Julian’s love for the game began early.

“I’ve been playing soccer since I was three years old,” Julian recalls. By age four, he joined CYS’s recreational league and moved to competitive play when he was in fifth grade.

His parents introduced him to soccer initially as a sport to try for exercise. Julian now describes it as his passion. He says he has grown to love the league and the game. 

“My parents wanted me to stay active with sports,” Julian said. “They had me do some other sports to see what I was interested in, but I really liked how I got to run around, and it was the one I most enjoyed.” 

He also appreciates the way the soccer fields represent more than just a game; they are where his Catholic faith and love for the sport come together. 

“This is one of the only Catholic leagues, and most of the other soccer leagues don't have faith intertwined with sports,” he said. “You also have a lot of skills that you can learn while playing sports that can also help your faith. For example, if you win a game, you have to stay humble.”

CYS is built on Catholic principles that aim to cultivate moral, spiritual, mental, physical, and social skills. 

The coaches and parents see firsthand how the league nurtures not just athletic talent but also the players’ faith.

“It's tough for kids at this age to be open about faith and prayer,” said Julian’s father Marc. “When they see others who share the same beliefs it becomes easier for them to say, ‘We forgot to pray, and we need to pray before practice.’ No one is scared to speak up.” 

The league fosters a prayer-centered culture where faith is woven into the fabric of the league, with prayer encouraged before practice, games, and in daily reflection.

“It has built a lot of my religious skills– I pray more now,” Julian said. “I pray before games, so it encourages me to pray before I face a challenge.”

Founded in 2012 by Patrick Poland, the league began as Our Lady of the Rosary Youth Sports (OLOR Youth Sports), with a mission to promote Christian, human, and social values through youth soccer for both Catholic and non-Catholic youth at the parish. In 2019, the Diocese of Saint Petersburg’s North Central Deanery expanded the program to 10 churches, rebranding it as Catholic Youth Sports of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. By 2021, the league became a nonprofit organization, dedicated to making faith-based, affordable youth soccer accessible to all. 

On average, CYS forms around 40 teams in the league per season with players ranging in age from 3 to 18. Since its start, the program has welcomed over 15,000 participants across 40 seasons.

Though Julian doesn’t attend a Catholic school, CYS has become a unique place where he can grow in athletics and his faith alongside other Catholic teens. 

“Since some of my friends go to my school and they also play at this league, I'm able to build friendships. But also, it’s a way that we can build our relationship with God playing soccer,” he said.

In the league, players are encouraged to lift each other up after a fall, share high-fives during scrimmages, and cheer each other on. Negativity or tearing each other down is discouraged. 

“Players have a general concern for others,” said Marc. “In games, our players will actually ask other players if they are okay and call out to refs to stop a game if an opposing player is down.”

Julian has taken the moral and religious lessons he learns to heart, applying them far beyond the soccer field.

“It has helped me learn skills I could use for the rest of my life like humility, leadership, communication, and teamwork,” he shares. “Like when we came together to do a 5k walk for a teammate with Type 1 Diabetes. Sometimes in faith, you have to have teamwork and leadership. Teamwork skills also allow me to help my parents with my sister,” he said. “My sister has special needs. She is in a wheelchair and it’s kind of hard to get her to church. I’m able to help [our parents] get ready for church or help them get my sister ready for school.”

In the league, Julian is thriving. He was presented with the team’s “Swiss Army Knife” award by his team for his versatility.

“As a team captain, Julian is not a yeller but instead believes that through his actions he can help,” Marc said. “He began running a warm-up mile before each practice and said anyone can run with him at their pace. He wants to help others so they can become more conditioned and feels it is best by showing others what he does so that they may follow.”

Although competitive soccer can be time consuming, expensive, and can dominate a family’s life, Marc said the league promotes balance. 

“Kids are encouraged to pursue other interests as well and with volunteers and great sponsors, our costs are kept low. Very few will go on to play professionally but all will have a career, work with others, and may have a family, so values are really important in life,” he said. “Those are what we try to instill, coupled with still playing at a competitive level with the talents you have been given.”

The league provides both recreational and competitive soccer opportunities. CYS welcomes all youth regardless of faith and skill level.

Catholic Youth Soccer (CYS) Tampa by the Numbers:

4,142 games played

40 seasons

15,000+ players

40-48 teams per season

300+ championships

For information about the Catholic Youth Soccer (CYS) Tampa league visit: CYSTampa.org