REAL SALT LAKE ANNOUNCES JUNIOR RECREATION PARTNERSHIP WITH UTAH YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Partnership Engages Over 22,000 Recreational Youth Players in Utah with the RSL Family with 25,000 Players Expected by the End of 2018
SANDY/HERRIMAN (Wednesday, July 25, 2018) – Real Salt Lake together with Utah Youth Soccer Association announced a partnership today that will see members of UYSA’s recreational soccer programs join the RSL Family. Set to be named the ‘RSL Jr. Recreation Program’, the partnership will provide members of UYSA’s Recreation Program the chance to join the RSL Family to enhance and educate fans of the world’s game in the state of Utah.
“Creating a partnership with UYSA to work with recreation programs and players in Utah is an amazing opportunity for RSL,” Technical Director for the RSL Youth Development Academy Will Rader said. “Creating a positive and exciting environment for youth soccer players beginning at the earliest stage of their development will allow us to change the culture of soccer in Utah and lead to positive experiences throughout the entire state. We are so excited to work with UYSA and all of the recreation programs in our community.”
The partnership will see over 22,000 recreational youth players across the state of Utah don the RSL Family logo on the sleeve of their jerseys (Below) throughout Utah with the over 25,000 players expected to be engaged in the program by the end of 2018. As part of the partnership, members of UYSA’s recreation program will receive a free ticket to a Real Monarchs SLC or Utah Royals FC match of their choice from the Fall of 2018 to Spring of 2019.
Free player and coach’s clinics inside the $78 million Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah will be available to UYSA coaches throughout the year to help fully enhance the education of youth coaches and players across the state.
“Utah Youth Soccer Association could not be more excited for our partnership with RSL to strengthen and for the launch of the RSL Juniors Program,” Grassroots Development
Coordinator for UYSA Lorin Palmer said. “We believe it will allow current UYSA recreation programs to enhance what they can offer their players while bringing more players in the state under the same umbrella. By being under one umbrella, more resources can be shared and utilized as both RSL and UYSA bring their strengths to the table for the benefit of youth soccer players in the state. The end goal is to provide a program that is fun while also helping with player development for youth of all ages and abilities.”
Players will receive a 15% discount on items sold at the Real Salt Lake Team Store at Rio Tinto Stadium and RSL’s downtown Team Store.
About Real Salt Lake
Officially opening just a few months ago, the Zions Bank Real Academy training campus in Herriman, Utah is located just 20 minutes southwest of Rio Tinto Stadium. The $78 million facility, which will see the first of five grass “TORO Fields” available in upcoming weeks – will serve as the daily training home for both of the club's men’s professional teams – RSL (MLS) and Real Monarchs (USL) – while centralizing the club's U-19, U-17 and future U-15 development academy youth selections under the guidance of Academy Director Martin Vasquez.
The Herriman facility provides adjacencies for an on-site charter school in conjunction with the Jordan School District, which opened last August, focusing on STEM disciplines (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) for nearly 300 boys and girls, kicking off a new era for both sports and education in Utah.
Last December in North Logan, Utah, RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen christened the opening of the first of a half-dozen regional training centers across Utah and Arizona to be built in the next 2-3 years. Each $5 million RTC houses a classroom, as well as an indoor and outdoor field, dedicated to fulfilling a curriculum consistent with the club's vision and mission for youth soccer training and education, and the continued development of both recreational and competitive pre-Academy (ages 7-14) initiatives across Utah and Arizona.
About UYSA
Utah Youth Soccer aspires to be THE premier youth sports organization in Utah. UYSA is the leader in promoting, developing and governing youth soccer in Utah; providing quality educational and developmental opportunities for all members. With educated USSF or NSCAA licensed coaches, USSF certified referees, insured players, organized leagues, and sanctioned member organizations, UYSA is the largest and most dynamic youth sports organization in Utah.
Established as a non-profit corporation January 9, 1978, Utah Youth Soccer reaches over 50,000 players across the state each year. UYSA is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S. Youth Soccer to be the governing body of soccer in Utah and is also recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the governing body for youth soccer in the state.
Currently, UYSA facilitates league and competitions for both recreational and competitive levels of play. Through an active governing board, responsive and professional office staff, and caring volunteers with knowledge of and love for the game, UYSA provides the following:
- Coach background checks, education, and licensing
- Member insurance
- Player & Team Registration
- League scheduling and management
- Recreational and Competitive levels of play
- Olympic Development Program
- TOP Soccer for kids with disabilities
- 2 National Championship qualifying tournaments as well as sanctioned local tournaments
- National membership in US Youth Soccer and United States Soccer Federation
