What ages and program levels does SAY Soccer offer?SAY national programming includes First Kicks for ages three to five, SAY Starters for three- and four-year-olds, recreational soccer without tryouts and with a fifty-percent playing-time expectation, SAY Premier for competitive leagues with more flexible roster and geography rules, adult recreational options, and optional esports and short-term event programs. Local member leagues decide which tracks they run in a given season.
About
SAY Soccer—Soccer Association for Youth—is a U.S. Soccer–affiliated nonprofit national organization formed in 1967 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the national office still operates today from 11490 Springfield Pike in the Cincinnati metro area. SAY backs community-based youth soccer through member leagues and districts across the country, including neighborhood programs around greater Cincinnati. The model pairs national standards, insurance, training resources, and program design with local volunteers who run registration, assign fields, and schedule teams for their area.
What the club offers
SAY national programming spans introductory tracks for the youngest players through adult participation. First Kicks targets ages three to five in affordable, capped-enrollment settings. SAY Starters focuses on three- and four-year-olds with an introductory curriculum that also supports new parent coaches. Recreational soccer is the core pathway, built for lower cost, lighter time demand, no tryouts, and a fifty-percent playing-time expectation for participants. SAY Premier adds a competitive option with more flexibility for league design, including roster and geography rules that differ from typical recreational constraints. SAY also offers ancillary options such as short-term event coverage and an esports program for organizations that want year-round engagement.
Cincinnati-area play and where families sign up
Because SAY is a national body, families in Cincinnati and surrounding communities almost always register with a local SAY member organization that manages their district or community. Those leagues set practice and game locations, seasonal calendars, and local fees on top of SAY’s national program structure. The national office in Cincinnati supports members with administration, policy, and program development rather than placing individual players on a single citywide roster.
Fees and what to expect
Local leagues set the all-in registration families pay each season; SAY structures national per-player fee tiers within the member system—six dollars for introductory First Kicks and Starters programming, eleven dollars for recreational (and adult) participation, and seventeen dollars for SAY Premier—so total family cost reflects both the local league budget and these national components. Uniforms, field rentals, and optional extras vary by member organization.
Philosophy and environment
SAY emphasizes safe, inclusive, well-managed soccer, clear geographic boundaries for community leagues, and affordable access so recreation stays viable for future generations. The organization stresses fun-first experiences for children, strong volunteer and partner relationships, and support that lets member organizations adapt without unnecessary red tape.
Explore more teams
Compare SAY Soccer with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader Ohio programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where does SAY Soccer train or play in the Cincinnati area?The national office is at 11490 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246. Day-to-day practices and games happen through SAY member organizations across greater Cincinnati; each league assigns fields and schedules for its own families.
Are there tryouts for SAY Soccer?SAY recreational programming is built without tryouts. SAY Premier is the competitive pathway; tryouts, roster sizes, and travel expectations depend on how the local Premier league or district structures that season.
What does SAY Soccer cost for families?Total registration is set by each member league and usually bundles field costs, uniforms, and local operations. SAY’s national framework includes per-player fee tiers—six dollars for First Kicks and Starters, eleven dollars for recreational and adult participation, and seventeen dollars for SAY Premier—that member organizations incorporate alongside their local charges.
What is SAY Soccer’s mission and approach?SAY focuses on safe, inclusive, well-managed soccer with affordable recreational opportunities, clear community boundaries, volunteer-driven leagues, and national support so kids can enjoy the game. Recreational play emphasizes participation and balanced minutes; Premier adds a competitive layer for organizations that want it.
How can families contact SAY Soccer or find a Cincinnati-area league?The SAY National Office answers general questions at +1-800-233-7291 and info@saysoccer.org. Families searching for a team should use SAY’s league finder to identify the member organization that serves their neighborhood, then follow that league’s registration steps for the current season.
Other Clubs in Ohio
Alliance Cincinnati Soccer Club
Alliance Cincinnati Soccer Club serves greater Cincinnati with 60+ boys and girls teams, introductory Future Stars through high school competitive play, professional staff coaching, and pathways from local recreation to regional and national competition.
Cincinnati, Ohio
View club
Cincinnati United Soccer Club
Cincinnati United Soccer Club is a Greater Cincinnati nonprofit with CU Juniors (ages 3–7), community CU teams (U8–U19), and CUP premier bands (U11+) tied to MLS Next, National Academy League, and Girls Academy—professional coaching, PlayMetrics registration, and pathways from local leagues to national play.
Cincinnati, Ohio
View club
Cleveland Cobras Soccer Club
Cleveland Cobras Soccer Club is a long-running Northeast Ohio youth club built around technical and tactical development, selective premier travel, tryouts that mirror real training, and a college-oriented pathway—Nil Satis Nisi Optimum—with national titles in 2017 and 2019.
Cleveland, Ohio
View club
Cleveland Force Soccer Club
Cleveland Force Soccer Club is Northeast Ohio’s training pathway from introductory programming for young players through Juniors Academy (ages 5–8), competitive U9–U19 local, regional, and national teams (ECNL, ECNL Regional, Pre-ECNL, GLA, CASA), and USL W League, League Two, and Academy pre-professional tracks—14+ full-time directors, PlayMetrics tryouts and registration, and training across Greater Cleveland and Akron.
Cleveland, Ohio
View club
Lakewood Soccer Association
Independent 501(c)(3) Saturday Soccer for co-ed players ages 4–14 in Lakewood, Ohio. No tryouts; spring and fall seasons; games at Memorial Fields and Tyler Field in the Metroparks; kick-off camps with Lakewood High School soccer staff.
Lakewood, Ohio
View club