The History of PYSL, Inc.
PYSL, Inc. dba Pacific Youth Soccer League was originally founded in 1971 and called La Jolla – Tecolote Soccer League without any players from the Pacific Beach area included. In 1973 the name was changed to Pacific Youth Soccer League (PYSL) and players, coaches and fields were recruited from Pacific Beach.
Original fields included:
- The youth Little League fields on Grand Avenue
- Crown Point Elementary School
- Ski Beach
- Mission Bay High School
Bob McEvoy was instrumental in getting fields and lights for the fields that now bear his name.
Both boys and girls were welcomed into the league from the very beginning although the girl’s teams were so few at that time that they were made up of girls from ages 10-14 on the same teams.
One thing that has remained constant is that referees were licensed and used from central pools of referees, never volunteers. PYSL joined California Youth Soccer Association-South, now known as CALSOUTH, in 1976 along with other leagues in the San Diego area. PYSL also joined Presidio Soccer League when it was formed and now plays in the SoCal Soccer League.
Pacific Youth Soccer League incorporated as PYSL, Inc. in 2000. Over the years the areas drawn on have expanded to include Clairemont, Bay Park, La Jolla, Mission Valley, University City, Downtown and Mission Hills as well as Pacific Beach. The league started off with just a few teams and now has around 100 teams between the Rec and the competitive Blast SC with over 1,300 players participating throughout the year.
The league is coached, managed and administered by volunteers from the community. If you are interested in helping to continue the legacy of our community soccer league, please email president@pyslsoccer.org to inquire about volunteer opportunities.