The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club is based in Spokane, Washington, and is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit premier soccer club that is a proud member of the Inland Empire Youth Soccer Association, sponsored by Washington Youth Soccer Association.
The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club was formed in 1999 and today includes 58 teams and 1,070 players, ages U-10 through U-18. The Club is committed to player development and the highest levels of training and competition for players committed to advancing their skills and love of soccer. Many area high school and college teams include current and former Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club players. Spokane Shadow has produced players who compete in the state, regional and national Olympic Development Program and in NCAA Division I, II, and III collegiate soccer programs.
Mission Statement:
The Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club serves Spokane’s premier and select youth soccer players by striving to achieve the highest standards of youth soccer development - training, instruction and competition - by focusing on player development in an atmosphere of teamwork, respect, and professionalism.
Purpose:
It is our aim to bring out the joy that the game of soccer can provide our youth by offering our players the highest level of competition available in the state of Washington, fueling their passion, challenging them to grow, teaching them to persevere, and recognizing their strengths in contributing to those around them.
Levels of Play:
Most Competitive = Premier Soccer (U11-U18 Boys and Girls)
The highest level of competition available to Spokane area players who have the desire and ability to compete and achieve. Our 
Premier teams draw from the ranks of both Recreational and Select players. The Shadow is the only club in the Inland Empire which competes in the Regional Club League.
Teams: Are formed annually at tryouts and draw from areas throughout Eastern Washington. Players tryout annually for Shadow Premier teams.
Coaching and Training: Shadow Premier coaches hold national coaching licenses and have extensive soccer backgrounds in regard to playing and/or soccer education. We are extremely proud of and confident in the coaching staff we have assembled. Players will find no better staff in the region!
League Play: The Regional Club League consists of the top 21 clubs in Washington Youth Soccer and seeks to play "like vs. like" teams in competitive leagues among clubs that consistently demonstrate the ability to develop Championship Cup caliber teams, Olympic Development Program (ODP) players, and a commitment to appropriate developmental philosophies for youth. Utilizing shorter league seasons and fewer summer tournaments, quality of instruction is emphasized over quantity.
Membership in the Regional Club League requires clubs to meet stringent requirements. All RCL clubs must:
1. Employ a properly licensed Coaching Director (UEFA/USSF B or higher) in charge of coach education, assignment, and behavior.
2. Offer an Association-endorsed development program that works with either coaches or players from other clubs within the Association.
3. Earn a top 20 finish in the League and Cup metric as authorized by the RCL Committee.
4. Adhere to the Ethics and Rules of the RCL.
RCL Member Soccer Clubs: (alphabetical order)
Blackhills (Olympia)
Vancouver United Timbers (Vancouver)
Crossfire Premier (Redmond)
Club Dosveedanya (Kent)
Eastside FC (Mercer Island)
Evergreen/Washington Rush (Everett)
FC Alliance (Woodinville)
Federal Way United Soccer Club (Federal Way)
FC Greater Renton (Renton)
Harbor Soccer Club (Gig Harbor)
Highline Premier Soccer Club (Seattle)
NorthWest Nationals (Mountlake Terrace)
Seattle United (Seattle)
Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club (Spokane)
Snohomish United (Snohomish)
Sun City Strikers (Yakima)
Three Rivers SC (Pasco)
Washington Premier FC (Tacoma)
Westsound FC Premier (Silverdale)
Whatcom Football Club Rangers (Bellingham)
Washington Soccer Academy Premier (Camas)
Competitive = Select Soccer (U11-U18 Boys and Girls)
Within the second highest level of competition, Shadow United FC provides competitive Select soccer opportunities for boys and girls ages 10-18. We serve players living in the North Central, Rogers, Shadle Park High Schools; Shaw, Salk, Glover, Lakeside & Garry Middle School neighborhoods. Players that live outside of these school districts but want to play within our club are welcome.
Mission: Our mission is to provide the youth in our community the opportunity to compete, develop and advance in all levels, but most of all to enjoy the fantastic game of soccer.
