This national network of grassroots programmers using soccer for youth development formed under the auspices of the U.S. Soccer Foundation and currently has 64 member organizations in 24 states plus the District of Columbia serving more than 32,000 children in underserved communities. The U.S. Soccer Foundation provides ongoing support for training, capacity building and implementation of quality standards, strategies and best practices for soccer-based youth development with an emphasis on improving health outcomes.

The Foundation partners with the Collaborative on youth development initiatives with a core focus on using soccer as a tool for teaching life skills and how to live healthy and active lifestyles.

Through our partnership with the Collaborative we work with leaders of grassroots programs to develop standards and best practices for running effective urban programs. The Collaborative works to achieve this mission in three ways:

• Development of a Cooperative Platform: Through its membership, the Collaborative uses workgroups who work on specific projects to get results where solo organizations may have previously been unsuccessful or unable to take advantage of resources and opportunities.
• Organizational Development Programs/Resources: The Collaborative has developed specific programs to help members develop and grow their organizations including the Annual Symposium and Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.
• Youth Development Programs/Resources: The Collaborative has developed specific programs to promote youth development among the participants of member organizations including an Annual Youth Soccer festival and Annual Youth Leadership Camp.

Learn about Urban Soccer Collaborative Membership Options

Visit the Urban Soccer Collaborative website to learn more