Greensboro Youth Soccer Club

The Greensboro Twisters and Greensboro Soccer Club are composed of select soccer teams, representing the highest competitive level of youth soccer in the United States, ages 10-18. These select teams include over 500 players and are affliated under the organizational structure of Greensboro Youth Soccer, established in 1972.

The Greensboro Twisters history has been rich, playing an integral role in the staggering growth and development of "elite level" soccer in North Carolina . The Twisters were organized and competed with a single girl's team in 1987. The following year the '77 Twisters (U-12) team captured the club's first State Cup title. Girls soccer in North Carolina has since exploded, growing from a small handful of teams in Greensboro and Raleigh, to today, where nearly 500 teams compete in our Challenge and Classic leagues.

We are very proud of our heritage. Our players are expected to be aware of the significant contributions of past players, coaches, staff, parents and volunteers and to honor our legacy of excellence. Some notable current players and Twister alums are Kendall Fletcher and Amy Steadman, who both have played on youth U.S. National Teams and at the University of North Carolina; Carmen Watley, former UNC defender and member of the U-21 U.S. National Team Pool; and Siri Mullinix, former starting goalkeeper on the full U.S. National Team and the Washington Freedom of the WUSA professional soccer league. Siri was recently quoted as saying, "My years playing for the Twisters helped me develop my game and gave me the foundation and opportunity to play at the highest level." Siri still gives generously of her time, and given many speeches and clinics here in Greensboro. Also, in 2004, perrennial and NCAA powerhouse UNC had nine (9) Twisters on their roster, an unprecedented representation, that speaks volumes to the stature of our organization. The are scores of other Twisters alums that have distinguished themselves both on and off the field, in Greensboro, in college and beyond, and we thank each of them for their contributions in establishing a culture of success for the Greensboro Twisters.

The Twisters have competed in and won numerous State Cup, regional and national tournament titles in U-11 to U-18 age groups, and continue to be a nationally recognized name. In fact, a Greensboro-based women's professional W-League team once changed their name to the "Greensboro Twisters" to take advantage of sharing the branding and name recognition our youth club enjoys both regionally and nationally. A first Region III Championship was captured in 1993, with the '76 Twisters claiming the title. The '85 Twisters Green (U-17) team won the 2003 Region III Championship in Greensboro and went on to represent the Twisters in the "Final Four" at the National Championships, in Germantown, MD, bringing home a bronze medal. The '88 Twisters Green also won a regional championship, being crowned the 2005 Region III Champion in Dallas, TX and later earning a bronze medal at the National Championships, in Orlando, FL.

In 1994, coaches, players, and parents from the Greensboro Twisters and Greensboro Buccaneers Soccer Clubs formed a Classic Soccer Club that would put the players first ..... a Club for Total Player Development, the Greensboro Soccer Club. The Club became the governing body for Classic boys soccer in the Greensboro area, under the umbrella of the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association.

The objectives of GSC have always included, but are not limited to, the development of self-confidence and self-respect within each young person, the celebration and appreciation of each young person's worth as an individual, the organization and development of the game of soccer for the youth in our community, recognizing the important contributions of our coaches and parents, and the promotion of the responsible maturation of our young people through the game of soccer.

GSC administers competitive Select (Classic) soccer for those who desire the highest level of soccer play and competition. GSC organizes and develops male youth teams for the purpose of teaching the game of soccer, development of the individual player through sportsmanship, physical health and psychological development in an age-appropriate environment. Presently, GSC represents players and families mostly from the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina. The number of participants has escalated from 130 in 1994 to over 350 in 2005. We have produced five (5) players who are in our national team pools and thirty (30) USYS Region III Pool players. Since 1995, our teams have won 17 NCYSA State Cup Championships and three Region III Premier League Championships (79 Green were twice Southern Regional Bronze Medalists, 83 Green were Southern Regional Finalists, 84 Green were Southern Regional Semifinalists, and 89 Green were two-time participants in the Southern Regional Championships) and have competed nationally in numerous top-flight tournaments through the years.

