Illinois Kicks
Official e-Newsletter Of Illinois Youth Soccer

12U-19U State Cup, Presidents Cup & NEW Illinois Cup Registration Closes This Friday, February 3
This Spring Illinois Youth Soccer is offering 3 level of statewide tournaments for 12U-19U teams of all skill levels. Registration for these 3 events close Friday, February 3.

Illinois State Cup
Open to any Illinois Youth Soccer member team but appropriate for the most competitive teams in the state. The most prestigious tournament in Illinois and part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship series.

Illinois Presidents Cup
Open to most Illinois Youth Soccer member teams (there are national restriction), this tournament offers highly competitive teams an alternative to the State Cup. State champions advance to a Regional event. The Presidents Cup is the Europa League to the State Cup's Champions League.
NEW Illinois Cup
The new Illinois Cup is a state championship tournament open to Illinois Youth Soccer member travel and high-level rec teams. This competition is designed for 3rd-Level teams and below.

This Spring the Illinois Cup is only  Boys 12U - 19U and Girls 12U-14U teams that compete in the following divisions:
  • IWSL B Division & below
  • YSSL 3rd Division and below
  • CIYSL Gold Division and below
  • SLYSA Division 1 and below
  • ILLOWA teams that finished in 3rd place and below in their age division

This Spring we will also offer a 2002 (15U) Girls Illinois Cup, open to any member 15U Girls teams looking for additional playing opportunities.
 
Illinois Youth Soccer Awards Banquet

 
Each year Illinois Youth Soccer honors those that have made a significant impact both on and off the soccer field in the state of Illinois. The  Illinois Youth Soccer Awards Banquet  will be held Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Stonegate Conference Centre, 2401 W. Higgins Rd., Hoffman Estates, IL 60169.

If interesting in joining us for an evening of celebrating our very deserving award winners and the beautiful games with the Illinois Soccer Community, you can order tickets for the 2017 Illinois Youth Soccer Awards Banquet here.  Ticket reservations are due no later than 5pm on February 10.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees: 
 
Competitive Coach Of The Year:  Rick Ceh, Heat United
Competitive Coach Of The Year: Sena Halilovic, Chicago Inter SC
Recreational Coach Of The Year Susan Bennett, Fox River Grove Rec Council
Recreational Coach Of The Year Peter Roth, Prairie Cities Soccer League
Young Female Referee Of The Year: Kelsey McInturff
Young Male Referee Of The Year: Joshua Davis
Illinois TOPSoccer Buddy Of Year: Larissa Seibt, Chicago TOPSoccer*
Illinois TOPSoccer Buddy Of Year: Juan Solis, Chicago TOPSoccer
Illinois TOPSoccer Coach Of Year: Shannon Hartinger, Trevian TOPSoccer
Illinois TOPSoccer Coach Of Year: Moni Ruterschmidt- Ryczek, Park Ridge TOPSoccer
Illinois TOPSoccer Partner Of Year: TBA
Demosphere Administrator Of Year: Sarah Bradley
Demosphere Administrator Of Year Barbara Baumgartner, Illinois State Referee Committee
Volunteer Of The Year: Susan May, Team Elmhurst
Soccer For Success Boys Player Of The Year: Leonardo Almazan
Soccer For Success Boys Player Of The Year: Jarell Harris
Soccer For Success Girls Player Of The Year: Jennifer Gonzalez
Soccer For Success Boys Coach Of The Year: TBA
Soccer For Success Girls Coach Of The Year: TBA
Meritorious Service Award: Tim Deters
Career Achievement Award Paul Cadwell, Chicago Fure
Jonathan Spector Boys ODP Scholarship Isiah Gallegos
Jonathan Spector Girls ODP Scholarship: Shalyn Pryor
US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champions: Raiders City (U14 Boys)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champions CFA Raiders (U15 Boys)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champions Chicago Red Stars (U19 Girls)
IUS Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Champions Chicago Celtic (U19 Boys)
US Youth Soccer National League Representative Campton United (U15 Girls)
US Youth Soccer National League Representative: Team Chicago Academy (U17 Girls)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: SBW Alliance (U13 Girls)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: FC United Copa (U13 Boys)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: Eclipse Elite USYSA (U14 Girls)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: Chicago Fire Jrs North (U14 Boys)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: FC United Select 2 (U15 Girls)
US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions: Ela Elite (U15 Boys)
ODP Regional Pool Players  
ODP National Pool Players  
   
*US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Winner  
 
Statewide Tournaments For 2006 (11U) Teams

Illinois Youth Soccer will offer 3 tiers of competition for the 2006 age group this Spring:
  • State Cup
  • Presidents Cup
  • Illinois Cup
Registration deadline is February 27
Registration 
 
