Spokane Sounders Soccer

What Spokane Sounders Soccer does

Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club (operating under Spokane Sounders Soccer) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer organization founded in 1999 in Spokane, Washington, serving more than 1,100 players across Eastern Washington and North Idaho (drawn from 55+ zip codes). The club operates a multi-tiered program portfolio that spans recreational entry-level play (MLS GO for U4-U8 and Shadow Rec+), developmental programs (Shadow Juniors Program Foundation and Academy for U8-U10), premier competitive platforms (ECNL Regional League for boys U13-U19 and Girls Academy/Aspire for girls U13-U19), select-level regional programming (Rave, Copa, Navy), and senior first teams (Women in WPSL/CPL, Men in EPLWA/CPL). Annual dues range from $69 (MLS GO) to $3,100 (Girls Academy), with over $50,000 in financial assistance distributed annually and payment plans available.

The club is the first affiliate of the Seattle Sounders Youth Academy (since May 2015), giving it an integrated periodized curriculum, coaching education visits, and a player pathway to the Sounders Discovery Program; it is also the only Players First certified club east of the Cascades and one of only eight in the entire Northwest. Operationally, the club relies on a small paid staff of five and a large volunteer corps, supported by standard SaaS tools (PlayMetrics for registration, Trace for video). It also runs the annual Northwest Cup tournament (entering its 32nd edition in 2026), goalkeeper camps, and a new multi-college Girls ID Camp launching in 2026.

Revenue is generated through subscription-style club dues, tournament fees (U8-U10 $895, U11-U12 $1,100, U13-U19 $1,295), one-time camp registrations, the MLS GO Rec seasonal program, individual player sponsorships, and fundraising events (Spring Auction, Shadow Golf). The go-to-market is community-led, with annual tryouts, PlayMetrics self-serve registration, and word-of-mouth referrals concentrated in the Spokane region. The club rebranded fully under the Spokane Shadow name in May 2024 to mark its 25th anniversary and to consolidate its identity after absorbing multiple local Select clubs and its 2012 merger with Spokane Soccer Club Elite.

Name

Spokane Sounders Soccer

Legal name

Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club

Website

https://spokanesounders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer organization serving 1,100+ players across Eastern Washington and North Idaho, offering recreational through premier competitive programs (MLS GO, Shadow Juniors, ECNL, Girls Academy) plus Women’s and Men’s first teams in WPSL and EPLWA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Soccer Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Soccer club training
• Competitive soccer leagues
• Soccer tournaments
• College soccer advising

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Club Dues / Membership Fees: Annual/seasonal club dues covering coaching, facilities, league fees, insurance, referee expenses, training equipment, and administrative costs. Multiple pricing tiers based on program level (ECNLRL, GA, Aspire, Pre-ECNLRL, Rave, Copa).
2. Tournament Revenue (Northwest Cup): Annual tournament hosting generating registration fees: U8-U10 $895, U11-U12 $1100, U13-U19 $1295.
3. Camps and ID Programs: Goalkeeper camps and College ID camps (Shadow Girls ID Camp 2026 at $235 general / $185 Shadow member).
4. MLS GO Rec Program: Recreational soccer program for Pre-K through 2nd grade at $69 including uniform.
5. Player Sponsorship Program: Individual players can seek financial sponsorships from individuals or businesses to offset club dues.
6. Spring Auction Fundraiser: Annual fundraising auction event supporting youth soccer programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Spokane Sounders Soccer (operating as Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer organization founded in 1999 in Spokane, Washington. It delivers a full pathway of youth soccer programming—from introductory recreational play (MLS GO and Rec+) and junior development (Shadow Juniors Program) up through regionally competitive (Rave, Copa, Navy) and nationally competitive (ECNL Regional League Boys, Girls Academy, Girls Aspire) teams for ages U5 through U19. The club supplements team play with goalkeeper camps, ID camps, a large annual tournament (Northwest Cup), college advisory services, and semi-professional first teams (Men's First Team and Women's First Team).

