THE LATEST FROM WYOMING SOCCER | | |
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WYOMING 307 SELECT & ODP
Wyoming Soccer has finalized our player pools for our Wyoming 307 Select Program and roster selections for designated ODP events. You can view all player selections for our state programs HERE. Twelve teams recently traveled to St. George, UT & Mesquite, NV to play in the 7-Elite International Tournament!
Wyoming Soccer Association is actively seeking a state sponsor for our state programs. If you are aware of a business or organization who would like statewide exposure to families and young athletes, we would like to visit with them! Please contact our Sponsorship Committee Chair, Andrew Apfelberg, if you or anyone you know would be interested in this amazing opportunity.
To find out more about our Wyoming 307 Select program please (including planned dates for the 2025/2026 season) check out the Wyoming 307 Select page on our website. The registration for Tryouts will be opening very soon!
Our Wyoming 307 Select Coaches are constantly scouting for players at our events across the state. If you want your player to be evaluated at an upcoming event, please let us know!
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INNOVATE TO GROW
Wyoming Soccer Receives Its 5th Innovate to Grow Grant from USSF
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Wyoming Soccer is pleased to announce that we have received our 5th Innovate to Grow grant from US Soccer Federation.
This new grant will focus on inclusion and resources for the Hispanic population in Wyoming and we are calling it The All-In Project.
WHAT do we want to achieve?
The All-In Project is multi-faceted, and will aim to achieve the following:
1) Create on-line resources and a fully translated web site in Spanish for our Spanish-speaking population – both affiliated and non-affiliated.
2) Assist Wyoming Soccer Association affiliated clubs with creating Spanish resources (those with the highest number of Spanish-speaking/Hispanic members).
3) Provide & fund coach education for two bi-lingual instructors and facilitate grassroots courses in Spanish.
4) Provide & fund referee-mentor education for two bi-lingual referees and facilitate referee clinics in Spanish.
WHAT are the goals and objectives?
The goals and objectives of The All-In Project are:
1) Achieve percentages of Hispanic membership that are in alignment with or greater than the US Census of Hispanic members in each community where we currently have a club. This should result in an overall increase of 150 players or about 3%.
2) Develop 2 bi-lingual coach instructors
a. This will also double the number of coach instructors in WY, which will be a tremendous help. Our current instructors are spread thin and reside in the southeast corner of the state, so not geographically ideal.
b. Because our coaches are not paid, funding this education is not feasible for most of them on their own.
3) Develop 2 bi-lingual referee mentors
4) Provide at least one coach education weekend (2 grassroots courses) and 1 referee clinic in Spanish per year.
5) Ensure no child is left out due to a language barrier and all pplayers/parents/referees/coaches feel included & valued.
Our first grant, which was to fund a Futsal League in 2018-2019 resulted in significant growth across Wyoming in Futsal, with many of our clubs providing Futsal programming in the winter months and two Futsal style events in the state. We also have tons of Wyoming Futsal uniforms, so if your club is in need of uniforms for your Futsal programs, please let us know - we can hook you up!
Our current grant programs include SOW Soccer, which clubs can tap into to create programming that breaks down barriers to participation (this can be a soccer clinic geared towards a specific demographic, creating club scholarships, forming a TOPSoccer program in your community, or anything else that drives participation). Clubs have received funds to start TOPSoccer programs, facilitate summer clinics, and get funds to start up new programs in underserved areas of the state, such as Sublette County and Star Valley. Funds are also being used to fund the US Soccer Foundation Soccer for Success programs in physical education classes across the state. Please contact us if you want more information about how to do this in your community.
Our other active grant is the Play It Forward Grant, which funds the MOJO app for all clubs across the state. If your club is not using MOJO, please let us know and we will help them get onboarded. This grant can also help pay for coach education and intenrship opportunities for college students who are looking to work within their local clubs.
We would be thrilled to work with you on writing a grant for next year. I think we know a thing or two about how to secure these funds...use us as a resource. We are here for our clubs and our members! Clubs CANNOT apply directly for these grants, so bring your ideas to us and we will do what we can to grow grassroots soccer throughout Wyoming!
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BE PREPARED FOR THE ACT/SAT TESTS
We are here to help through the eKnowledge PowerPrep10
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Wyoming Soccer Association's partner, eKnowledge, has boosted their programming to assist our high school aged soccer players across the state in gaining some amazing ACT and SAT test prep for a deal almost too good to be true.
The PowerPrep10 Beta Program is a course that is intuitive, student-driven, comprehensive, multi-media, content rich and focused precisely on your student's needs with instant access to a LIVE teacher!
The value of this is $350, but as a member of Wyoming Soccer Association you can get in for as low as $19.99 and can receive EVERYTHING for only $49.99 - a $1500 value!
