About IYSA

India Youth Soccer Association (IYSA), established in the year 2000, is a not-for-profit organisation engaged in developing football for children and youth, especially for those from underprivileged, and economically weaker backgrounds and rural areas. IYSA is registered as a Trust in 2000 with 80G & 12A income tax exemptions.

IYSA – Mini Soccer Leagues (2001-2007)

IYSA’s initial programs were Mini & Youth Soccer Leagues started with an aim to increase the number of children and youth participating in football. IYSA organized these leagues from 2001 – 2007, with over 3000 players participating in Delhi NCR. IYSA also ran a Girls League and a Street Kids League for underprivileged children from NGO’s like Salaam Baalak Trust, Deepalaya, Kutumb, Vidya, Butterflies, etc.

IYSA – New Delhi Josh Academy (2010 – 2020)

In 2010, with authorization from the Govt. of Delhi, IYSA started an after-school Football Academy targeted at Govt. school boys from the nearby community at an unused Govt. field. The IYSA – ND Josh Academy (a Hindi word meaning ‘fighting spirit’) started with 40 boys training bare feet from the nearby concrete slum. 

IYSA raised donations for kit, boots, equipment, scholarships, nutrition, coach salaries and groundsmen fees, field maintenance, etc. Many players went on to play for IYSA in the U15, U16 and U18 AIFF National Youth Leagues and subsequently for club teams and got admission in colleges through football. 

In ten years, IYSA’s Josh Academy trained over 1000 boys. The annual strength was 120 players, ages 7 to 19. These boys from the local community were mostly from economically weaker sections. 

The players were given opportunities to play in tournaments and youth leagues, access to a good playing field and training by licensed coaches.  We gave them the same opportunity that would be available to private school students, but free of cost.

ACHIEVEMENTS

IYSA’s Josh Academy teams have participated in the Delhi Youth League (DYL), winning the league in 2014, 2015 and 2018. IYSA has also participated in the AIFF Youth Leagues, reaching the U16 National Round in 2016-17. Teams have participated in the DSA Inter Academy Championship, Delhi Cup, and other tournaments.

Academy training has helped a number of players represent Delhi state in the National School Games. Players have been signed by clubs, playing in the Delhi Soccer League, Kolkata League and few have also played in the I-League 2nd Division. A former player has gone on to play for India’s National Team and in the Indian Super League.

PARTNERSHIPS

IYSA has had a partnership with the Arsenal Community since 2012. For 3 to 4 months every year, Arsenal Community coaches travel from UK and Europe to train players in the Josh Academy. From 2012 to 2020, twenty Arsenal coaches have been part of the program. 

IYSA has also setup other partnerships; with the AMM Foundation in Tamil Nadu to help start a football academy for children from a fishing community in North Chennai; with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to help run the CII SoccerFest, a football festival for corporate executives, girl’s school and college teams and boys school teams.

IYSA – Josh Rural Project (2022-Present)

IYSA had been organizing short coaching camps in villages and small towns since 2015. In 2020, IYSA started the Josh Rural project supporting children playing football in these villages and other small towns with playing kit, footballs and training equipment.

From supporting 5 villages, 250 children in 2020-21; 8 villages, 350 children in 2021-22; IYSA is supporting over 15 Football programs for approx. 1000 boys and girls in villages and small towns in 2022-23, Locations are in Punjab, Uttarakhand with the majority in Haryana. For the first time, villages in Sikkim and West Bengal are also being supported.

We are supporting between 30 to 100 players in each village Academy with playing kit, footballs and training equipment such as cones, bibs, mini goals, bags and boots. IYSA is also giving coaches in these villages coaching advice and guidance.

Players and coaches in villages do not have access to kit and equipment. They share 2-3 footballs among 20-30 players. A pitch and goal post are a pair of shoes when it can be marked out with cones and mini goals, Our support encourages village boys and girls participation in sport, which encourages honesty, discipline, teamwork, respect and leadership.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

Playing a sport like football helps improve health, fitness and develops a sporting culture. We support an economically weaker part of the community and give modern football coaching to these children. We help them develop and prove their sporting excellence, thus creating the same opportunities for them as children from families with many more resources. 

We use the game of football to keep boys away from anti-social activities and help them become better individuals by building their character, skills, and confidence. By playing the sport, they also learn life skills such as respect, teamwork, leadership, discipline, and honesty. 

Footballers from villages will outshine footballers from cities one day. IYSA – Josh aims to develop Academies for children and youth from rural areas. Support from individuals, corporates, state governments are welcome towards this endeavor.

Information about the Trust

IYSA is registered with the Sub Registrar of Trusts, Delhi (North). Registration no. 25861, dated 9th November 2000.

IYSA runs with the help of donations from corporates and individuals. Donations to IYSA are 50% tax-exempt under section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961, Govt. of India.

IYSA is registered under sec. 12A. The registration number is: I-874/01/6 dated 5/04/2002

Arup Das
Managing Trustee, IYSA
arupdas@indiayouthsoccer.com