WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – March 10, 2011 – “Alliance 4 All: Practice Better Sportsmanship” will debut during the spring soccer season at four Iowa Soccer Association member clubs including the Menace Academy. The other clubs participating are Ames Soccer Club, Council Bluffs Youth Soccer Association and Muscatine Soccer Club.

Alliance 4 All is a program designed to bring together the “4” participant groups in a soccer match – coaches, players, parents and referees – to “practice better sportsmanship”. It is a collaborative effort developed by the Iowa Soccer Association, Kansas Youth Soccer and the Nebraska State Soccer Association.

“With all the focus of being competitive, our kids and par­ents have really lost the value of sports and its benefits to build kids socially and also the invaluable life lessons that come from a team sport,” said Kevin Schalk, Menace Academy Director of Coaching.

The program is centered on four brief, online education modules which serve as guides for ways to practice better sportsmanship. It also strives to recognize the good sportsmanship that is being practiced, rather than focusing on policing behavior and penalizing offenders. Ultimately, the program’s success will hinge on the commitment of each individual to practice better sportsmanship.

“Iowa Soccer is thrilled to have Ames SC, CBYSA, Menace Academy and Muscatine SC lead the way in tackling the tough issue of sportsmanship in youth soccer. After the pilot run this spring, we’ll take their feedback to fine-tune the program for a full kickoff this fall,” said Jenny Wood, Iowa Soccer Director of Member Services. “At that time, we expect many more of our member clubs, along with tournaments and leagues, to opt into becoming Alliance 4 All-Endorsed Programs.”

For more about the program, visit www.iowasoccer.org.