Registration deadline to register for the next available ACT Test of 2025 (April 5, 2025) is February 28, 2025.
The deadline to register for the first available SAT Test of 2025 (May 3, 2025) is April 18, 2025.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POWERPREP 10... and ensure your student is ready!
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WYOMING SOCCER PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL COMPANY
You go. You save. They give.
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Wyoming Soccer Association has partnered directly with Go & Give, a philanthropic global company that believes travel can be a transformative experience that not only enriches our lives, but also has the power to create positive change in the world. Go & Give has committed to giving back a portion of proceeds to non-profits, including Wyoming Soccer and our local clubs.
Book your next adventure with Go & Give and join us in our mission to create a better world through travel. Watch the below video to see exactly how it works!
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You can access all club codes below so you can be sure your next trip benefits your local soccer club! You go. You save. They give!! | |
THE LATEST FROM US YOUTH SOCCER | | |
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US YOUTH SOCCER ANNOUNCES ODP NATIONAL SELECT TEAM ROSTERS
Three Wyoming Players Selected
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In case you missed it, Wyoming Soccer has THREE players who were selected for USYS ODP National Select Teams this year. The complete list of roster selections for boys can be found HERE, and the complete list of roster selections for girls can be found HERE.
We would like to congratulate Isabel Vasco (Green River) & Ava Wallhead (Laramie) for making it to the 2008 Girls ODP National Select team and Tommy Vasco (Green River) for making it to the 2010 Boys National Select Team. This is an amazoing achievement and we are very proud of the dedication and hard work these players have put in to make it this far.
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THE LATEST FROM US SOCCER | | |
US SOCCER UPDATE ON PLAYER REGISTRATION PATH FORWARD | | |
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This past Fall, Wyoming Soccer surveyed our affiliated clubs regarding preference of birth year vs. school registration. Prior to 2017, players registered based on school year. US Soccer has received continuous feedback on this subject since that time and reconsidered their decision. Upon surveying membership across the country, they have determined a path forward, which will take effect at the onset of the 2026-2027 season. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES UNTIL AUGUST 2026.
You can view US Soccer's survey results and their statement HERE.
Please understand changes to Wyoming Soccer Association's Rules & Procedures will have to be voted on by the Wyoming Soccer Board of Directors in order for our clubs to make changes to their current registration guidelines. At this time, no changes have been determined for Wyoming Soccer member clubs, but rest assured our membership was loud and clear and we heard you and proposed changes will be taken to the board for consideration for the 2026-2027 season.
More information will be coming after this weekend's US Soccer Federation AGM in Atlanta, GA.
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OVERCOMING THE REFEREE SHORTAGE | |
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Wyoming Soccer is working hard to gain more referees, and the best way to do that is to host or attend a referee clinic. We invite you to take advantage of the opportunity to offset some of the costs of youth soccer, earn some extra money, familiarize yourself with the rules and see things from a new perspective!
Contact Roger Brown if you have questions.
Click the below button to find out about all our upcoming Wyoming Referee Clinics.
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If your club is interested in hosting a referee clinic, please click HERE.
If you are interested in becoming a referee, please click HERE.
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JANUARY - AUTUMN ELLISON (CHEYENNE)
FEBRUARY - PAELÉ RAPP (POWELL)
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Cheyenne Sting Player, Autumn Ellison, is in the spotlight for the Month of January.
Autumn is a sophomore at Cheyenne Central High School and has played soccer since she was four years old on several Cheyenne Sting teams. She has played most positions but recently has concentrated on defensive midfield. Autumn has also played on the 2009 Girls Wyoming 307 Select team for several years, and this past year, she occasionally played with the 2007-2008 Girls team. Autumn has also participated on the 2009 Girls Wyoming ODP team for the past four years. She has had the opportunity to guest play with several other soccer clubs, including Gillette, Casper and Powell and has a lot of great stories from tournaments all over Wyoming and the region. She has really enjoyed the friendships she has built with girls from around the state and the high level of coaching and competition she has been afforded.
Autumn’s love of soccer has been a driving force in her life since she was young, however at the age of 13, life threw her a curve ball. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). ITP is a rare condition, where the patient’s over-active immune system attacks their blood cells, specifically the platelets, which are essential for clotting. The result is a low platelet count, which for Autumn has meant increased bruising, bleeding, migraines and fatigue and has resulted in her doctors limiting her physical activity when her counts are low, which has meant in many cases, no soccer. Her doctors at Children’s Hospital tried a variety of prescription drugs with little success, which led to a splenectomy this past January. She is hopeful the surgery will improve her condition and allow her to play soccer on a regular basis again. She is particularly excited to play again for her high school team this spring.
