Soccer moms and dads, this one’s for you.  It’s time leave your Blackberrys and beach chairs at home and to dust off your old cleats, hopes and dreams.  Cal South, celebrated as Southern California’s state youth soccer association for more than 30 years, is now extending its arm to provide recreational and competitive playing opportunities for adults.  On March 14th, 2009, the U.S. Soccer Federation National Council named Cal South the official adult soccer association for Southern California.

So what’s the big deal?  It’s not as though having adult soccer leagues in southern California adult is the latest “A-ha!” in soccer news.  Will it really matter that the leagues are being officially governed by a state association?  At this, anyone who can appreciate the work Cal South has done for California youth soccer will echo U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati’s sentiments, “We are confident that the future of adult soccer under their leadership will be very strong.”

Cal South is well-versed in growing the youth game.  Their service area covers San Luis Obispo to San Diego and they oversee 230 clubs and leagues, 10,300 teams and 160,000 players.  Their corporate office is staffed by 22 full time professionals whose daily job is to make sure that all the cogs are running smoothly.  

Grassroots type organizations can only offer a mere shadow of what Cal South is gearing up to do.  Competitive, recreational, futsal, U-23, over 30, amateur, open age groups, co-ed, you name it, they’ll provide it.  With its affiliation with reputable bodies like the USSF, FIFA and USASA, Cal South will sanction adult soccer tournaments, develop state cup competitions, and provide participation eligibility in the USASA National Championship Series.

So when Cal South says that they are “The new home of adult soccer – all ages, all skill levels,” you shouldn’t ignore it.

Cal South president Gregg Falk says, “Cal South is extremely excited about working with all of the existing adult leagues and programs towards growing the game in Southern California.  We look forward to building on the great tradition of adult soccer that has been established in Southern California over the last 40-plus years and working together towards building the best soccer association in the world.”

Cal South will begin sanctioning leagues May 1st, the application period closing on August 1st.   Questions and requests for additional information on adult league sanctioning can be directed to Luis Salcedo at lsalcedo@calsouth.com