Portland, Oregon Area Youth Soccer Leagues - Choices for All Ages and Level of Involvement

The inaugural season of the Portland Timbers MLS team has generated soccer excitement all the way down to the toddlers in the Portland area. OF course, it's only adding to an existing culture. Portland isn't known as Soccer City USA for nothing.

It doesn't matter if your child has never kicked a ball. Maybe they have played several years, and are always looking to increase skills. The opportunities in and around Portland are varied enough to satisfy every level and ability.

Portland Youth Soccer Association

Offering recreational and competitive leagues as well as soccer camps for kids as young as 3, Portland Youth Soccer Association (PYSA) is a good place to start your search.

Just looking to give your toddler a chance to play the game for the first time? PYSA partners with Skyhawks Summer Sports Camps to provide training camps. Four day, 45 minute camps for 3-4 year olds start at 29.00. I've already enrolled our son, who just turned four in March. He already loves to kick a ball, I can't wait for the camp.

For league play, PYSA starts at U7 and goes all the way up through High School Jr/Sr in spring all fall leagues, including one with the interesting name "Sons and Daughters of Chuck Norris." Team fees begin at 125.00 for U7 and U8, up to 350.00 for High School Coed.

Oregon Youth Soccer Association

For play chances not just in Portland but around the state, Oregon Youth Soccer Association is the largest soccer group promoting soccer play in the state. An incredible number of teams are sanctioned by OYSA. For children with challenges, the TOPSoccer program is available to ensure all who want to play can. OYSA also is part of the Olympic Development Program, meant to identify and assist exceptional players for consideration on national teams.

OYSA also provides a coach training program to ensure coaches are qualified at all levels. Some of the coach training this summer will be held at Jeld-Wen Field, home of the Portland Timbers, and will include a game ticket to see the MLS team play.

Indoor Soccer facilities

Located at 418 SE Main St, Portland Indoor Soccer stands out above other indoor soccer facilities around the metro area when it comes to young player development, with their "Little Kickers" program. Broken down into appropriate brackets by age, the training can take a child from first kick to micro-league play for 8-10 year olds. If my son enjoys his summer camp, we will enroll him here.

Tualatin Indoor Soccer has a very nice facility for adult and youth league play in the southwest suburbs. An on site sports bar is an added bonus for parents and adult players.

Portland Soccerplex, off Beaverton Hillsdale Highway on the west side, is another indoor soccer arena with league options, training programs, and a sports bar.