New initiative celebrates the one-year anniversary of the AYSO PLAY! community outreach program.
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), a national nonprofit dedicated to enriching children’s lives through soccer, proudly marks the one-year anniversary of AYSO PLAY!, its community engagement program aimed at creating safe, accessible and high-quality recreational soccer opportunities nationwide.
To celebrate the start of year two, AYSO launched the Partner First initiative, which aligns AYSO programming with the specific needs of youth-serving community organizations. Partner First provides municipalities, park districts, recreation centers, schools, and other youth-serving entities with resources to enhance or build youth soccer programs, attracting more kids to the game and keeping them engaged.
“Since 1964, AYSO programs have been community-driven,” said Dan Howald, senior director at AYSO, in a press release. “Through our first year of AYSO PLAY!, we’ve met countless organizations doing incredible work for local youth. Partner First is our way of asking, ‘How can we help?’ By tailoring our expertise to fit what these groups are already doing, we can grow the game together.”
With FIFA’s World Cup coming to North America in 2026, Howald emphasized the importance of leveraging the expected surge in soccer interest for lasting community benefits.
AYSO serves nearly 400,000 youth nationwide, ages 3 to 18. In its first year, AYSO PLAY! introduced over 9,000 new players to the sport through grassroots programming in 140 locations across 19 markets. “We focus on pinpointing areas where kids don’t have access to soccer; even in places with lots of youth soccer options, there are cohorts not participating, and we want to do our part to introduce the game to more kids in more communities,” Howald explained.
The Partner First initiative also supports existing recreational soccer programs. “Many organizations have told us they need help with structure and operations but are committed to their local brand” said Howald. “We are more than happy to work with them to enhance their programs while maintaining their unique community identity. We know this is crucial for credibility and long-term sustainability.”
The Partner-First portfolio includes:
– New program in a box. A quick-start solution for launching sustainable youth soccer programs with partner organizations.
– Community-first program evolution. Designed to enhance existing recreational programs and attract more participants.
– Bring-your-own staff (BYOS). Provides education and support to help partners deliver age-appropriate skill development while leveraging AYSO’s operational expertise.
– Flexible fee structures. Options include per player, per program or per season to meet partner needs, including insurance.
– Flexible registration options: AYSO can manage registration or integrate with existing systems.
– Safeguarding support. All programs include AYSO’s child protection measures, such as level two federal background checks and U.S. SafeSport certification.
“Our goal is to get more kids playing the world’s most popular sport, and that breaks down into two tasks: eliminate barriers for players and make running youth soccer programs easier for community partners,” Howald concluded. Learn more about AYSO and AYSO PLAY! at www.ayso.org and www.aysoplay.org. For details on Partner First, contact Senior Director Dan Howald at danhowald@ayso.org.
