Pensacola Youth Soccer Inc., the local nonprofit that organizes soccer for the City of Pensacola, today announced registration for its Spring 2023 season.
City residents will be able to sign up starting Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Non-city residents will be able to sign up starting Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Registration costs $85 for the Under-5 and Under-6 age groups, and $100 for all older age groups. Uniforms cost $35 for a full set, but uniforms from previous seasons still may be used.
Pensacola Youth Soccer is based at the revitalized Hitzman Park on Langley Avenue, though other area parks may be used for practices and games. Practices should start in early March, with games following a few weeks later. The season is scheduled to wrap up in early to mid-May.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our upcoming season,” said Phil Nickinson, president of Pensacola Youth Soccer Inc. “Our first spring season was 10 years ago, in 2013, and we had just 165 kids. Now we could easily hit 1,000 players a season if we wanted. We’re limited only by how many coaches we can get, and fields available for practices and games.”
PYS also has added a new League Manager for the spring season in Christopher Hester, who has previous nonprofit experience with the YMCA in Tuscaloosa, Ala. In addition to Hester organizing nearly 100 teams led by volunteer coaches, Pensacola Youth Soccer now has in-house referee assignors and mentors, who help ensure that games are fair and fun for the players, parents and spectators.
“We’re not just growing young soccer players,” Nickinson said. “We’re also helping teenagers learn about leadership and responsibility as referees. And the pay isn’t bad, either.”
More information on registration, coaching, and refereeing for the spring season is available at PensacolaYouthSoccer.com/spring-2023.