Yellowstone Fire Soccer Association



The Yellowstone Fire Soccer Association, a competitive soccer club for boys and girls ages 8 - 14, was formed in 1992. Participation in the program increased during the first years and then leveled off at about 100 boys and girls playing in the last few seasons. Our teams have made it to semi-final and championship games at the state tournament. In 2001 we had a team become the first State Champions of the competitive division ever from Cody, with repeat performanced in 2002 and 2003. They represented Cody, Yellowstone Fire, & the state of Wyoming at the Regional tournament in Hawaii in 2003, traveled to Spokane, Washington, for regional competition in 2004, and competed at the 2005 U.S. Youth Soccer Reion IV Games in Denver. This is very impressive considering there are approximately 9,000 kids registered and competing in the Wyoming State Soccer Association. The Wyoming State Cup Tournament is played over Memorial Day each year and teams that win at the state level advance to a regional tournament. There is quite a difference between this competitive program and the program sponsored by the Shoshone Recreation District in the fall, mostly due to the time and financial commitment. The financial commitment consists of registration (approximately $200), uniform costs (approximately $25 for shorts & socks - shirts provided by Blair Hotels). Financial assistance may be considered on a case by case basis. There are also travel costs incurred during the season. We generally have a large number of families go to most matches throughout the season and would like to stress family involvement. The kids enjoy having families there and seem to play harder. Car-pooling and ride sharing is common and a fun way to meet new people. Many people use the opportunity to plan camping trips or sight seeing in conjunction with weekend travel. Players generally practice 2-3 nights a week beginning in April. Games are usually held on Saturdays or Sundays (depending on age group and field availability) and will probably start the first weekend in April and conclude Memorial Day weekend in May with the state tournament. Most weekends involve one day of play, except the Regional and State Cup Tournaments. Games are played all over the state. Matches are not scheduled for Easter weekend. Our coaches are all certified at the "E" level or higher. Kids in the program learn to play aggressive, clean soccer with an emphasis on technique and sportsmanship. Our kids are provided with trained non-parent coaches on a weekly basis for the entire spring season. We have been complimented by referees, opposing coaches and teams for our caliber of play and the sportsmanship our players and fans display. We would like to expand our coaching and referee pool as there is always a need for more of both. A coaching clinic and referee clinic will be provided and anyone can sign up and get involved. These are very intensive clinics and you will become certified by the state. We are looking forward to the next season, and hope you consider participating in this program. Keep in mind, the boys and girls that participate are likely the ones progressing into the high school programs. Spring Registration is generally held in January, but to start the soccer ball rolling, you can complete and return a US Youth Soccer Membership Form before the registration deadline to: YFSA, P.O. Box 552, Cody, Wyoming 82414. The form is available for download in Adobe Acrobat format (28K) here/.