Autumn enjoys listening to music, eating at Crumbl and Cane’s, shopping with her mom and hanging out with her new kitten, Vanellope, who she recently adopted from the animal shelter.
Her coach, Coy Pickel, says, "Autumn has a great love for the game that is clearly visible. Autumn plays soccer year round for all kinds of teams and she guest plays for anyone that asks. Autumn never misses practice or games. Athletically, Autumn is blessed with quickness, speed, endurance and long legs that steal every ball that gets in her vicinity. Autumn is one of the best natural athletes I have coached. She is a natural defender and can play anywhere along the back line and midfield. At the beginning of the season, I challenged her to play more in the attack and she has done a great job doing it, and started creating a lot of chances for her and her teammates. Autumn is fearless and battles for everything with other players and for every ball. She will run through every ball, win balls in the air and just competes for everything. Autumn is always one of, if not the hardest, workers on the field every game and is a pain to compete against."
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Heart Mountain United Soccer Association player, Paelé Rapp, is in the spotlight for the Month of February.
Paelé is a 13U player and has been playing soccer nearly his entire life. He is a versatile player, but usually plays forward. He has a great attitude and a "do whatever it takes" mentality. He is a multi-sport athlete and yet he dedicates himself fully to every sport he participates in. He is committed and it shows in the way he plays.
Over the months of January and February, Paelé participated in the USYS West Region ODP Championships with the 2012 Boys Wyoming ODP team, and the 7-Elite International Tournament with the 2012 Boys Wyoming 307 Select team. He is truly an asset to the state programs and he delivers every time he is on the field.
He has also traveled with Coach Sterling Christler as a guest player to multiple indoor soccer tournaments. He accomplishes this while participating in middle school wrestling as a sixth grader where he placed top five in multiple tournaments. Paelé also competed on his school's Math Counts team, he holds a 4.0 GPA. Paelé was recently named Student of the month at his middle school, and it is not hard to see why! He is currently also participating in USA Wrestling, and his agility is proving beneficial in both wrestling and soccer!
Outside of playing sports, Paelé is an avid football and soccer card collector, as well as coin collector. He is a problem solver in the sense that he loves things like solving rubix cubes and other logic puzzles. He can also play the piano.
Coach Sterling Christler add, "Paelé is one of most selfless players I have seen…he consistently looks for the angles and opportunities to create opportunities for his teammates! He always has a smile on his face and is a competitor for sure." Paelé is a consummate teammate and student of the game and willing to fill whatever role his team needs him to fill, which is why he was selected as our February Spotlight Player.
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We are honored to recognize both Autumn and Paelé as our spotlighted players for the months of January and February. Remember, the Player Spotlight can highlight achievement in any area, whether it's soccer, academics, community, or attitude. All 2025 spotlighted players will be recognized at our annual Awards Celebration in March 2026 and will be eligible to win our coveted 2026 Player of the Year or TOPSoccer Player of the Year Award! Please share your kids with us.
To nominate a player from your club for the Player Spotlight, please download the nomination form by clicking HERE. Once completed, please email to wssa@wyomingsoccer.com.
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COACH EDUCATION
Formal, Informal, US Soccer, United Soccer Coaches...
If you are interested in having your club host ANY type of coach education/training, whether a formal licensing course (grassroots or higher) through US Soccer, a certification course through United Soccer Coaches, or simply an informal training to help your local coaches grow, please reach out to Dave Eldred at td@wyomingsoccer.com.
Dave would be happy to hear from you and help guide you regarding the best way to help your club's coach development initiatives - wherever you may be along the way.
We are also currently onboarding all of our soccer clubs with the MOJO app to be used by competitive and recreational coaches alike! Be on the lookout for more information coming from your club! If your club has not started yet, please let us know and we will help them get it going!
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WYOMING AGM & AWARDS - CASPER, WY
March 8, 2025
THE RAMPAGE RUMBLE - RIVERTON, WY
April 12-13, 2025
THE CODY SHOOTOUT - CODY, WY
May 3-4, 2025
THE BIGHORN MOUNTAIN CUP - SHERIDAN, WY
May 10-11, 2025
JACKSON HOLE UNITED CUP
May 17-18, 2025'
WYOMING CUP & CHAMPIONSHIPS - CASPER, WY
May 24-26, 2025
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CODE OF CONDUCT HIGHLIGHT | | | |
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Please remember all registrants must agree to the Wyoming Soccer Association's (WSA's) Code of Conduct.
Take pride in your appearance
as a member of
Wyoming Soccer Association
and your local club.
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GET TO KNOW OUR GROWING LIST OF PARTNERS
DO YOU WANT TO BE OUR NEXT PARTNER? - PLEASE CLICK HERE!
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WYOMING SOCCER ASSOCIATION| www.wyomingsoccer.com
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