State Premiership Applications Due Wednesday, Feb. 8
 

Illinois Youth Soccer started the State Premiership Division in Spring 2013 with support from our competitive member leagues. This exclusive competition was designed to give elite teams that are registered with Illinois Youth Soccer competitive member leagues the opporutunity to compete against other top teams in the state: 
To be considered for the Spring 2017 State Premiership Division, teams MUST be registered with an Illinois Youth Soccer member competitive league:
Since its inception, the State Premiership division has boasted:
  • 198 MRL Teams
  • 25 MRL Champions
  • 1 US Youth Soccer Regional Champion
  • 7 State Cup Champions
  • 13 State Cup Finalists,
  • 16 State Cup Semifinalists
  • 4 US Youth Soccer Midwest Presidents Cup Champions
  • 13 Illinois Presidents Cup Champions

Applications for the Spring 2017 State Premiership Division are now being accepted:
NEW Spring Soccer Festival


The Illinois Youth Soccer Spring Soccer Festival is a reimagined event (formerly the Wintrust Illinois Cup) that will allow teams made up of players born in 2007-2009 (8U-10) of ALL skill levels the chance to compete in a fun state-wide tournament. Each team will play at least 3 games (4 max) in a fun competitive atmosphere. In addition to playing on the pitch, there will be additional fun activities for the kids off the field.

Registration deadline is April 11
Registration
Internship Opportunities
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Looking for an internship in the sports world? Illinois Youth Soccer offers internship opportunities within a variety of departments including marketing, event management, communications and program administration.

Contact [email protected] for more details.
Illinois Youth Soccer Program News

  
 
TOPSoccer
 
TOPSoccer is a community based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl who has a mental or physical disability. The Illinois Youth Soccer - US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program provides assistance to affiliated organizations with ways to enable players with mental or physical disabilities to play soccer.

Illinois currently has 14 TOPSoccer programs.

Click here for more details on TOPSoccer 


Illinois ODP 

The purpose of the Illinois Olympic Development Program or ODP is to identify players on the basis of open tryouts and develop them to represent their state, region, and the United States in soccer competitions. ODP is open to any player and is designed to provide quality training opportunities to players seeking new challenges and advanced training.

Good luck to:
  • 2001 ODP Girls playing in MN at the Shattuck St Marys Showcase FEB 3-5
  • 2000 & 2001 Girls hosting MI, WI, IN at the Athletico Center FEB 11-12
  • 2000 & 2001 Boys travelling to MI ODP for interstate games FEB 12
  • 2001 Boys and 2002-2004 boys & girls going to Inter-Regional ODP Showcase in Memphis FEB 18-20
Click here for more details on Illinois ODP




Soccer For Success 
 
For over 20 years, Illinois Youth Soccer has been providing FREE after school soccer-based programs to at-risk children living in Chicago. With support from the US Soccer Foundation, the Soccer for Success Program uses soccer as a tool to teach an academic based curriculum that includes nutritional value of food and the value of exercise, education and good grades. Coaches serves as mentors, both on and off the field, for the Soccer for Success participants. These programs impact approximately 1000 children annually, including girls, for whom there are few sport-based team activities. 90% of the participants are Hispanic or African American, 90% are eligible for free/reduced school lunch, 55% are considered overweight or obese.  For more details or to make a financial donation to the program please contact [email protected]



   
 
Coaching Education
 
Whether you are a beginning parent coach or an elite level travel team coach, Illinois Youth Soccer provides the latest US Soccer certification and licensing coaching courses in English and Spanish. US Soccer licensed instructors provide the latest coaching information, techniques and tools to help you handle the challenges of coaching in a fun, learning environment. Clinics are taught by top US Soccer-licensed instructors and participants can earn a US Soccer U8, U10, U12 Youth Module certificate, an 'E' license, and state or national 'D' coaching license.

Click here for a complete listing of upcoming Coaching Courses 


Referee Training  

The National Referee Development Program is to be a service organization of integrity dedicated to all referees, whose purpose is to ensure the development of the United States Soccer Referee in terms of quality and quantity through achieving excellence in governance, education and administration. The program shall work in the interests of all its members to serve the game at every level of competition.

  Click here for a listing of upcoming referee clinics


Soccer In The Community   
 

The Chicago Fire has partnered with the Illinois Youth Soccer Association to support the growth of grassroots soccer throughout Chicago and Illinois. Through a variety of collaborative programs and educational initiatives, both the Fire and IYSA will work together to positively impact every level of youth soccer within the area.

Programs include
For more information about how Soccer In The Community can work with your program contact
 
  



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Illinois Youth Soccer
1655 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Suite 201
Arlington Heights, IL 60005