The Latest Score - March/April 2025

MARCH/APRIL 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

Get the latest on WSA's College ID Camp; State Program Tryout Information; Club Benefits through Wyoming Soccer Grants; Take Your Team on an International Tour; Learn about college Prep + Save on travel AND benefit your local club.

THE LATEST

FROM US YOUTH SOCCER

Learn about Wyoming Soccer Players who made the USYS ODP National Select Teams and find out how they did on the international stage!

THE LATEST FROM US SOCCER FEDERATION

Get the latest on USSF's Referee Abuse Prevention Policy!

THE LATEST

FOR REFEREES

Find out how you can become a referee, the incentives for doing so and help us retain and recruit referees so the game can go on!

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS!

Get to know Sheridan TOPSoccer Player, Jayden Layher, and Worland Soccer Association Player, Harlowe Newton!

COACHES CORNER

Wyoming Soccer's upcoming education courses, informal and formal training opportunities and how to get your club onboarded with MOJO!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get the full line up of WSA Sanctioned Spring Events and Tournaments.

Our partner, Soccer Parenting Association, is a great resource to help ensure the playing environment for our kids is safe and conducive to growth and development.

One of their latest blog posts is about parents who played and how they can best support their youth players. We are starting to see more parents who used to play, so this article is very relevant, especially as we get into our tournament season!

This is an excerpt from the blog post...

As adults we tend to remember best, and as a result, use as a reference point, the level we were at when we stopped playing. This is natural as it is the freshest in our minds. As a result, our most recent memories are those of playing when we had the greatest depth of understanding and tactical awareness of the game. While we may remember working hard to attain this, what is often forgotten are the physical and cognitive stages and progressions we went through to get there.

We do not to ask a toddler just learning to walk to sprint and get frustrated when they can't, yet often players are directed to do essentially that. Yelling at a player who can't consistently complete a 10-yard pass to shoot from 20 yards out, because in our memory it is easy, is essentially the same as asking them to add before they can count or run before they can walk.

With the above in mind, Soccer Parenting Association offers suggestions to help you guide and support your child on their soccer journey.

This includes suggestions for before, during and after the game.

To read the full article and get tips for how to better support your player(s), please click HERE...

THE LATEST FROM WYOMING SOCCER

WYOMING SOCCER'S COLLEGE ID CAMP

Tryout for Wyoming 307 Select & Receive a Discount (HS Students Only)

Wyoming Soccer Association is hosting our Second Annual College ID Camp this Summer on June 8, 2025 in Casper!

If you or your player will be attending high school during the 2025/2026 school year or are currently enrolled in college and want to play soccer, you are welcome to join us!

Confirmed attending colleges are:

University of Wyoming
Casper College
Gillette Community College
Laramie County Community College
Northwest Community College
Western Wyoming College

The fee is only $75 and includes a t-shirt. If you are planning to attend Wyoming 307 Select Tryouts, you will receive a $20 discount. Be sure to register for the tryouts first to receive the voucher code, which will be included in your confirmation email.

INNOVATE TO GROW

Wyoming Soccer Club Grant Opportunities

Wyoming Soccer has received several Innovate to Grow grants from the U.S. Soccer Federation and each has direct benefits for our clubs.

We currently have three active grants and below outlines how your club can benefit from each and a list of clubs who have participated in our grant opportunities.

THE ALL-IN PROJECT

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 or 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.

Clubs currently receiving translation services through this grant:

1) Casper Soccer Club

2) Cheyenne Soccer Club

3) Gillette Edge

4) Jackson Hole Youth Soccer

5) Rock Springs Soccer Association

6) Star Valley Soccer Club

7) Sublette County Soccer Club

PLAY IT FORWARD

WSA will offer incentives to coaching, such as education, software tools to guide and help them continue the coaching path, a coach kit and other raffle type incentives for achieving milestones of the program. US Soccer says that “education is a journey” and Wyoming Soccer wants to start developing our coaches earlier, getting them on a structured path to education with no barriers to start their journey.

An additional goal of the program will be to create an internship program for prospective and current college students to help them in obtaining scholarships or required internship credit.

