Cary Soccer

Cary Soccer Association is affiliated with Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) and provides youth soccer programs for girls and boys ages 4-18.

Our Club is organized into two programs:

The Recreational Program hosts about 85 teams ranging from Pre-K thru U14 for both boys and girls. The Fall and Spring seasons are typically eight weeks long with games on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The Fall season consists of the Sheppard Schleisman Tournament (SST), one of the largest recreational soccer tournaments in Illinois, consisting of teams across Northern Illinois.

The goal of the Recreational Program is to provide players of all skills and abilities an opportunity to learn the game of soccer along with other children their age. The teams are formed based on age, grade, and ability with an equal number of players rated appropriately by their coaches from the previous season.
Go to the Recreational Program page.

The Travel Program has both girls and boys teams competing in IYSA and US Club Soccer competitive leagues. Our girls teams compete in the Illinois Women's Soccer League (IWSL), and our boys teams compete in the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL).

Cary Defenders teams are coached by USSF and NSCAA licensed coaches who often have collegiate and, in some cases, professional playing experience. Our program's primary focus is player development cultivated in a competitive, yet fun, team-oriented environment. Technical proficiency is the foundation of the curriculum taught to players at the younger ages to ensure they are able to thrive at a competitive level. As players grow and mature, technical skills are continually refined, with the concentration gradually shifting to the tactical aspects of the game. Many former Cary Defenders have continued their soccer careers in NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA college programs. Go to the Travel Program page.
 

The Cary Defenders are affiliated with Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) and US Club Soccer through its participaton in the Illinois Women's Soccer League (IWSL) and the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL). IYSA lies within the boundaries of Region 2 and is a member of US Youth Soccer, the world largest youth sports organization in the world. US Youth Soccer is the largest affiliate of US Soccer, a member of FIFA, the governing body of world soccer.

Cary Soccer has hosted the annual Sheppard Schleisman Tournament (SST) each Fall season, one of the largest recreational soccer tournaments in Illinois, featuring over 125 teams across Northern Illinois. The Sheppard Schleisman Tournament was founded in 1984, in memory of Stuart Sheppard, a U8 soccer player, and Tim Schleisman, a father and coach, who were tragically killed by a drunk driver. Visit the SST page for more information.