December 2021

Thank you for an amazing 2021!

On behalf of the SYA Board of Directors, staff and commissioners, we wish you, your athletes, and your families, a healthy and happy holiday season, and look forward to all the memories 2022 will make!

SYA wants to thank all members for this past successful fall season. Your Board of Directors appreciates everyone's patience and understanding of adjustments that are needed in relation to COVID and ensuring everyone's safety.

We continue to be good stewards of our children's safety as we constantly re-evaluate our SYA protocols as suggested by federal, state, and local officials. While there is a relaxation going on, there is still a need for unvaccinated coaches/officials to wear masks outdoors and indoors all persons must wear masks (except participants that are actively participating).

We have also recently updated our "Return to Play" and "What to do When Sick" guidelines. These can be found on our website and when you register to participate or volunteer. If you are new to SYA, please fully read them and if you are returning to SYA, please re-read and familiarize yourself with them.

Please refer to our updates on our website for the Return to Play and what to do if your SYA athlete or volunteer is sick.

Spring SYA Sports Registration is OPEN!!!

Registration is open for Spring SYA Sports, register now for Baseball, Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, Softball,Track and Volleyball.

Spaces are still available for Winter Wrestling

For both experienced and new wrestlers, if you have an athlete who wants to participate, register now!

Fall Sports Wrap up Amazing Seasons

SYA Soccer - After our fall regular soccer season ended, we were excited to have twenty-two all-star teams extend their season by playing in the Herndon All-star Cup, November 20-21. Players on these teams were nominated by their coaches and selections were made based on these recommendations.

Eight of our teams played in the U8 boys and girls age groups with a festival format and received participation awards. It was a fantastic experience for our young players whom all had a great time!!

The remaining 14 teams played in preliminary rounds on Saturday with four fast-paced games of 25 minutes! Based on the teams’ records on Saturday, they were seeded for Sunday’s championship round of games. We are pleased to announce that our U11B team, for the third consecutive all-star tournament, were crowned Champions! We are also happy to say that our U9B South team also was crowned Champions! Taking home Finalist honors were our U11G team as well as our U10B North team!

Congratulations to these teams as well as all our all-star players for their selection to all-stars. Thank you to our all-star coaches who helped these players prepare for the tournament and were on the sidelines coaching! Well done to all!

SYA Tackle Football fielded ten teams this fall, eight teams went to playoffs, and three teams to championship (80C, 115C, 130N). What a great program with many friends made along the way. Don't forget that SYA offers NFL Flag Football in the Spring - sign up today!

SYA Field Hockey - after a year off due to COVID, SYA restarted the program this past fall. We got a late start but that did not deter our young ladies. We appreciate the volunteers we had and welcomed the direction of former SYA Field Hockey Commissioner, Susan Malkus for coming out and giving us direction. In addition, Westfield High School Varsity Field Hockey Coach, Danielle Barthold and her team came out to coach up the gilrs on several of our practices.

We are looking ahead and hope to have a clinic this spring and are planning a full season of practice and games next fall. Pictured above are some of the teams we had this fall! Thank you for a great season!

SYA Cross Country - On Saturday, October 9, SYA hosted hundreds of kids from cross country teams from across the region at the SYA Sports Park. Fantastic event held yearly at the Sports Park in October! Congrats to all the runners!

Thank You For a successful Giving Tuesday Campaign!

On Tuesday, November 30, SYA asked the SYA Community to consider volunteering their time and talents to SYA for the upcoming Winter and Spring Seasons, as well as to support SYA with other projects and events. We appreciate those who have been volunteering for years and those who have just signed up.

Interested in volunteering?

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will be participating in the Annual National Capital Region Fire and EMS Departments’ 2021 TOYS FOR TOTS Campaign. The intent of the campaign is to “bring holiday joy and deliver a message of hope to children.” Stations will accept donations through Sunday, December 12, 2021.

Thank you for making the SYA, Virginia Valor FC, and CYA Turkey Trot a Success!

SYA, Valor, and CYA join forces for Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot!

On the Thanksgiving morning we held the Community Turkey Trot at SYA Sports Park. This event was a collaboration between SYA, Virginia Valor, and CYA. There were 308 runners who participated in either a 3K Fun run or the 5K Turkey Trot. A big thank you to Mike McLenigan, with SYA cross-country, for his help in setting up the courses, and all the volunteers that helped make the event a huge success. After the race, there was food and drinks provided and race sponsors set up tents with fun activities. A great time was had by all, we are looking forward to hosting and growing the event next year.

Support SYA While You Shop this Holiday Season!

SYA is a registered organization in the Amazon Smile program, a simple way for you to support SYA every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop through our link , you will find the same prices and selection as Amazon.com with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to SYA.

To participate go to smile.amazon.com/ch/51-0139457 and lock this in as your standard Amazon link so that you can donate easily to SYA! You only need to do this the 1st time you go to smile.amazon.com. Shop as you normally would and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your qualified purchase to SYA. It’s that simple

On Saturday, December 4, more than 70 SYA Coaches took part in the Positive Coaching Alliance Workshop, Culture, Practices and Games. This course helped coaches of all experience levels learn the key to success.

The coaches learned how to generate positive team culture, allowing athletes to thrive, love their experience in sports, and reach their full potential.

Thank you for Supporting the Southwestern Youth Association!

Want to Sponsor? Contact Scott Liskey

All funds raised support the SYA Sports Park and all SYA Sports.

Thank you to our longstanding partnerships.