For 2022, a New Year also meant an abundance of new opportunities for Cook Inlet Soccer Club. As Anchorage’s largest and Alaska’s most successful youth soccer club, the first quarter of the year saw CISC expand its recreational program while its competitive program excelled beyond expectations as the club moved another step forward towards its goal of becoming a regional presence. In such pursuits, we are proud of the accomplishments of our players, coaches, team managers, treasurers, families, alumni, and staff, and are grateful your support throughout the year.
Please enjoy the rundown below, and let’s all look forward to another fantastic year on and off the pitch!
In this edition:
+ New website
+ Community partners renewal
+ Rec Program update
+ Comp Program update
+ Executive Director search
+ Alumni update
To better serve our families, Cook Inlet Soccer Club launched a newly designed website with a cleaner design and more intuitive in its use.
We are grateful to MSI Communications for their expertise and services on the website’s redesign. MSI Communications is a full-service agency with capabilities and expertise to cover every advertising, marketing, communications and public-relations need.
To see the new website in full, please visit cookinletsc.com.
Without all of our community partners, CISC would not be able to offer the most affordable and quality soccer programs in the state. Thanks to their generosity, CISC was able to award over $15,000 in financial aid for the 2022 season and increase access to organized sports for more young Alaskans.
When you see owners and employees of our community partners, please thank them for their contributions to youth development and support their businesses.
We are pleased to share the latest companies supporting CISC’s programs and look forward to seeing their logos on new competitive program jerseys as well as recreational uniforms this summer.
Cook Inlet Soccer Club is grateful for Kendall VW of Anchorage choosing to renew their partnership with the club and sponsor the Recreational Program, Anchorage’s largest with over 2,000 players, through 2023.
Kendall VW of Anchorage is the best choice for a new and used Volkswagens and automobiles in all of Alaska!
Kendall VW of Anchorage invites you to call them at (877) 588-4180 to discuss all of your new and used car buying and selling needs.
CISC’s New Recreational Director
In January 2022, Jason Leonardis joined Cook Inlet Soccer Club’s staff as the Director of Rec, Operations, and Communications!
In this role, Jason directs all aspects of CISC’s recreational program, manage facilities and IT systems and lead CISC’s communications and marketing.
Originally from New Jersey, Jason was the Program Director for the Anchorage Sports Association after fulfilling roles as Director of Athletics for Boys & Girls Clubs – Alaska for six years and Technical Director for Alaska Rush Soccer Club for four years before joining Cook Inlet Soccer Club earlier this year.
Before moving to Anchorage in May 2011, Jason was Academy Director for the TFA Elite Soccer Academy, a premier soccer school program for American military personnel and their dependents stationed on Yokota AB, Japan. While in Japan, he was also Head Varsity Coach for Yokota HS Boys’ Soccer and Goalkeeper Coach for Nike’s Grassroots Soccer Clinics in Japan, that latter of which allowed him to work directly alongside academy/youth coaches from top European sides such as Celtic FC, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and the KNVB.
Jason is also only one of two coaching education instructors for Alaska Youth Soccer, a position that allows him to teach and certify coaching candidates. Jason’s coaching qualifications include:
+ English FA Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Football (UEFA B)
+ United States Soccer Federation “B” License
+ United State Soccer Federation National Goalkeeping License
+ United State Soccer Federation Grassroots Instructor License
+ Scottish FA Level 2 Goalkeeping Certificate
+ NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma
+ NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma
CISC Recreational Soccer Seasons
Anchorage’s most affordable, largest, and comprehensive youth recreational soccer program continued rocking The Dome after the New Year, seeing unprecedented numbers with 315 registered players for its Winter 2022 Season and 425 registered players for its Spring 2022 Season!
With that, registration for the CISC Summer 2022 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Volkswagen of Anchorage, is currently open with spots filling fast.
The seven-week season will commence on June 6 and conclude on July 21, 2022 with practices and games taking place between Monday through Thursday evenings (depending on the division). The U4 Lil’ Strikers Division will play twice per week with practices and games combined within the 45-minute session. The U6 and older divisions will practice once per week for an hour with the second day being reserved for games. Games will commence the second week of the season.
For more information on the CISC Summer 2022 Outdoor Recreational Soccer Season, presented by Kendall Volkswagen of Anchorage, please visit HERE.
Additionally, you are interested in becoming involved with the Recreational program, please email staff. We are always on the lookout for coaches and referees.
CISC Pre-Comp Training Academy
In April 2022, Cook Inlet Soccer Club will launch its Pre-Comp Training Academy, its purpose to offer those players playing in CISC’s Recreational Soccer League who were born in 2014 and 2015 and are considering transitioning to competitive soccer an opportunity to supplement their recreational soccer experience by training with the CISC Competitive Coaching Staff over a four-week period prior to the Summer 2022 Pre-Competitive Soccer Season beginning.