Clubs currently participating in opportunities through this grant include:

Utilization of MOJO for their coaches (Clubs can start process by clicking HERE):

1) Heart Mountain United Soccer Association

2) Jackson Hole Youth Soccer

3) Johnson County Soccer Association

4) Lander Valley Soccer Association

5) Rock Springs Soccer Association

6) Sheridan County Soccer Association

7) Star Valley Soccer Club

Several others have had a kick-off call, but are not onboarded yet.

This will all be part of our NextGen Coach Program.

SOW SOCCER

SOW Soccer, which stands for Spark Opportunities With Soccer is a program 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). This program also funds the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Soccer for Success program in schools. This program was traditionally created for after-school programming and Wyoming was the first state to initiate the in-school programming model. We also had one of the first nationally certified trainers with Dave Eldred becoming certified last year.

Clubs who have benefited from this program include:

1) Jackson Hole Youth Soccer (Soccer clinics to draw female and Hispanic players)

2) Sheridan County Soccer Association (TOPSoccer Program)

3) Newcastle Soccer League (Soccer Clinic)

4) Heart Mountain United Soccer Association (Soccer Clinic)

5) Rock Springs Soccer Association (Field Paint Robot)

6) Star Valley Soccer Club (start-up costs)

7) Sublette United Soccer Club (start-up costs)

School Districts currently using the Soccer for Success model (funded by the SOW Soccer Program):

1) Sweetwater County

2) Uinta County

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! To date, we have invested over $100K into our clubs through these grants. Clubs CANNOT apply directly, so bring your ideas to us and we will do what we can to continue to grow grassroots soccer throughout Wyoming!

WYOMING 307 SELECT & ODP

Our Wyoming 307 Select teams are pausing for the Spring Soccer Season, but are gearing up for a busy summer of travel soccer, training and Tryouts for the 2025/2026 Season.

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 check out the Wyoming 307 Select page on our website.

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!

Tryouts for the upcoming 2025/2026 will occur over two weekends (May 31- June 1, 2025 & June 7-8, 2025) in Casper. Details regarding tryouts and the format for each weekend can be found on our Wyoming 307 Select page on our web site and complete program information can be found in our Wyoming 307 Select Manual.

TRYOUTS REGISTRATION LINK

BE PREPARED FOR THE ACT/SAT TESTS

We are here to help through the eKnowledge PowerPrep10

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 (June 14, 2025) is May 9, 2025.

The deadline to register for the first available SAT Test of 2025 (June 7, 2025) is May 22, 2025.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POWERPREP 10... and ensure your student is ready!

WYOMING SOCCER PARTNERS WITH GLOBAL COMPANY

You go. You save. They give.

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!

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!!

WSA Affiliated Club Codes

THE LATEST FROM US YOUTH SOCCER

US YOUTH SOCCER ODP NATIONAL SELECT TEAM UPDATE

International Representation from Three Wyoming Players!

In case you missed it, Wyoming Soccer had THREE players who were selected for and played with USYS ODP National Select Teams internationally over the past month.

We would like to congratulate Isabel Vasco (Green River) & Ava Wallhead (Laramie) for making it to the 2008 Girls ODP National Select team and being part of the Championship team in Turin, Italy at the Italia Pro Cup. Isa was also selected as Team Captain during the Championship match and voted "Best Attacker". Tommy Vasco (Green River) also was selected to be part of the 2010 Boys National Select Team and the U.S. team won all their matches in Costa Rica! This is an amazing achievement and the dedication and hard work these players have put in to make it this far deserves some serious celebration!

THE LATEST FROM US SOCCER

US SOCCER REFEREE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY

The above video outlines the new U.S. Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (531-9), which was implemented March 1, 2025.

Please find complete information on the new policy HERE and ensure you represent Wyoming Soccer proudly both on and off the pitch. Your actions have consequences and they are now more serious than ever. Please ensure you understand the new policy, take ownership and do your part to prevent referee abuse.

For questions about this policy, please click HERE.

THE LATEST FOR REFEREES

OVERCOMING THE REFEREE SHORTAGE

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.

