Elevating Youth Sports Leadership Globally
Mission
To improve the experience for children and families by improving leadership in youth sports.
How We Will Do This
1. Identify, publish & promote the youth sports industry’s ever-evolving best practices.
2. Evaluate organizations & leadership against these best practices to:
a. Identify emerging best practices.
b. Identify awareness gaps, development gaps, and opportunity gaps.
c. Encourage and inspire innovation.
3. Provide access to solutions to raise industry standards and work toward becoming a model youth club.
4. Create opportunities for collaboration with youth sports leaders to network and learn from each other.
Core Values
1. Be a pioneer
We aim to raise performance standards, inspire better-performing leaders, and improve the quality of the youth sports experience globally.
2. Be innovative
We know that best practices will continually evolve, and we must be willing to adopt a growth mindset and accept that there is always an opportunity gap.
3. Celebrate the victories
We believe in acknowledging and promoting the successes in youth sports leadership.
4. Leave a legacy
We believe in the positive impact of youth sports on people and communities and want this impact to grow and improve indefinitely.
Core Business
1. Education
a. IYSL Leadership Circles
b. IYSL Special Events
c. IYSL Publication of Best Practices
2. Assessment
a. IYSL “Characteristics of Successful Youth Sports Organizations” BEST PRACTICE ANALYSIS TOOL’ Survey
b. IYSL Assessment and Recognition
David Newbery
David Newbery has dedicated over 35 years to coaching youth and professional athletes. His passion lies in a range of sports, including Cricket, Soccer, Rugby, Formula 1, and Basketball. Originally from southern England, Newbery completed undergraduate studies in London before venturing to the United States for graduate studies in St. Louis. He returned to the UK to certify as a school teacher and taught at a university in Birmingham, UK. He returned to the USA in 2000 to work in Connecticut before moving to Phoenix, AZ. Now a US Citizen, David serves as the Director of Development for Phoenix Rising in Cave Creek, where he lives with his family.
In 2010, Newbery created a club assessment program. He embarked on travels around New England, assessing many youth clubs. During this time, he collaborated with Tony DiCicco, former U.S. National Women's Team Soccer Coach, to develop an e-learning program for the NSCAA. Together, they launched the Club Standards Project, aiming to enhance the quality and standards of clubs. David led a dedicated team of consultants, extensively traveling throughout the United States and Canada to conduct research and evaluate the performance of youth clubs. Over a span of five years, more than 2000 organizations from North America and around the world actively participated in the project, contributing to the development of best practices.
Following the success of hosting the annual Kwik Goal Club Summit, a prestigious in-person event attended by top executives in youth sports leadership, David Newbery joined forces with Scott Wollaston. Together, they established the Institute of Youth Sports Leaders, striving to empower and educate individuals in the field of youth sports leadership.
Scott Wollaston
Scott Wollaston is an accomplished leader in the world of sports and business. As the Chief Executive Officer of NC Triad Fusion, Inc., a prominent sports club located in the Triad region of North Carolina, USA, Scott has successfully steered the organization toward new heights of success and growth.
Scott, who resides in Winston-Salem, NC, is a dedicated family man. He shares his life with his wife Megan and their two sons, finding a balance between his professional pursuits and personal commitments.
Passionate about community engagement, Scott was a participant and a graduate of the following programs:
- Leadership Lewisville-Clemmons Class of 2020
- Leadership Kernersville Class of 2022
- Leadership High Point Class of 2022
- Leadership Davie Class of 2022
- Leadership Alamance Class of 2024
He also serves a Board member of the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce and as the Chair of the Town of Bermuda Run Tourism and Development Authority. He is also an involved member at his church, Salem Chapel, serving monthly in the children’s ministry and engaging in an international mission trip to the Dominican Republic with his family in 2023.
For his education, Scott is a graduate and valedictorian at Kennett High School, Class of 1998. He graduated from Elon University in 2002 (Summa Cum Laude) with a double major in International Business Management and Spanish. He also played Division 1 soccer for Elon University from 1998-2001 and was awarded with the the Highest Male Athlete G.P.A. In 2001.
As a leader in soccer, Scott served as the Executive Director of Twin City Youth Soccer Association from 2011 through 2018, and ran the highly successful "Winning Goals 2.0" Phase 1 Campaign, raising an impressive $3.7 million to build artificial turf fields at Truist Sports Park in Bermuda Run, NC. Scott also was the leader in bringing the 2 biggest soccer clubs together in 2018 to form NC Triad Fusion, Inc. Scott also serves as a board member of Go Youth Tanzania! – a non profit supporting the Kilimanjaro Sports Academy based in Moshi, Tanzania.
As a speaker, Scott has presented at the following conferences inspiring and motivating others in the sports industry:
- Guest speaker at the 2018 Kwikgoal Club Summit – “Club Sponsorships”
- Co-emcee at the 2020 Kwikgoal Club Summit
- Guest speaker at the 2023 Seacoast Club to Club Summit – How to be a model sports club”
- Guest speaker at the 2024 Seacoast Club to Club Summit – “Creating Club Culture”
- Guest speaker at the 2024 United Soccer Coaches Convention – “Creating Club Culture” and “Daily Strategic Planning”
As a coach, Scott holds a USSF D license, and NSCAA “National Diploma”, and a USSF “National Youth License”. His expertise and dedication were acknowledged when he was honored as the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association 2011 Classic Girls Coach of the Year. Scott coached soccer for over 20 years before taking a break to be more present with family. He currently continues to volunteer coach his son’s soccer team in the NC Fusion Recreation soccer program.
As a professional, Scott has served a middle school Spanish teacher, and has owned and operated several companies, including SoccerOP Management, LLC, Triad Sports Management, LLC, the Winston Salem Soccerplex, LLC, and Venture Campus Winston-Salem, LLC.
Scott’s final thoughts: “I believe that youth sports provide one of the best, if not THE best platforms for individuals to develop and learn life lessons. With that belief comes great responsibility for ALL those involved in youth sports, including Organizations, Coaches, Parents and Players. We must work together to maximize the potential of that platform. Our future depends on it.”
Connect with Scott via email: [email protected] or via LinkedIn.