Carsyn Kelly, center, and Chloe Crissman, right, close in on the ball during a soccer game at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Oct. 17. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Still Kicking
The Butler County Soccer Association reached its 50th anniversary this year, which was marked by a bump in participation that made this fall season the largest in the organization’s history.
Colin Leyland, president of the Butler County Soccer Association, said the volunteer-run community sports program takes children ages 5 to 18, and has options for team play — a recreational league and a travel league for those over 8 years old.
According to Leyland, 338 youths play in the Saturday recreation program; and 168 play in its travel program, in which the teams play others from around the district.
Leyland attributes its successful longevity to the variety of offerings the association has.
“I really see our program as offering a little of what every kid could need,” Leyland said. “We also have a top soccer program which is for kids with a variety of disabilities, and that operates on Friday nights. We have 20 kids in that program, which has been pretty strong.”
And Leyland said some players go from learning the basics of soccer when they are 5 years old to playing in the recreation league or the travel league once they reach the age and skill level.
“Most of the kids we get at the younger age are aspiring, ‘I want to play soccer someday.’ So we provide an entry program to learn what soccer is all about,” Leyland said. “Anyone who wants to play in the recreation program registers, and then we have a committee who makes a team each season.”
The Butler County Soccer Association’s fall season ends Oct. 31, and registration for its spring season, which will begin in April, can be completed on the association’s website, bcsa76.net.
Children from the Slippery Rock Youth Soccer Association and the Knoch Area Soccer Association play soccer Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Children from the Slippery Rock Youth Soccer Association and the Knoch Area Soccer Association play soccer Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Children play soccer Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Children play soccer Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Chloe Crissman, right, dribbles the ball during a soccer game Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Malcolm Armstrong dribbles the ball during a soccer game Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Chloe Crissman flashes a thumbs-up to her parents during a soccer game Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Gensyn Maseroni waves to her family during a soccer game Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Children play soccer at the Butler County Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Conner Moats plays goalee during a soccer game at the Butler Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Cleo Smith kicks the ball during a soccer game at the Butler Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Conner Moats kicks the ball during a soccer game at the Butler Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Malcolm Armstrong, orange, chases the ball as Gunner Morrison winds up to kick it during a soccer game at the Butler Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
Harmony Dunlap dribbles the ball during a soccer game at the Butler Soccer Association fields in Center Township, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Matthew Brown
