Wisconsin Soccer Symposium

Roni Andrew is a longtime advocate and ally within the disability community, dedicated to breaking down physical, social, and cultural barriers through sport and fitness. Her work focuses on creating accessible, equitable environments where individuals of all abilities can thrive and participate fully. Andrew champions collaboration across organizations and communities to expand inclusion and understanding in sport spaces. She is committed to reshaping the systems that place individuals in states of disability and bringing forward opportunities that emphasize capability, dignity, and empowerment. Andrew currently serves as the TOPSoccer Chair for Wisconsin, where she supports statewide programming for athletes with disabilities. Her passion drives her mission to build a more inclusive and connected sport culture.

Think you need a specialized playbook for adaptive soccer? Think again. Join us for Engineering Inclusion on the Pitch, a hands-on session where we use the tools already in your coaching bag to design a game for all abilities. Discover how the STEP method and a simple mindset shift can turn you into a more versatile, tactical coach for every player on your roster.

Craig Carlson is the WYSA Director or Coaching, Head Coach of Wisconsin’s Olympic Development Program, and a long-standing leader in player identification and development across the state. With extensive experience coaching at the youth and competitive club levels, he has helped shape training environments that prepare players for collegiate, regional, and national opportunities. As of late, Carlson has been added as a U.S. Soccer Talent Identification Scout. He is known for his ability to connect with athletes, guide them through demanding training cycles, and emphasize both technical excellence and character development. In addition to his work with ODP, Carlson holds a U.S. Soccer A License and is a U.S. Soccer certified coaching educator; his contributions to coaching education and youth player developmental framework are beyond compare. His leadership continues to elevate Wisconsin’s presence within the Midwest and national ODP landscape.

Player Roles and Functions focuses on helping coaches better understand how individual players contribute within a team’s overall structure and style of play. This session will explore how to clearly define positional roles, identify the key functions players must perform in different phases of the game, and communicate expectations so players can make better decisions on the field. Through practical examples and discussion, coaches will learn how to connect individual responsibilities to team tactics, allowing players to operate with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose within the game model.

Dr. Margaret Domka is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of USC-MHS, where she leads national efforts to integrate mental health awareness into sport culture. She has developed initiatives serving veterans, individuals with paralysis, and Paralympic athletes while also instructing Mental Health First Aid and ACT! Mental Health Awareness courses. Domka holds the International Olympic Committee Certification on Mental Health in Elite Sport, reflecting her commitment to athlete well-being. A former FIFA Women’s World Cup referee, she spent a decade on the USA FIFA panel and remains active officiating within the international blind, CP, and Special Olympics soccer communities. Her career blends high-level sport experience with a mission to create safe, supportive spaces for all athletes.

Mental health is a current buzzword. Increased support for athlete mental health is extremely important – but have you ever felt that anytime things are difficult, we are obliged to take away all pressure and make things easy? In this session, you will learn that we don’t need to take away adversity, but we do need to enhance resilience. Just as we don’t take away the hard work required for athlete improvement of physical performance capacity but instead teach skills such as conditioning, techniques that increase safety, etc., we also need to teach strategies to better cope with “the hard” on the mental side of the game. You will learn the ERASE method to teach athletes to continue moving forward through adversity and leave this interactive session* with practice drills that can help athletes strengthen their resilience.

*It would be helpful to have a digital device with you for this session. A cell phone will work, but feel free to bring a tablet or laptop if you feel more comfortable working on a larger device for a portion of the session.

Joel Dragan serves as the Chief Operating Officer for US Youth Soccer, supporting all 54 State Associations while leading national safeguarding initiatives. He chairs the USYS Participant Safeguarding Committee, which develops and implements safety policies for more than 2.6 million young athletes nationwide. Dragan previously served as Executive Director for both Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) and Kansas Youth Soccer, guiding major organizational growth and championing player-development pathways. Under his leadership, FYSA reached a record 113,000 registered players and advanced statewide inclusion, coaching quality, and compliance efforts. He has also played a key role in implementing Florida’s youth-coach background check and fingerprinting legislation, ensuring safer sport environments across the state. With more than 15 years of experience in youth soccer leadership, Dragan brings deep expertise in member support, risk management, and long-term program development.

From local requirements to Federal legislation, participant safety plays a key role in our game. This session will be an open conversation exploring all things risk management with real-life scenarios. Following this session, attendees will be prepared to navigate often sensitive situations encountered in the current soccer landscape.

Dr. Brett Ferstl’s passion for sports medicine and performance began in high school after a football injury sparked his interest in rehabilitation and return-to-play training. He started his career as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach at Impact Sports Academy, working with youth through college athletes across multiple sports.

After earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Carroll University, Brett joined Kinetic Sports Medicine and Performance, where he helps athletes return to sport pain-free and perform at their best. He specializes in ACL rehab, hockey, and field- and court-sport athletes, and is a Certified Clinical Athlete Weightlifting Coach and competitive Olympic weightlifter. Brett takes a whole-person approach, empowering athletes through education and individualized care to achieve long-term health and performance.

Join sports medicine expert Dr. Brett Ferstl of Kinetic Spots Medicine and Performance for a hands on workshop. He will break down the components of performance and injury prevention based active warm up and will conclude with taking you through a live warm up. You will experience useful warm up set up for on field instruction and experience live movement set up cuing to help maximize your active warm up instruction! Come ready to move!

