High Country Soccer Assoc

Background Statement

Founded in 2001, High Country Soccer Association (HCSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to making soccer accessible to children, youth, adults, and families throughout Summit County, Colorado. What began as a community soccer organization has grown into a comprehensive soccer program serving nearly 2,000 participants through more than ten recreational, developmental, competitive, and community-based programs.

HCSA's mission is to provide an optimal soccer environment where every player can develop to their fullest potential regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, skill level, or financial capability. The organization believes that every person who wants to play soccer should have the opportunity to participate, develop, and experience the physical, social, and personal benefits of the sport.

HCSA provides a continuous soccer pathway beginning with early childhood programs and introductory recreational soccer and progressing through age-based recreational programs, developmental soccer, summer camps, and Summit Strikers FC (SSFC) competitive travel soccer. The organization also provides opportunities for young people to become referees and develop leadership skills, while adult soccer programs create opportunities for lifelong participation.

Beyond the field, HCSA views soccer as a powerful community-building tool. Its programs bring together families and participants from diverse backgrounds and create opportunities for children to develop confidence, responsibility, commitment, teamwork, respect, and a sense of community. Through partnerships with local schools and community organizations, HCSA also works to bring soccer directly to children who may not otherwise have access to organized sports.

As HCSA continues to grow, the organization is focused on expanding access to soccer throughout Summit County while maintaining a high-quality environment for player development. Financial assistance and scholarships help reduce economic barriers for families, while community partnerships, grants, sponsorships, and individual contributions provide critical resources to sustain and expand programming.

Looking ahead, HCSA is committed to building upon its more than two decades of service to Summit County by expanding participation, strengthening the player-development pathway, increasing opportunities for underserved families, developing facilities and resources, and creating additional ways for children and adults to participate in the sport.

HCSA's long-term vision is to be more than a soccer organization. It seeks to use soccer as a community development tool—creating a fun, healthy, safe, and inclusive environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, develop their potential, build meaningful relationships, and become active members of the Summit County community.