2025 Publix Fall Festival draws nearly 900 participants from across the state

Elizabeth Heard • November 14, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. (November 14, 2025) – South Carolina Youth Soccer hosted its annual Fall Festival last weekend at Gibson Road Soccer Complex in Lexington, SC. The event saw 71 teams take the field for a day of competition and fun.


Teams were split into five divisions with more than 120 games taking place throughout the day. Players and families were gifted items from our sponsors including Prime water bottles, Publix mini balls and event medals.

The event's purpose is to continue growing the game in South Carolina by primarily targeting recreational programming and teams not currently associated with South Carolina Youth Soccer. This year, 20% of the the nearly 900 participating players were from non-member clubs and teams.


For several years, the event has been a staple in South Carolina Youth Soccer's event programming and we are excited to continue providing experiences like the Fall Festival to youth soccer players in the state.

By Elizabeth Heard November 10, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. (November 10, 2025) – South Carolina Youth Soccer is proud to be hosting the first-ever Spanish language D Course in the state of South Carolina, in collaboration with Bilu International Soccer Academy . The Spanish language course kicked off in October and will run through early December, bringing together coaches from South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Coaches on the course are following the same format of English language courses and will earn the same licensing from U.S. Soccer. “Leading this course in Spanish means a great deal,” said Mario Garcia Carvajal, U.S. Soccer Coach Educator. “It gives coaches the chance to learn and express themselves in the language they use to think, feel, and communicate. This group brings energy, curiosity, and pride into every session. When we honor who coaches are and where they come from, we strengthen our coaching communities.”
By Walter Clapton November 4, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. (November 4, 2025) – South Carolina Youth Soccer is excited to announce the hiring of Elizabeth Heard to our Membership Services team. In her new role, Heard will focus on improving and creating a consistent image across South Carolina Youth Soccer programming, providing member clubs with clearer assets and tools to engage with their own members as they seek to grow the sport in their regions. She will also play a critical role in the management, execution and overall strategy of our coaching education program, which recently expanded to include higher-level licensing such as the B Course, CTL-1 Course, as well as courses delivered in Spanish. Expect to see her on upcoming courses across the state. Heard joins South Carolina Youth Soccer from US Club Soccer, where she was the Senior Coordinator of Marketing & Communications. During her time at US Club Soccer, she was responsible for maintaining the organization’s online presence across nine channels and contributed to the development and execution of specific communications and marketing plans for the more than 60 leagues managed by US Club Soccer. In addition to her role with South Carolina Youth Soccer, Heard serves as the Marketing Director & Club Registrar for South Carolina Surf Soccer Club in Charleston, S.C. In these roles, she manages all internal and external marketing and communications efforts for the club, and the registration of the club’s over 800 members. She also coaches for the club. Heard graduated from the University of Georgia in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a minor in Sport Management. She also received a certificate in Sports Media upon graduation. She is a lifelong footballer who is excited to continue helping South Carolina Youth Soccer improve and grow the game in the state! South Carolina has seen 23% in participation growth since 2022, and we are excited to expand our team as we strive to provide a better experience in all programming for clubs, coaches, and players.