Product overview

Spokane Shadow Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth soccer organization offering a comprehensive multi-tiered program portfolio. The club operates recreational programs (MLS GO for U4-U8, Shadow Rec+), developmental programs (Shadow Juniors Program SJP Foundation and Academy for U8-U10), and competitive programs (Premier via ECNL Regional League for boys and Girls Academy/Aspire for girls, plus Select-level Regional Programming). The club also organizes tournaments (Northwest Cup), runs goalkeeper and college ID camps, and supports first teams in WPSL/CPL for both women's and men's programs. Additional services include college advising, online education resources, and a partnership with Roundglass Living for holistic player wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shadow Women's First Team: The Women's First Team competes in the WPSL (Women's Premier Soccer League) Northwest Conference and Cascadia Premier League. Won the Pacific Northwest Division title and advanced to the National Quarterfinal (West Region Final) in 2024. Home matches played at Whitworth University. Also referred to as Shadow WFT.
• Shadow Men's First Team
• MLS GO Rec Program

Products and services

• MLS GO Rec Program
• Shadow Rec+ Program
• Shadow Juniors Program (SJP)
• ECNL Regional League (Boys)
• Girls Academy
• Girls Aspire
• Regional Programming (Rave, Copa, Navy)
• Northwest Cup Tournament
• Shadow Girls ID Camp
• Goalkeeper Camps
• Women's First Team (WFT)
• Men's First Team (MFT)
• College Advising Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 46 youth national team call-ups produced by Sounders affiliate clubs in 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Roundglass LivingsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025Wholistic wellbeing partnership providing free access to Roundglass Living app (neuroscience-backed practices, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, yoga) for all players, coaches, parents, and staff for one year.
• Seattle Sounders Youth AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2015First affiliate club of Seattle Sounders Youth Academy since May 1, 2015. Partnership includes coaching education visits, player pathway to Sounders Discovery Program, integrated curriculum, and annual Affiliate Workshop in Seattle. Has produced 46 youth national team call-ups across affiliate clubs.
• ECNL Boys Regional LeaguescoreOthersBoys U13-U19 participate in ECNL Regional Leagues Northwest Conference, providing pathway to ECNL Boys Regional League Finals in San Diego.
• Girls Academy / AspirecoreOthersGirls U13-U19 participate in Girls Academy (GA) and Aspire leagues - the leading youth development platform for female soccer players in the United States.
• Washington Youth SoccercoreOthersMember of Washington Youth Soccer, the governing body of soccer in Washington state. Teams play in Regional Club League (RCL), the highest level of competition offered through WYS.
• US Youth SoccersupportingOthersAffiliated with US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the country with over 3.2 million players registered annually.
• US Club SoccersupportingOthersMember of US Club Soccer, a national association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation committed to development and support of soccer clubs.
• Washington Premier League (WPL)supportingOthersSpokane Shadow U11-U19 teams play in WPL affiliated with US Club Soccer, including teams from Spokane, Eastern Washington, and Northern Idaho.
• Clearwater Summit GroupminorOthersPresenting sponsor of Spokane Shadow Women's First Team soccer.
• Whitworth UniversitysupportingOthersWomen's First Team home matches played at Whitworth University; coaches serve as university assistants.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• US Club Soccer: National youth soccer governing body and Players First certification authority. As the certifier of Spokane Shadow's Players First Club status, US Club Soccer is an ecosystem/regulatory counterpart rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Seattle United: Seattle-area youth soccer club with tiered programming from recreational to ECNL/GA and a long operating history. Direct peer in structure, geography (within Sounders catchment), and college-pro pathway positioning.
• Crossfire Premier: Redmond, WA-based youth soccer club operating Boys ECNL Regional League and Girls GA programs with comparable subscription-based dues and college placement emphasis. Direct competitor for elite PNW players.
• Washington Premier FC: Washington-state premier youth soccer club competing in ECNL Regional League and Girls GA with overlapping coaching and player markets. Comparable subscription-pricing model and competition footprint.
• PacNW FC: Newcastle, WA-based youth soccer club competing in Boys ECNL, Girls GA, and MLS NEXT tiers with similar multi-tier program structure. Closest comparable Pacific Northwest club by business model and competitive footprint.
• Eastside FC: Bellevue/Kirkland, WA-based youth club fielding ECNL Boys and Girls GA teams with similar Sounders-area pipeline relationships. Competes for the same recruiting geography at the premier tier.

Regional players

• Boise Nationals FC: Boise, Idaho-based youth soccer club offering ECNL Boys and Girls GA programs. Operates in an adjacent Pacific Northwest geography with comparable tier structure but does not directly compete in Spokane's catchment.
• Tualatin Hills United SC: Portland/Beaverton, OR-based youth club with ECNL Boys and Girls GA offerings. Comparable program structure and PNW regional identity, but operates in a separate metro market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SpokaneShadowWomen
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpokaneSounders
• Instagraminstagram.com/spokaneshadow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spokane-sounders-soccer

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spokane Sounders Soccer