Teams: Compete at the middle tier of competition in Washington Youth Soccer’s District 6 Intra-League.
Coaching and Training: Shadow United FC Select is coordinated by Julio Morales, Shadow Director of Coaching-Select who oversees team development through a volunteer network of coaches. Our system provides dedicated volunteer coaches, advanced training, and a positive Shadow Club environment. We continually strive to achieve the highest standards of soccer development (training, instruction and competition) by focusing on player development in an atmosphere of teamwork, respect and professionalism.
League Play: Our teams compete in fall and spring leagues hosted by Washington Youth Soccer District 6.
Developmental = U10 Program (Boys and Girls)
Spokane Shadow focuses on what is developmentally and age appropriate for the player. Our goal at the U10 age is to produce better soccer players so they can enjoy playing the game even more; winning is secondary at this age. We want to build soccer players for life—fans of the game for life. More importantly, we want to provide an opportunity to learn in a friendly, educated, and enjoyable environment. We want kids to smile; we want kids to grow; we want kids to develop healthy habits; and we want them to have fun!
Our U10 Program welcomes all interested players. There is no tryout, there are no “cuts."
Players & Pods: Attend ID/Evaluation Nights and are formed into groups of "like" ability. As many groups as can be accommodated will be. Our goal is to have 3-4 groups per gender that number 12-24 in size.
League: Players will be organized by ability level into groups. This will form their training/practice and game groups for the season, though groups can change from week to week if appropriate.
- Fall and Spring seasons: Each game day (Saturdays) players will be formed into new “teams,” but within their ability group.
- Summer: In June, 1-2 opportunities to gather to “play” before school gets out. July will be off; enjoy the summer!
- Late August, the Fall sessions will begin. 1 or 2 local “festivals,” opportunities will be provided where the emphasis will be on playing (June and late August).
- Winter: Off
Practice:
Will all be lead, either in person or by lesson plan, by the Director of Coaching-Juniors or his designee from the Shadow Senior staff. Practices will occur twice per week (Monday and Fridays, for example) at Dwight Merkel Complex twice/week during Fall and Spring seasons. The Fall session will be 8 weeks and the Spring session 6 weeks. Each night will be Academy-style training to focus on skill development and playing opportunities. The organization and instruction is unmatched by any program in the state!
Games:
Will be conducted in the Fall and the Spring seasons. In their groups, players will compete in a 6v6 format per US Soccer guidelines (guidelines that have been developed by the top coaches at the highest levels in our country).
Creativity, enjoyment, sportsmanship and a positive atmosphere will be the emphasis. When players are partnered with and against players of similar abilities, true enjoyment and development can occur. This is the aim of our program!
Players will come back each week to play at the same time and at the same place, making it convenient for families.
United Soccer League’s (USL) U20 Men's Team
Shadow is excited to announce its membership in the United Soccer League’s (USL) U20 program (http://www.uslsoccer.com/). The Spokane Shadow will field a U20 men’s team for the 2011 season!
Continuing to fulfill Shadow’s mission of achieving the highest standards of youth soccer development through training, instruction and competition, membership ties to the USL continue the high standards few youth clubs in our state are able to provide. Our U20 team is certain to field players that have long been Shadow members and will also tap into local, and perhaps distant, college players. To be certain, we will field a competitive team that will be fun to watch and something to which our youngest players can aspire.
WHOM: USL Super 20s, with teams from British Columbia and Washington
WHY: To provide continued developmental opportunities for our oldest players, to enrich the level of play throughout our club and region, and mostly, to serve our players.
WHEN: Season begins mid-May, 2011 and culminates with National playoffs in mid-July, 2011.
HOW: The USL extended a special invitation to Spokane Shadow because of our past history and current standing. Players will be invited to participate, though any inquiries are welcome and may be sent to Julio Morales.
www.spokaneshadow.org
Questions? Phone: 509-599-4025 | E-mail: admin@spokaneshadow.org
Eastern Washington’s Premier Soccer Club & the Inland Empire’s only Regional Club League member!
