What Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association does

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) is a private nonprofit state association affiliated with US Youth Soccer, operating as the governing body for organized youth soccer in Wisconsin. The organization serves approximately 130 member clubs organized across 10 geographic districts (East Central, Kickers, Madison Area, Metro, Midway, Ozaukee, Southeast, Stateline, Waukesha, and West), reaching youth players ages 5-19 through a structured pipeline from recreational play to elite competition. Core programming includes tiered competitive leagues (State League, Southeast Classic League, Northwest Classic League, Developmental League), national championship pathways (State Championship, Presidents Cup), the Olympic Development Program (ODP), TOPSoccer for athletes with disabilities, coaching education from Y certificates through US Soccer C License, and referee development via WisRef.

The technology backbone is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: PlayMetrics serves as the official player registration and program management platform (effective 2024-2025 season), SportsEngine powers the website, Assignr is slated for referee management integration, and Veo provides video capture services. Notable national achievements of member clubs include Elmbrook United (2025 16U Girls National Champions) and Lakeshore United FC (2022 19U Girls Presidents Cup National Champions).

WYSA's business model is a hybrid of membership dues, per-player registration fees ($5.50-$22), coaching course fees ($103 for Grassroots, $1,650 for C License), tournament sanctioning fees ($350-$500), and ancillary revenue from grants and scholarships (Mike Kabanica, Brett Wiesner). The go-to-market motion is community-led: WYSA does not sell directly to consumers but operates through its affiliated club network, with growth driven by club affiliation and word-of-mouth within the Wisconsin soccer community. Leadership includes Executive Director Melissa Zielinski and a specialized administrative team covering ODP, risk management, league administration, tournament administration, and referee development.

Name

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association

Legal name

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association

Website

https://wiyouthsoccer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) is a nonprofit state youth soccer association serving approximately 130 member clubs across 10 Wisconsin districts through competitive leagues, ODP, coaching education, referee development, and national championship pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Coaching education courses
• Referee development
• League competitions
• Olympic development program

Headquarters

HQ city

West Allis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Player Registration Fees: Annual registration fees collected from players at various levels: Pre-K ($5.50), Grassroots ($8.00), Competitive ($22.00), Staff ($5.00), plus Background check ($30.00 every two years)
2. Coaching Education Courses: Fees collected for coaching courses including Grassroots courses ($103), D License, C License courses ($1,650), with Y courses complimentary for WYSA members
3. Tournament Sanctioning Fees: Tournament sanctioning fees: $350 for tournaments with less than 30 teams, $500 for tournaments with over 30 teams, plus post-tournament fees based on number of teams

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WYSA governs and delivers organized youth soccer across Wisconsin through approximately 130 member clubs and 10 districts. Its core offerings span competitive leagues, state championships, the Olympic Development Program (ODP), TOPSoccer for athletes with disabilities, U.S. Soccer coaching licensing courses, referee training and certification, and tournament sanctioning — all administered through the PlayMetrics platform.

Product overview

Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association operates as a state youth sports organization rather than a software product company, offering a portfolio of programs and services organized around youth soccer development. The core offerings include competitive league structures (State League, Southeast Classic League, Northwest Classic League, Developmental League, Youth Academy), championship competitions (State Championship, Presidents Cup), player development pathways (ODP, Pre-ODP), and inclusive programming (TOPSoccer for athletes with disabilities). Supporting services include coaching education through US Soccer licensing pathways, referee development via WisRef, player registration and club management through PlayMetrics, scholarships (Mike Kabanica, Brett Wiesner), grants, and annual events including the Wisconsin Soccer Symposium. The organization serves approximately 130 member clubs across Wisconsin districts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State League
• Southeast Classic League (SECL)
• Northwest Classic League (NWCL)
• Developmental League
• Youth Academy
• WYSA State Championship
• Wisconsin Presidents Cup
• Olympic Development Program (ODP)
• TOPSoccer
• Coaching Education
• Grassroots Events
• Referee Development Program
• Player Registration System
• Tournament Sanctioning

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PlayMetricscoreTechnology or IntegrationPlayMetrics is the official player registration and program management software partner for WYSA, providing all-in-one platform for club administration, tournament management, and league operations effective for the 2024-2025 season
• Keeper GoalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner offering goalkeeper-specific products and services to WYSA members
• Soccer.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment and supplies partner for soccer equipment
• BVW14 (Brett Wiesner Scholarship Fund)minorOthersScholarship fund named in memory of Brett Wiesner to assist young soccer players with financial support for travel, fees, or equipment. Board includes Francis Wiesner, Rachel V. Wiesner, and Melissa Zielinski (WYSA Executive Director)
• Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association (WSCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Wisconsin Soccer Symposium, combining AGM with educational sessions for coaches, administrators, referees, and organizational leaders
• US Youth SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body affiliation providing sanctioning, insurance, national championships pathway, coaching education standards, and ODP programming. WYSA is one of 54 State Associations under USYS
• WisRef (Wisconsin Soccer Referee Development Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level referee development organization providing training, certification, and mentorship for referees across Wisconsin in cooperation with WYSA

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Illinois Youth Soccer Association: A fellow Midwestern USYS state association operating under the same national framework with comparable structure: member clubs, districts, leagues, ODP, and coaching education. Direct structural peer given geographic and regulatory similarity.
• Ohio Soccer Association: State youth soccer association under USYS offering parallel programs (leagues, ODP, coaching education, tournaments) with a comparable scale, club-affiliation model, and revenue structure to WYSA.
• Little League International: National youth amateur sports governing body for baseball/softball with an analogous state/district charter structure, tournament pathway, and volunteer-driven nonprofit membership model. Operates as a structural peer in youth sports governance.
• Minnesota Youth Soccer Association: Upper Midwestern USYS state association serving a similar climate and population. Operates the same mix of recreational/competitive leagues, ODP, coaching pathways, and referee programs against the same rival sports.
• Pop Warner Little Scholars: National youth amateur sports governing body for football and cheer with a comparable state-affiliate structure and member-based nonprofit model. Functions as a peer in youth-sports association governance and program design.
• New York State West Youth Soccer Association: USYS state association with parallel programs including district structure, ODP, coaching education, and tournament sanctioning. Direct comparable along service portfolio and member-club business model.
• Michigan State Youth Soccer Association: Neighboring USYS state association with comparable program portfolio (recreational/competitive leagues, State Cup, ODP, coaching). Operates as a direct functional peer within the same USYS governance hierarchy.

Others

• US Youth Soccer (USYS): WYSA's national parent body and one of 54 state associations' umbrella organization. Comparable as the operating context within which WYSA functions; relevant as the upstream policy-setter and downstream pathway to national championships.

Emerging players

• US Club Soccer: Alternative national youth soccer body that sanctions leagues (e.g., ECNL, NPL) outside USYS. Competes for elite clubs and players by offering differentiated competitive pathways, posing a structural risk to WYSA's sanctioning authority over competitive clubs.

Broad incumbents

• American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO): The largest independent nationwide youth soccer organization, providing recreational programs for children. While operating under a different governance structure, AYSO competes for the same youth-soccer families and player registration dollars in Wisconsin and nationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiyouthsoccer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@usyouthsoccer/about
• Facebookfacebook.com/wisconsinyouthsoccer
• Instagraminstagram.com/usyouthsoccer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wysa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association