VCYSA is the 13th Club Across the Hoosier State Supported by Eleven’s Growing Grass Roots Soccer Initiative
INDIANAPOLIS/TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (Tuesday, April 4, 2023) – Indy Eleven today officially welcomed Vigo County Youth Soccer Association (VCYSA) as the newest member of the Indy Eleven Youth Soccer Program.
The Indy Eleven Youth Soccer Program is designed to increase accessibility to soccer in communities and encourage players, coaches, referees, and parents to grow their passion for the sport by supporting the recreational soccer programs at member clubs.
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association is now the 13th club to join Indy Eleven’s grass roots initiative that will continue to grow annually and support more than 15,000 young players at the recreational level across the State of Indiana.
“Indy Eleven is proud to welcome Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to the growing family of our Youth Soccer Program,” said Greg Stremlaw, Indy Eleven President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our main focuses at Indy Eleven involve continuing to stay focused on expanding our footprint across Indiana and investing in the game at all levels in 2023. We sincerely thank VCYSA for their membership and for doing their part to help grow the reach of our Youth Soccer Program into West Central Indiana.”
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association is a member of both Indiana Soccer and US Youth Soccer. The club was founded in 1978 after kids in the Terre Haute community became interested in soccer, partially by watching Soccer Made in Germany – the PBS program that offered one of the only avenues at that time to see the sport on television. Initially, the club focused on all-recreational play until the club grew and travel play was added in 1981. VCYSA teams and players – including 800 on the recreational side in 2023 – currently compete at the Springhill Soccer Complex in Terre Haute.
“For nearly 50 years, VCYSA has provided young athletes in the Wabash Valley the opportunity to learn and compete in soccer from recreational to the highest levels of travel. We are thrilled to partner with Indy Eleven to bring the skills and knowledge of Indiana’s only professional club to the local level,” said Melissa Brown, VCYSA Director of Soccer Operations. “Combining the skills and knowledge of a professional club, players, and coaches, with the enthusiasm of nearly 1,000 young athletes, will prove to be a tremendous addition to growing soccer in the Wabash Valley.”
VCYSA is proud to continue to grow and offer new programs to players of all ages. In addition to its robust recreational and travel programs, VCYSA has recently implemented a new “KiddieKicks’ initiative structured for players 2-4 years old to introduce them to soccer, keeping fun and laughter as the main focus. VCYSA also offers TopSoccer, a program geared towards individuals with disabilities from the age of 8 and older. In addition, its adult league for individuals ages 18 and older and continues to grow each season. VCYSA continuously seeks to share its immense passion and love for soccer with its community and wants to provide opportunities for anyone interested in the sport; for more information and to learn ways you can get involved, visit vcysa.org.
The now 13 Indy Eleven Youth Soccer Program partners from across the Hoosier State currently include:
The Canterbury Football Club (Allen County)
Circle City Futbol Club (Marion County)
Danville Optimist Youth Soccer League (Hendricks County)
Delaware County Futbol Club (Delaware County)
Glendale Soccer Association (Marion County)
Impact Soccer Club (Hancock County)
Indiana Fire Academy North (Elkhart County)
Komets Fútbol Club (Morgan County)
Jasper Youth Soccer (Dubois County)
Putnam County Youth Soccer Association (Putnam County)
South Central Soccer Academy (SCSA) (Johnson County)
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association (Vigo County)
Westfield Youth Soccer Association (WYSA)/Indiana Fire Juniors (Hamilton County)
As part of the program, each registered recreational player will represent Indiana’s Team by wearing variations of Indy Eleven jerseys at their respective clubs and receive tickets to an Indy Eleven match.
Further assets available to member clubs includes but is not limited to: technical coaching expertise via the Indy Eleven Technical Staff and Youth Development Program Staff; access to additional educational resources for players, parents, coaches, and referees; the creation of revenue-generating partnership opportunities; and an Indy Eleven Soccer Festival event at Youth Soccer Program clubs that brings their rec soccer communities together in celebration of the sport.
Clubs interested in learning more or becoming the newest member of the Indy Eleven Youth Soccer Rec Program can visit indyeleven.com/youth-soccer-program or contact Brad Hauter, Indy Eleven Vice President, Marketing & Club Growth, at bhauter@indyeleven.com for more details.
