How to Start Soccer Teams in Iowa

Participating in competitive soccer is a fun way to keep fit and make new friends. Regardless of the standard of soccer that you play, you can form your own team. Soccer can take many forms, from competitive eleven-a-side outdoor matches to friendly six-a-side indoor games. College soccer is popular in Iowa, both the University of Iowa and Iowa State have competitive teams. Women's soccer is well supported too. The Iowa Hawkeyes women's team have a modern facility in Iowa City (See Reference 1). Forming your own recreational team is a great way to start on the path to competitive soccer.

Things You'll Need

  • Balls
  • Uniforms
  • League sanctioning application form
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Instructions

    • 1

      Recruit players. Advertise in sports centers and gyms in your local area and state clearly what standard of player you are looking for and what level of dedication is required. Include your phone number, email address and details of where you plan to practice.

    • 2

      Run tryouts. When you have enough players, you need to find the right position for each. Some players will have a natural preference. For example, left-footed players will naturally perform better on the left side of the pitch. Move players around during the tryouts to see if they perform well in any particular position. You can run tryouts in a local sports center.

    • 3

      Find the right league. The right league for your team depends on the age of the players and the standard of their ability. For recreational players the Iowa Soccer Club (See Reference 2) runs a men's indoor league. It's six-a-side, meaning you'll need to recruit less players. For youth teams, there's the Iowa State Youth Soccer Association (See Reference 3). This is a competitive league for children. There is a league for each age group. The player's age on August 1 determines which league they can play in. For example, a player that turns seven on July 31 will be ineligible for under-seven soccer.

    • 4

      Sanction your team with a league. U.S Club Soccer (See Reference 4) is a non-profit organization that seeks to develop competitive club soccer across the country. They have regional league administrations. Iowa is in Region 2 (See References 5). Contact U.S Club soccer via their website (See Resources 1) to sanction your league.

    • 5

      Arrange some practice matches. Contact your league administrator and request details of teams local to you. Travelling long distance for practice matches is needless. Organize some friendly games against local teams. You don't need to worry about matching your ability level with theirs, use the practice matches to fine-tune your tactics and to get each team member up to match fitness level.