A Growing Grassroots Movement
The LOYAL Youth Soccer program has entered its summer season, welcoming roughly 300 children across age divisions that span from under‑five to eleven‑twelve. Teams are organized by age, with the youngest groups taking to local fields on Saturday mornings as the league progresses through its schedule.
Participants hail primarily from Medina, while families from Lyndonville, Roy‑Hart and Albion also travel to join the league, reflecting a regional coalition that stretches across Orleans County.
Midway through the summer calendar, the league’s 4‑5 age brackets are already locked in matches, showcasing the program’s rapid momentum and the enthusiasm of both players and volunteers.
Carl Husung, president of LOYAL Soccer, stresses that the initiative is less about competition and more about planting the seeds of a lifelong love for the sport. He describes his role as akin to Johnny Appleseed, scattering opportunities for children to discover soccer’s joys.
According to Husung, teaching fundamentals and fostering fun are the twin pillars of the program. By creating a supportive environment, the league aims to nurture the next generation of local talent and keep the sport thriving in the community.