Napa United

Napa United offers youth soccer through recreation soccer, club soccer, and academy soccer programs. The program includes three levels of competition: Recreation, Club, and Academy, with recreation teams making up about 75% of all teams and being newly formed each year. Club soccer begins at the U8 age group, and the academy program typically begins at the U10 age group, with club and academy teams selected through tryouts using unbiased evaluators.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

Napa United was established in 1978 as Napa Youth Soccer League (NYSL), a California tax-deductible non-profit corporation. NYSL is a member of the California Youth Soccer Association – North (CYSA) and, through CYSA, is affiliated with the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA). The mission of Napa United is to provide quality programs for players, coaches, and families, and to offer leadership and opportunities to build character and empower members to be responsible citizens while allowing them to participate and experience success at many levels. The youth soccer experience is the stated priority, emphasizing safety, fun, fair play, communication, and development, and the purpose of Napa United is to offer an opportunity for youth to have fun and to learn about the game of soccer by playing it. There are over 2,000 players throughout Napa County participating in Napa United programs and services.

Recreation players are guaranteed to play at least half of each game, with coaches allowed to make exceptions under specific league guidelines, and in the Under 6 and Under 8 divisions, scores may be kept but no standings are maintained. Players are not guaranteed any specific playing time at the club and academy level. Club and Academy teams play other club teams within US Club and Nor Cal Premier districts, and these opponents are usually no more than one hour’s drive away, with most teams playing in 2–3 tournaments each season. The Academy program is modeled after professional European programs under the direction of Academy Director Gavin Taylor.

Napa United’s leadership team includes Gavin Taylor as Academy Director and Head of Soccer Operations, Mark Corbett as Head of 11v11 Boys Soccer (U19–U13), Brian Arcila as Head of 7v7 and 9v9 Boys Soccer (U8–U12), Peter Weber as Head of 7v7 and 9v9 Girls Soccer (U8–U12), Dane Denkers as Grassroots Soccer Director, and Kari Estes handling Billing and Player Accounts. Each year, people are elected to positions on the Board of Directors, with additional appointed positions, and almost all of the people in these elected and appointed roles are parents or grandparents of players. A certain level of competitive spirit is described as good, and it is stated that it is everyone’s responsibility to keep the focus on learning and having fun.

Last updated June 20, 2026.