ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 11, 2021) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies have entered into a two-year partnership with the Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA), a nonprofit organization focused on fostering a lifelong passion for soccer.
“The Rowdies are excited to join forces with the Florida Youth Soccer Association to ignite a passion for soccer in the Tampa Bay community and across the state,” said Rowdies President Lee Cohen. “Our organization is excited to create an atmosphere where young players can grow, on and off the field.”
The FYSA will work together with the Rowdies through various initiatives such as workshops, coaching classes, apprentice programs and eSports. These initiatives are formulated to impact all levels of the local soccer ecosystem, including players, coaches and managers.
Specific activations include a free coaching foundations course at Al Lang Stadium, week-long apprentice programs for coaches, “A Day with the Rowdies” experience for FYSA members, and possible mascot and player appearances at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, Fla. The Rowdies and FYSA will also work together on the development, promotion and launch of the new FYSA eSports League and the FYSA eCUP.
“I’m very excited for FYSA to enter into such a groundbreaking partnership with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a model franchise of the USL Championship,” said FYSA President Kai Velmer. “Through this partnership,â¯we will be able to provide valuableâ¯content and benefits to our members, and mostâ¯importantly, grow the game in our great state.”
These events and programs are available to all Florida Youth Soccer Association members. In addition to FYSA members, TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) members can also participate in these programs. TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, developed by US Youth Soccer.
More details including specific dates and registration information will be announced at a later date. For more information on the Florida Youth Soccer Association, visit fysa.com.