Wyoming Referee Clinics

If your club is interested in hosting a referee clinic, please click HERE.

If you are interested in becoming a referee, please click HERE.

MARCH - JAYDEN LAYHER (SHERIDAN TOPSOCCER)

APRIL - HARLOWE NEWTON (WORLAND)

Sheridan TOPSoccer Player, Jayden Layher, is in the spotlight for the Month of March.

Jayden has been playing TOPSoccer since the inception of the program in Sheridan, which started in 2020 through a Wyoming Soccer Innovate to Grow grant. He absolutely loves going to soccer and being part of the program.

He doesn't have a favorite position he plays, but he absolutely loves to kick goals! He is working on passing the ball to a team mate before scoring. Jayden likes to stop the ball with his foot and reminds everyone not to use their hands to touch the ball while they are playing...the number one rule of soccer!

Jayden loves super heroes, especially Spiderman. He enjoys all his friends at school and his favorite class is P.E. He loves cheese pizza and ice cream. He likes camping with his family, hanging out in the hammock, and throwing rocks in the lake. Jayden likes to hit the ball and bat in the backyard.

Jayden is always smiling and is up for a good time. The other kids love playing with Jayden and the TOPSoccer Buddies equally enjoy working with him and teaching him new things! He just keeps learning and growing!

Worland Soccer Association player, Harlowe Newton, is in the spotlight for the Month of April.

Harlowe has been playing competitive soccer for three years and she usually plays wing. Harlowe and her teammates will jump in to any soccer game they can. Last year they guest played for an older Powell team (14U) in a Billings tournament and other than size, you’d never know they weren't regulars on that team.

Harlowe's parents credit Coach Corey Davis for inspiring Harlowe to get on the pitch. Prior to working with Coach Corey, Harlowe was shy to try sports. But, after she started playing on his team, she’s no longer afraid to try different activities. This 6th grade year she went out for wrestling, track, and traveling soccer.

Coach Corey had A LOT to say about Harlowe, and here is a synopsis (he provided an essay! LOL) of what he thinks of this amazing young lady, "Harlowe works hard, leads by example, listens to everything you say, picks up on things that have been pointed out to her teammates, asks questions, and comes to practice every day with the intent to get better than she already was. Harlowe is a selfless teammate. She would much rather her teammates receive recognition than her. She is constantly complimenting her teammates and picking them up with positive affirmations. Our team feeds off Harlowe's positive vibes and constant grinding in practice. She plays hard, fast, physical, and has a cannon for a leg. She has worked very hard on all aspects of her game, but she has worked especially hard on her ball skills and shooting. She can now get off a quick pass and has one of the hardest shots you'll see in her age group with ease. Soccer aside, she is extremely kind, smart, talented, compassionate, hardworking, selfless, humble, and looks out for others. She is an awesome sister, daughter, and friend. I'm so proud of Harlowe as an athlete, student, and person in general. I consider myself lucky to get to work with such an amazing group of girls and such an amazing person as Harlowe Newton. I can't wait to see what she accomplishes in the future."

Harlowe goes to the gym on days she doesn’t have school sports or traveling sports, she loves playing her clarinet, loves music, drawling, hanging out with her friends and family. Harlowe has come a long way as an athlete and an individual since Corey Davis brought her on board the soccer team. He not only coaches the sport, he coaches the athlete and we feel that has made a huge impact on Harlowe and how she has grown as an athlete in just three short years. We are excited to watch Harlowe and all of her teammates continue to play soccer.

We are honored to recognize both Jayden and Harlowe as our spotlighted players for the months of March and April. 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.

THE LATEST FROM OUR PARTNERS

BRAVO SPORTS TOURS

Take Your Team on an International Tour!

If you are interested in having your team go on an international tour, please contact us. We have a relationship with Bravo Sports Tours and can help you get a great deal!

Find out more about Bravo Sports Tours and the benefits of their trips by clicking HERE.

Look like fun? Soon, we will have photos of one of our own teams - the Casper Soccer Club has a team traveling to Spain this summer! We cannot wait to hear about their experience!

THE LATEST FOR COACHES

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!