Seattle United

Seattle United Family Summit announced for Saturday, March 20th for the Seattle and Shoreline youth soccer communities to come learn about the club and its programs, meet the coaching leadership, and discover the citywide and regional play options.

Official Web Site for the Seattle United Soccer Club is launched.

Seattle United's official crest and club colors are released to the public.

First tryouts in the club's history held for Boys U16 to Boys U18 citywide (premier) and regional (select) teams with over 100 players participating.

Spring Development Academy begins with a record 230 players participating.

FC Shoreline, the largest community-based select program in SYSA at 22 teams and 367 players formally engages as one of the four regional entities within the Seattle United organization. All U11-U14 teams will participate within Seattle United and half of the older age teams will compete as Seattle United/Shoreline teams.

Experienced premier youth soccer coach Kyle Rodeheaver joins Seattle United.

Experienced premier youth soccer coach George Singh joins Seattle United.

Experienced premier youth soccer coach Gary Harris joins Seattle United.

Experienced premier youth soccer coach Shawn Farrell joins Seattle United.

Major League Soccer (MLS) veteran and current University of Washinton men's assistant coach Brandon Prideaux joins Seattle United.

John Heimbigner joins Seattle United as founding coach and one of its Regional Directors.

Westside United Select Soccer Program, the 2nd largest provider of select soccer in SYSA in the U11-U13 ages at 170 players, joins Seattle United.

Seattle City FC, the largest US Club-based select program in Seattle with over 150 players, joins forces with Seattle United to unify and further develop the level of play within Seattle.

Veteran youth soccer coach Tommy Jenkins joins as founding coach for Seattle United.

Seattle United launches its Winter Development Academy with over 200 players and its Center of Excellent with over 100 players.

Peter Fewing joins growing soccer leadership team of Seattle United.

Jimmy McAlister announced as Director of Coaching and Jason Farrell announced as Technical Director for Seattle United.

Third and final evening of instruction is completed as attendance in Seattle United’s Center of Excellence Training & Assessment sessions surpasses 170 players.

Second evening of instruction is completed as enrollment in Seattle United’s Center of Excellence Training & Assessment sessions surpasses 150 players.

Washington Youth Soccer affirms and supports the authority of and administrative decisions made by SYSA to establish Seattle United. (Click here for the full support letter.)

Over 120 players turn out to participate in the first evening of Seattle United’s Center of Excellence Training & Assessment sessions.

IRS approves nonprofit status of Seattle United club.

2010 Center of Excellence Program launched by Seattle United--further advanced development for the more serious, talented players.

Winter Development Academy announced.

Interviews of Coaching Director candidates on-going

Seattle United website provider selected for final launch site.

Regional meeting held at Sandpoint with members of the Northeast Region (Lake City, LVR) and Seattle United board members to discuss the select soccer transition to Seattle United.

November Seattle United board meeting held. Committees report on task completions and next steps.

Seattle area select players meet with the deisgn group to help determine uniform color combinations for the new club.

Seattle United Fall Development Academy concludes successfully.

Focus session for logo and colors held.

Marketing Committee commences with interviewing possible uniform suppliers.

Marketing design firm selected to develop club's logo and colors.

Interviews of top Coaching Director candidates commence.

Integrated Transition Plan drafted and released.

October Seattle United board meeting held. Committees report on task completions and next steps.

Regional meeting held at Shoreline Center with FC Shoreline ("North") leadership and coaches and Seattle United board members to discuss the select soccer transition to Seattle United.

Seattle United Marketing Committee submits Requests For Quotation to marketing design firms to develop the club's logo and colors.

Second of two SYSA representatives is appointed to Seattle United board. SYSA VP Finance is tapped for 2nd and final SYSA board position.

Website requirements assessed by website committee for evaluating hosting firms.

Seattle United initiates national search for Coaching Directors.

Seattle United Fall Development Academy first session launches with over 200 players, 18 trainers, and 20 REC coaches.

September Seattle United board meeting held. Committees report on task completions and next steps.

Interim club website launched at seattleunited.com.

Regional meeting held at Sandpoint with ECFC team managers and Seattle United board members to discuss the transition to Seattle United.

First of two SYSA representatives is appointed to Seattle United board. SYSA VP Operations is tapped for first SYSA board position.

Registration opens for Seattle United Fall Development Academy.

Coerver© Coaching selected as partner to Seattle United Fall Development Academy.

Jimmy McAlister hired as advisor to Seattle United and as Academy Director.

First meeting of the Seattle United board. The following committees are established to perform the work of the club: Executive Search; Communications; Strategic Planning; Finance; Marketing; Fundraising; and of course Soccer Operations.

Seattle United board appointed by SYSA leadership to commence with club formation activities leading to team formation in May 2010.

SYSA approves the formation of a new, single club for select and premier soccer in the association ("Seattle United"). Vote is 12 member clubs in favor, 2 opposed.

Work proceeds on Seattle United Project. Over 60 volunteers representing leadership and membership in the select and premier clubs participate in dozens of working-group meetings of the Steering Committee, Program Structure & Volunteer Management Committee, Coaching Structure & Management Committee, and Finance Committee. Work culminates in early summer with completion of the Seattle United Strategic Operating Plan.

Consultant reports to SYSA on completion of Phase 1 of the Seattle United Project, assessing the existing situation, and making recommendations for remainder of the Project. SYSA board approves proposal to engage consultant for faciliation of Phases 2 and 3 of the Seattle United Project. Vote is 11 member clubs in favor, 2 opposed.

Initial assessment performed by Consultant by holding a series of individual interviews with key stakeholders representing board and staff leadership of the Seattle and Shoreline select and premier programs (including leaders from ECFC, FC Shoreline and independent clubs/teams). Synergies with Washington Youth Soccer's reinvention process were considered, including need for clear goals, good nonprofit governance practices, separation of operation and governance, financial transparency, and planning & feedback/evaluation processes.

Initial project proposal, with working name “Seattle United,” submitted to SYSA Board of Commissioners. Proposal calls for a single organization to manage and administer select and premier soccer within SYSA. Board votes to hire Jan Glick & Associates, an independent nonprofit management consulting firm, to facilitate the process for establishing the new organization. Vote is 9 member clubs in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention.

SYSA leadership holds a series of task force meetings with various select soccer stakeholders, including ECFC leadership, to flesh out select issues and brainstorm possible solutions. A result of these meetings was a shared belief in the need to create a comprehensive, coordinated system for select and premier soccer in SYSA.

SYSA leadership under President Neil Callahan begins meetings with key stakeholders within SYSA, including ECFC leadership, to discuss select issues. Select soccer reform identified as top priority of SYSA.

Under the leadership of SYSA President Harry Hoffman, SYSA performs initial analysis of select soccer reform.  Facilitated public meetings and focus groups held to identify problems and concerns, leading to SYSA adoption of Select Soccer Principles in Fall 2005.

Seattle Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) envisions, undertakes and plans for the reformation of select soccer as administered in Seattle through several different clubs.