St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association: Building Community Through Soccer Since 1979
Our History
St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association (SJYSA) was formed in 1979 by a dedicated group of parents who wanted to create soccer opportunities for their children. What began as a small community initiative quickly blossomed into something much larger. By the early 1980s, SJYSA had grown to include more than 400 players and coaches, demonstrating the community’s enthusiasm for the sport.
In 1986, we took a significant step forward by purchasing 80 acres of land to establish the Riverside Complex, creating a dedicated home for soccer in our community. The 1990s brought further expansion with the addition of a girls soccer league, making the sport more inclusive and accessible to all youth in our area.
Growing Our Facilities
Our commitment to improving the soccer experience continued into the 2000s. In 2002, we completed construction on a new building featuring offices, bathrooms, and a concession stand—a development particularly appreciated by soccer parents spending long days at the fields. Following a fire that destroyed our equipment shed in 2006, we expanded the building to include a garage space for equipment storage and maintenance.
The mid-2010s marked another period of growth as we added a competitive branch to our organization and purchased additional land to expand our playing facilities. Today, the Riverside Complex boasts 10 full-size soccer fields, accommodating our ever-growing membership.
Our Community Impact
In recent years, SJYSA has provided soccer opportunities to more than 1,500 youths, teenagers, and adults annually. As a non-profit organization, we serve players ranging from 4 to 18 years old, drawing participants from St. Joseph, Savannah, and other communities throughout northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.
Our success depends entirely on our dedicated volunteers who serve as coaches, board members, and field workers. Their commitment ensures that we can continue to offer quality soccer programs at affordable rates for families throughout the region.
Our Mission
At SJYSA, we believe soccer is more than just a game. It’s a vehicle for promoting active, healthy lifestyles while building lasting friendships and developing essential teamwork skills. We strive to make the sport accessible to youths of all ages and backgrounds, creating an inclusive environment where everyone can experience the joy of soccer.
Looking Forward
Due to the continued growth of both our recreational and competitive programs, we have recently added 6 acres to our complex to build additional grass fields. Our recreational teams continue to play at the Riverside Soccer Complex in St. Joseph, while our competitive teams participate in leagues throughout the Kansas City area.
We’re proud to serve players from both northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri, bringing communities together through the beautiful game of soccer.
Connect With Us
Website: https://www.sjysa.org/
Email: stjosephsoccer@gmail.com
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