At Youth Soccer International, we are able to do this by focusing on our core mission - which is to provide a high-quality experience for every player. A high quality experience is one in which every player:
Has fun playing the beautiful game;
Learns skills and strategies of the game and improves as a player;-
Learns sportsmanship, fair play, dedication, and the principles of teamwork;
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Feels valued regardless of how they perform;
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Receives encouraging and constructive coaching;
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Feels like they are a part of a tight-knit community of players, families and coaches; and
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Graduates from Youth Soccer International with a lifelong passion and love for the beautiful game of soccer.
Conveniently located in the heart of Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Old Town! We hope you will join the YSI Family!
Youth Soccer International Mission
To provide a high-quality experience
for every player
KEEPING IT FUN
KEEPING IT FUN
High pressure coaching and an emphasis on winning over the well-being of players are proven to be ineffective - and lead to kids feeling demoralized at an early age and early burnout. In fact, 70 percent of young athletes drop out of team sports by age 13, citing lack of fun as their main reason for quitting. For this reason, at Youth Soccer International, we strive to make our curriculums, above all else, fun and engaging. By incorporating fun into how we teach our 5-12 year olds, we strive to spark in our kids a lifelong love of sports so that they will stay in the game long after they graduate from Youth Soccer International.
The YSI Family
THE YSI FAMILY
At Youth Soccer International, there’s a distinct culture of community, togetherness, and friendship, among the players and families alike. There is something truly special and intangible about the YSI community that is hard to put into words. You can see it in the way that YSI kids play as a team together and the way they cheer each other on and celebrate victories together. There is so much friendship in the organization among the players and families alike, which is why it feels like a family and the reason we call ourselves "The YSI Family."
Development
FOCUS ON PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Too many youth soccer academies focus on winning results in poorly played soccer - a style of play and a tendency by coaches to exploit the raw physical abilities of early bloomers in the pursuit of club or team statistics. Clubs that have this mentality: 1) focus on the early bloomer players at the expense of other players, and 2) fail to provide the late bloomer players with advanced training and the right soccer environment to succeed later when their size and physical capabilities mature.
This is not the Youth Soccer International way. At Youth Soccer International, we aspire to provide a high-quality experience for every player as opposed to a select group of early bloomer players. We believe that providing our players the right environment and the right kind of high-quality coaching will help each of our players realize their potential on the field.
Values
Values
At Youth Soccer International, we do not believe in early specialization in any one sport. Many believe that starting to focus on one sport early on will make kids more likely to get scholarships or reach dreams of “going pro.” The thought is that the earlier a child starts practicing a skill, the earlier they’ll become an expert at it.
The truth is, however, that “less than 1 percent of kids grow up to be pro athletes. The point in getting kids involved in sports isn’t to raise the next Serena or Lebron, says sport psychologist and parenting expert Jim Taylor, PhD. It’s to give them the mental tools to be healthy, happy and successful for the rest of their lives. The secret, he says, is creating positive athletic experiences and not buying into the “youth sports industrial complex.’”
Youth Soccer International’s instructional approach is modeled after these values - we believe in competition but not at the expense of our players’ emotional well-being and we encourage our young players to try out multiple sports. We want, more than anything, for our players to enjoy playing soccer and build their confidence on and off the field!
Youth Soccer International
Join The YSI Family
At Youth Soccer International, we focus on the development of children between 5 to 12 years old. This is the age group when coaches can have the most impact on kids - how kids learn at this age, the style of coaching and philosophy of an organization can either lead to early burnout or spark in kids a love for soccer and sports in general that will last a lifetime. By tailoring our approach to the physical and social-emotional needs of this younger age group, we are able to give our younger kids the attention they need and the kind of supportive and play-based environment they need to thrive both on and off the field, as well as fall in love with the beautiful game.
Open Programs
Youth Soccer International’s Recreational Programs offer an opportunity for young players to learn soccer in a fun and engaging way, build friendships, develop community and build a passion for the game through friendly competition.
Teams
Youth Soccer International teams compete in different leagues across Chicago. Team players learn a wide array of soccer skills, strategies, and values to maximize their development, realize their potential on the field, and prepare them for competition.
Summer Camps
Youth Soccer International summer camps are all about soccer, having fun, and making friends. All skill levels are welcome. Groups are organized by age with kids ranging from 5-12 years old.
Community Impact - The YSI Foundation
A Note from YSI Parents
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Dear YSI Families and Friends, As YSI Parents and Board Members of The YSI Foundation, we would like to personally invite you to the First Annual YSI Foundation Galazo. We’ve been parents for the past 12 years… and for many of those years, we’ve entrusted the phenomenal YSI coaches and program in helping to develop, nurture, and educate our children. Nothing rivals the love we have for our children and families… though watching our favorite soccer clubs comes close. So, it’s been a profoundly delightful experience seeing our children grow up playing a sport we love- gaining confidence and camaraderie, developing friendships, continuing to hone their athleticism and leadership, and learning how to play the beautiful game beautifully. YSI has been a huge part in nurturing these skills and qualities in our children over the last five years. We both recognize that we have the privilege and resources to provide our children with this phenomenal soccer and life instruction and guidance. We revel in how they are developing a love of the game and a love for their soccer family- a family that is local, national, and international in scope and scale. We have watched our kids score goals, make impressive tackles, demonstrate graceful footwork, and make tactful assists so their teammates can score. And as much as we celebrate our kids’ successes, and their team’s successes, we celebrate just as much when we see them rejoicing over a teammate’s success, and consoling their friends when the score does not reflect the heart, passion, and sweat they invest into their games. The joy, the collaboration, the support, the growth, the family- we would love to make this available to all children who are taken with the beautiful game. We know that not all our amazing youth and their families have the resources and privilege to afford what YSI offers. The YSI Foundation is bringing the opportunity our families and children have benefited from to all of Chicago’s families, irrespective of financial resources and access. Let’s lean into the beautiful game together, and make this fantastic program available for all of Chicago’s beautiful families. We hope you will join us on March 5th- get your tickets by clicking on The YSI Foundation link below. In soccer, service, and gratitude, David and Neil (parents of River 2011 and Dylan 2012)
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