The Wilson Youth Soccer Association was incorporated in 1979 by multiple members of the Wilson community to provide soccer to youth players interested in competing at a high level in response to the growing national interest in soccer at the time. WYSA has evolved over its forty year history and become a modernized and unified club in the early 2000s.

Today, WYSA competes as part of the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association and its parent organizations US Youth Soccer and the US Soccer Federation. Fielding teams in multiple divisions and age groups, WYSA has had players forge successful careers at the high school, college, and professional levels.

WYSA is at its core an educational resource for players in the Wilson area and surrounding communities. Part of the responsibility of the club is to provide the highest level of player development opportunities possible, given our size, market, and resources.

We begin our club soccer programming in the Youth Academy, serving age groups 8U-10U. Instituted by NCYSA in 2011, the Youth Academy is the introductory program for all clubs throughout NC and WYSA commits to participating against other regional clubs as well as the seasonal NC Academy Festival. The goal of the Academy is to first build a love of soccer in each player. We will focus on developing the technical skills needed to be successful in the game through a variety of fun and fast-paced exercises.

As players progress from the Academy, they move into playing at the Classic level which offers regional and state-wide competition through its multiple divisions. As teams develop and achieve greater success, they have the opportunity to advance to higher divisions to play against more competitive teams and clubs. Our Classic programs serve age groups 11U-19U. For players to continually develop, we believe it is important for them to continue playing year-round with periodic breaks. In age groups 11U-14U, we offer both a fall and spring season of competitive play while at the 15U-19U age groups, we offer competitive play in the respective high school offseasons.

WYSA, like all youth soccer clubs, is a level above that which is offered by recreation departments. Players participate in a tryout for selection to a team and take part in multiple training sessions on a weekly basis to hone their skills. Our program is staffed by coaches who each hold licensing from national organizations such as US Soccer, United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America), Coerver Coaching, and others. With a professionally licensed staff, they are paid for the coaching services provided to our players and the expertise they are able to provide. Most of our staff competed as collegiate players and are now working in soccer as coaches at the high school and college levels.

We also have the opportunity to train and play home matches and tournaments at Gillette Soccer Park, which is recognized as one of the premier complexes in the Southeast United States. 

While it may seem expensive, WYSA is extremely affordable relative to other youth soccer clubs in the area without our membership fees averaging roughly 58% of those of other clubs within a 60-mile radius. In our efforts to remove financial standing as a barrier to competing in club soccer, we offer over $3,500 annually in financial aid to members who exhibit need.WYSA, like all youth soccer clubs, is a level above that which is offered by recreation departments. Players participate in a tryout for selection to a team and take part in multiple training sessions on a weekly basis to hone their skills. Our program is staffed by coaches who each hold licensing from national organizations such as US Soccer, United Soccer Coaches (formerly National Soccer Coaches Association of America), Coerver Coaching, and others. With a professionally licensed staff, they are paid for the coaching services provided to our players and the expertise they are able to provide. Most of our staff competed as collegiate players and are now working in soccer as coaches at the high school and college levels.

Items included in WYSA Membership Costs:

• Professional/Licensed Coaching Staff
• Premier Facility Use for Training & Matches
• Lighted Fields for Training & Matches
• Registration with NC Youth Soccer & US Youth Soccer
• Insurance Coverage for Injury in WYSA Training & Matches
• Executive Leadership Team
• Referee Assignments from Eastern Plains Officials
• Training Equipment & Provisions
• Additional Coaching Education Opportunities

Additional Items NOT Included in WYSA Membership Costs:

• Team Uniforms
• Match Referees
• Tournament Entry Fees
• Cost of Travel, Meals, & Lodging