The Spirit United Soccer Club (SUSC) was started in 1982 with a simple commitment: "A commitment to excellence in the spirit of the game of soccer" for male and female athletes. The pursuit of this mission helps to develop maturity and self-confidence for our youth. As one of the premier soccer programs in Southeaster Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, regionally and nationally, SUSC is the home club for over thirty travel teams for boys and girls ranging in age from 8 to 18. Additionally, in 1986, the Club began the Spirit Kick-Off Classic, a summer youth soccer tournament that is recognized as one of the premier tournaments northeast and nationally, attracting teams from over twelve states. In 2003, the Club started a developmental/recreational program for players 6 and up.

Affiliations

SUSC is affiliated nationally with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), US Club Soccer and the USYSA. In Pennsylvania, the Club is a prominent member of the EPYSA, which serves youth soccer participants in eastern Pennsylvania. SUSC boys and girls travel teams compete in the Delco Soccer League (boys) and Philadelphia Area Girls Soccer (PAGS) (girls) leagues.

Club Management

SUSC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of youth soccer. It is a volunteer youth organization governed by a Board of Directors elected annually in November. In addition to the Chairman, President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, board members are appointed to chair functional areas such as Arbitration, Communications, Developmental/Recreational Soccer Program, Finance, Fundraising/Sponsorships, General Affairs, Legal, Long-range Planning, Players/Coaches Development, Public Relations, Referees, Team Managers, Travel Soccer, Uniforms and Accessories, Volunteers and Web Page. The Club is supported by an extensive group of dedicated volunteers, businesses and the communities surrounding the Downingtown, PA area.

The Board of Directors meets monthly. These meetings are open to the Club's membership. Coaches, team managers and volunteers also meet periodically throughout the year to ensure that the Club and its teams function smoothly.

SUSC's Keys to a Successful Experience

At SUSC, the "Commitment to Excellence" has three (3) cornerstones:

1. Excellence in Coaching

SUSC considers the key ingredient in achieving player success is in providing the most qualified coaches available. Coaches, who understand that development is a "process," who have previous playing experience and a genuine love of kids are sought out. SUSC has coaches who are state, nationally and internationally licensed. Coaches are encouraged to continue their development and get and/or upgrade their licenses and certifications. The Club provides continual coaching education programs for those individuals who have a commitment to player development, as well as subsidizes the fees for coaching licenses.

2. Excellence in Facilities

Another of the cornerstones is providing excellent facilities. SUSC has an outdoor system of over 25 playing fields for all age groups. In addition, in partnership with the United Sports Training Center (USTC), the premier multi-sport training and competition facility in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Club is able to provide an indoor and outdoor practice and competition facility year-round.

3. Excellence in Support

The final primary cornerstone of the SUSC program is an extensive network of dedicated volunteers. These volunteers participate as team managers, assistant coaches, tournament volunteers and others who support the Club and its teams in a variety of other ways. Finally, the Club has a scholarship fund to provide financial support to those players in need of financial aid to participate at the Club and beyond.

… The combination of these three cornerstones results in Excellence in Player Development

The results of this focus, among others, are:

• 9 high school All-Americans
• 8 Collegiate All-Americans
• 68 Division I Collegiate players
• 13 EPYSA State Champions (outdoor)
• 9 EPYSA State Finalists
• Numerous league and tournament championship teams

Player Development

The SUSC soccer program is designed to develop players to their greatest potential by focusing on top quality instruction and training, abundant facilities and exposure to top level competition.

• Every SUSC player, from the youngest to the oldest, and from the least experienced to the most experienced, is important.

• Soccer has proven to be a youth activity where the decision-making skills learned on the field and as a member of a team are invaluable off the field.

• Soccer provides a forum through and in which youth can learn good decision-making skills and the value of teamwork.

• SUSC is committed to making each player's overall experience a valuable one.

• Our focus is on the development of each student-athlete, on the field as well as off.
           - Education, both in the classroom and faith-based, is far more important than soccer.
           - The "education first" decisions of players and parents is fully supported.

• It is our goal to offer players optimal opportunities to earn recognition that will enable them to achieve continued success as student-athletes and as members of society.

• Player Development at SUSC focuses on the "process" and well beyond soccer, with a recognition that results will follow.

• Players are exposed to outstanding training and coaching.

• Players learn to apply these soccer skills and, in so doing, enhance their love of the game.

• Players learn the value of teamwork, both on the field and off.

• SUSC players are encouraged to take responsibility for their participation in and commitment to SUSC, their teams and their community.

SUSC coaches, parents and volunteers recognize that participation in and support of SUSC is, first and foremost, about our youth and their development in soccer and, more important, as people.

All SUSC participants are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship and teamwork at all times, especially to their teammates, coaches, opponents, referees, and the fans and friends of soccer.

Tryouts

To support the Club's philosophy of identifying and developing top soccer players, SUSC conducts open travel tryouts in the spring. The Club's objective is to have two or more travel teams is each gender age group. Tryout guidelines are established by the Coach and Player Development Committee and are approved by the Board of Directors. All club coaches participate in the tryout process, augmented from time to time by highly qualified evaluators. Typically there are initial Club-wide tryout kick-off dates for all boys' teams and all girls' teams, with subsequent tryout dates established by the individual coaches. While players may tryout for a team in an age group above their own (subject to USYSA guidelines), the Club strongly recommends each player remain within their age group.