The administration of GSC is carried out by a full-time staff with help from parent volunteers, who donate their time and efforts to help make our program not only one of the top in North Carolina, but also a rewarding and valuable training and life experience for our players . Our staff of coaches have numerous years of coaching and playing experience at all levels. Each coach is required to hold either a USSF license or equivalent NSCAA Diploma. Our College Referral Program has been highly successful. Currently, over 80 of our players are playing at the college level. Since the fall of 1996, we have had three (3) players who played in the NCAA Collegiate Cup and thirty-six (36) others play in NCAA Division I programs.

The Select Program's mission is to provide our talented young men and women with an opportunity to play the sport of soccer at its highest level; and through this experience, to develop as individuals and people, focusing on growth in personal character, attitude, teamwork and discipline. We take very seriously the overall personal development of our young people, not just as good soccer players, but as good students, good citizens and good people. Here's are a few of our initiatives, that we hope will help provide reference to and flesh-out our stated club mission and values:

Our teams routinely travel throughout the region and the nation. We compete through an affiliation with NCYSA (North Carolina Youth Soccer Association) and play league matches over Fall and Spring seasons, all over North Carolina. The majority of our teams are eligible to compete during the Fall, Spring and Summer in a USYS (United States Youth Soccer) Premier League. In addition, we frequently travel to and compete in regional and national "Showcase" events throughout the year, which positions our tems for future recognition and markets our players to the college coaches and U.S. National Team Staff present at these events. Also, our most talented players are identified and participate in the USOC founded Olympic Development Program (ODP), which provides another valuable layer of exposure, and leads to more national and international travel opportunities for our players.

The following is a partial listing of our teams' U.S. travel destinations in just the past few years:

Early in 2005, Greensboro Youth Soccer installed and began utilizing state-of-the-art, lighted artificial turf fields at the Smith Training Complex for team training and games. The three world-class fields are the same type of surface that has been installed for soccer in Europe for Premier League clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Leeds and Barcelona. In the United States several NFL and NCAA football stadiums have also had similar installations, including Ford Field, Georgia Dome, Giants Stadium, Michigan Stadium and others.

Having a high-quality, centralized training facility allows the GYS staff and teams optimum opportunity to train and interact. Club cohesion is enhanced by utilizing a single training facility and all teams are also able to train and play at night, or in various inclimate weather conditions. The three full-sized fields are configured to accommodate various training or game setups and will also be made available for other community athletic events and GYS Outreach Programs.The Smith Soccer Complex, germinating upon the efforts of many volunteers and through the cooperative efforts of GYS, the City of Greensboro and Guilford County Schools, brings the very highest quality playing and learning environment available, to our organization and to the Greensboro community.

The Grensboro Youth Soccer home venue for competitive matches is the renowned Bryan Park Soccer Complex. Bryan Park is undeniably one of the most beautiful soccer venues in the United States. The 17 immaculate Bermuda grass fields do not endure repeated team training sessions during the year, so all surfaces are extremely playable. The fields are cared for by the same professionals that maintain the adjacent, nationally ranked (by Golf Digest) Bryan Park Golf Courses. The Bryan Park Soccer Complex was selected by USYSA to host the 2003 Region III Championships, and became the only site in the country to have hosted a Regional Championship four (4) times, being profiled in the 1/20/03 issue of Soccer America. Bryan Park was selected to simultaneously host the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championship Final Four, the first time the NCAA has ever selected one site to concurrently host two National Championships. Bryan Park was also chosen, in a national search, to host of one the the largest and best-known boys and girls soccer showcase tournaments in the country, Score at the Shore, beginning in 2006. We are very proud that Bryan Park continues to receive kudos and continue to earn its reputation as one of the premier soccer venues in the United States.

Macpherson Soccer Stadium, completed in 2003, is the crown jewel of the Soccer complex. The stadium field has a Europeon Soccer style roof, accomodates 3,000 and is complete with adjacent lockeroom and concessions facilities. It also serves as home field for men's and women's next-level team, the Carolina Dynamo.

Our Big Challenge

The overall cost to participate in youth soccer at an elite level in the United States is significant. In the future, we must be able to forge long-term partnerships, in order for our young men and women to have the tremendous athletic and personal growth opportunities that are unique to the select soccer player. We are also sensitive to the fact that we do not become economically exclusionary. Diversity and Outreach are extremely important, stated ingredients in our organizational mission and vision. We realize that only through developing significant relationships in our community and through quality corporate and non-profit partnerships, can we ultimately reach our goals, both on and off the field.