technology to assist the membership and for the staff to operate efficiently. Over $60,000 is spent in risk management and background checks on approximately 20,000 coaches and administrators, many of which are volunteers at their clubs. We are also responsible over 73,000 intramural and recreational players, most between the ages of 5 and 12. We work diligently to provide a safe and fun environment for these children.

eastern pennsylvania youth soccer's camp programs are available to all children in our association. The focus is on player development and enhancing their skills to compete at various levels. Day camps and team training camps are held at various locations throughout the state in cooperation with the member clubs. 300+ players at 5 locations were provided training during the summer months. Holiday vacation camps, and technical training sessions were offered indoors over winter months to nearly 200 kids. The resident camp is held on a college campus providing dormitory space for overnight stays. Over 600 players attended this past year. Aside from soccer training, players were taught about nutrition and fitness by local experts. Many of our odp staff work as instructors along with a certified athletic trainer. The players also learn about time management and how to live independently on a college campus. Fees collected supplement other programs throughout the organization including camp scholarships which assisted approximately 15 children.

eastern pennsylvania youth soccer directly operates various competitions: the indoor cup series and the outdoor cups (state championships). Certain levels of the state cups tournament are part of national competitions. These are open tournaments for our travel members. Fees collected go to the operating expenses of the events, including travel stipends for teams and officials that advance to the regional or national levels of the tournament. The state cups are the crown jewel of our association with well over 1000 teams participating each spring. The cups culminate with a festival like event featuring 36 championship games in one location. We have had as 6 teams reach the national championships on a last year, more than all but one other state in the country. We annually have teams reach the national championships and have had a national champion in three of the past four years. The indoor cups are a fun and exciting way to stay active during the winter months and allowed nearly 800 teams to participate at 8 different venues throughout the state. These events provide self-sustaining income for our programs, but also provide a positive economic impact on the communities where we host them. We also provide sanctioning for all other tournaments. Overall, we provide general governance over the sport which includes arbitration, discipline and appeals, bylaw review, outreach and grant programs to assist programs to grow and succeed, scholarship programs for college educations, and general education and support of our nearly 400 affiliates.