The CISC Competitive Coaching Staff will focus its training on developing an individual player’s technical ability with the ball in a game-like environment at the level a player may experience playing competitive soccer.
The Pre-Comp Training Academy will take place on Sunday afternoons from 1-2pm during CISC Spring 2022 Indoor Recreational Soccer Season at The Dome.
For more information on the CISC Spring 2022 Pre-Comp Training Academy, please visit HERE.
In-state and out of state, our competitive teams have been taking care of business. Check out some of the highlights below:
UAYSL National League
Cook Inlet Soccer Club showed well in its first year of competition of the United States Youth Soccer National League. Highlights include the Cook Inlet SC 09G for winning the Girls U13 NWC Conference and the CISC 07G finishing second in their division with both teams earning a place in the NL P.R.O. for 2022-23!!
The CISC 04G competed in their last ever US Youth Soccer National League NWC Conference event, finishing second in their division before heading off to college in the Fall!!
And the CISC 04B and 06B did Cook Inlet Soccer Club proud playing high quality soccer at the 2022 National Showcase during their weekends of play!
Desert Classic Tournament
Several Cook Inlet Soccer Club teams competed in the Desert Classic Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona between February 11-13, 2022.
Team highlights include the Cook Inlet SC 07G for winning the Girls U15 Silver Division while the Cook Inlet SC 08B made it to the Boys U14 Finals and the Cook Inlet SC 09B making it to the Semifinals of the U13 Division!
Mayor’s Cup
The Cook Inlet Soccer Club 06G and 07G teams competed in the Mayor’s Cup International Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada between February 25-27, 2022. Both teams gained valuable experience playing in one of the nation’s top tournaments.
College Appreciation Day
Thank you to everyone who made it out on March 14 to the 2022 CISC College Appreciation Day celebrating the Cook Inlet SC 04 Girls as they signed their Letters of Intent to play collegiate soccer this upcoming Fall.
It was a very special day for these young ladies as friends and family recognized all of the hard work they’ve put in over the years to become the elite soccer players they are today. Cook Inlet Soccer Club is grateful to have been a part of their journey as they move onto the next level in addition to inspiring future generations of CISC players!!
The players honored included:
- Frida Vargas – Southern Oregon University
- Rebecca Shaw – Southern Oregon University
- Lily Singleton – Pacific Lutheran University
- Dot Tieszen – George Mason University
- Keegan Applegate – George Mason University
- Zyiah Mikes – Alabama A&M
- Kaycee Chavez – Northern Idaho College
- Xiomara Chavez – Northern Idaho College
- Ariel Gonzalez – Green River College
2022-2024 Competitive Kits
Cook Inlet Soccer Club Competitive Kits for the 2022-2024 cycle will be available to order from Tursi Soccer beginning May 1, 2022.
All players will be required to purchase a backpack and a training kit.
For players born between, 2013-2015, this will be all that is required to purchase. For players born 2012 and earlier, white and navy game uniforms will also need to be purchased as well.
Additionally, certain teams may require additional items so many sure to check with your Coach and Team Manager before ordering.
UPSL
CISC’s UPSL Men’s & Women’s seasons are quickly approaching and are seeking players to play in Alaska’s premier soccer league for adults.
For more information regarding trying out, please e-mail CISC’s UPSL Team Manager Cat Ruesch at cat@cookinletsc.com.
The search for CISC’s next Executive Director is in its final stages and will be announced soon. Please stay tuned.
Support CISC while you shop!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com and select Cook Inlet Soccer Club as your recipient, Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to the club— no fees, no extra cost and your regular Amazon login works. Just remember to select CISC as your nonprofit of choice and shop through smile.amazon.com.
Send in your action shots!
Don’t forget to send your action shots to pr@cookinletsc.com along with details about the submission. Please limit submissions to three per event. Only clear videos and photos will be considered for posting.
CISC has sent more players to the next level than any other club in the state. To see what our alumni are up to, please click HERE.
Did we forget about a CISC alumnus who is still playing? Send updates and photos to Tim Valesko.
Next CISC Board of Directors Meeting
The next scheduled CISC Board of Directors Meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, May 3 for 6:30pm at the CISC Office.
For public comments or to send a message to the full Board, please e-mail board@cookinletsc.com.
Additionally, if you are interested in the affairs of the club and have a few hours to volunteer each month, CISC is actively recruiting board and committee members to help takes us to the next level.
Interested in sponsoring Alaska’s premier youth sports organization?
As a 501(c)(3) CISC is dependent on donors and sponsorships to continue delivering the best soccer programs in the state. We have tax-deductible sponsorship packages to meet every budget and are committed to making sure sponsorship are mutually beneficial. To discuss your tax-deductible sponsorship today, email pr@cookinletsc.com.
Cook Inlet Soccer Club (501)(c)(3) | 907-344-7529 | Email