Stephanie Grady is a two-time Emmy award winning journalist, and co-founder and CEO of Influential Athlete, the nation’s premiere NIL education and coaching company. A former athlete and television news anchor with nearly two decades of experience, Stephanie now equips student-athletes with the communication skills and strategy to maximize their Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities.

Under her leadership, Influential Athlete has partnered with more than 80 institutions nationwide – including high schools, state athletic associations, and club programs – providing access to NIL and professional development education for more than 40,000 athletes nationwide. The company not only coaches athletes directly, but also provides institutions with a simple, turnkey NIL education platform that serves as a powerful value-add to their athletic programs. Stephanie believes NIL is more than a short-term revenue stream – it’s a strategic tool athletes can use to position themselves for lasting success beyond sport.

NIL is not a money grab. And it’s not reserved for five-star recruits or athletes with massive social media followings. It is one of the most powerful leadership and career-development tools ever handed to student-athletes – and it’s not going away.

In this bold and eye-opening session, Stephanie Grady challenges the common misconceptions surrounding NIL and reframes it as a bridge between athletic identity and lifelong success. Attendees will gain clarity on the rapidly evolving high school NIL landscape, understand the critical differences between high school and college NIL, and learn why waiting until senior year is already too late.

More importantly, this session makes the case that the adults in the room – coaches, directors, and administrators – are now responsible for how this era unfolds. When guided correctly, NIL builds confidence, communication skills, business literacy, resilience, and professional readiness. When ignored, it leaves athletes vulnerable and unprepared. This isn’t about creating influencers. It’s about developing capable, confident young men and women who are prepared for the professional game of life.

Ellen Joppe is a former Division I soccer player who was introduced to yoga during her collegiate career as a complement to high-level training and competition. What began as a posture-focused practice evolved into a deeper exploration of movement, mindfulness, and recovery. Through her continued practice, she discovered the mental clarity, balance, and personal growth that yoga can provide both on and off the field. In 2018, Joppe earned her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from Kramas Yoga in Madison. Drawing from her background as a competitive athlete, she integrates strength, mobility, and mental focus into her teaching. Her goal is to help athletes and individuals develop sustainable practices that enhance performance, well-being, and long-term growth.

A gentle, slow paced yoga practice that will combine mindful movements with the breath to help with recovery. It’s suitable for all levels, especially those looking to improve mobility.

Louis Mateus is a veteran soccer coach, educator, USYS Board Members, and leader with more than 40 years of experience across youth, collegiate, and national team environments. A longtime U.S. Soccer coaching educator, he has played a key role in developing coaches and players through elite clubs, Olympic Development Program, and Youth National Team pathways. Born in Portugal and raised in American soccer, Mateus also competed professionally in the indoor game before transitioning into coaching and leadership roles. He has served as a head coach at multiple collegiate programs, guiding teams to conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Known for his technical expertise and commitment to developing the game at every level, Mateus brings deep insight into player development and coaching methodology.

This session focuses on practical, game-realistic training activities designed specifically for coaches working with limited space. Participants will learn how to adapt sessions to small fields, gymnasiums, or shared environments while still developing technical skill, tactical awareness, and player engagement. Coaches will leave with ready-to-use activities that maximize repetitions, decision-making, and intensity — no matter the space available.

Jason Murphy is the head women’s soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, where he has led the Eagles since 2014 and built one of the most successful programs in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Under his leadership, UW La Crosse has earned multiple conference championships, made numerous NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, and advanced to the national quarterfinals three times. Murphy has guided the program to more than 170 victories while developing multiple All-Conference, All-Region, and All-America players. Prior to returning to La Crosse, he served as head coach and Director of Athletics at Marian University and held assistant coaching positions at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

This session will feature an interactive Q&A focused on practical strategies coaches of high school–aged players can use to increase their athletes’ visibility and exposure to college coaches. Participants will gain insight into effective communication, recruiting timelines, and best practices for supporting players through the college recruitment process.

Wes Moore is the Vice President of Product at PlayMetrics, a leading youth sports management software platform supporting clubs and organizations nationwide. He specializes in translating technology into practical solutions that help youth sports leaders improve operations, communication, and overall participant experience. With deep expertise in product strategy, digital platforms, and customer engagement, Moore has helped guide software solutions from early development through large-scale adoption. He regularly works alongside club administrators and sport leaders to ensure technology aligns with real-world needs and long-term growth.

Learn more about recently released and upcoming features for the 2026-27 season. This includes key updates for the state, club, and tournament solutions.

State Level

1. Age Group Change – Understand how the age group change will be reflected in WYSA
2. Club Affiliation – Complete the club affiliation application for the new season
3. Sanctioned Tournament Promotion – Promote WYSA sanctioned tournaments
4. 18+ Youth Players – Manage the SafeSport verification for 18+ players in your club

Club Level

1. Connected Systems 2.0 – Automatically sync players on program registration and sync rosters
2. Uniform Purchase Plans – Track uniform purchases and integrate with uniform vendors
3. Multi-Age In-House Teams – Manage multi-age teams and the return the team process for the new season
4. Staff Calendar – Add and manage staff events for coaches
5. Assignr Integration – Utilize Assignr to manage referees for in house leagues

Tournament Level

1. Public Schedules – Delay the promotion of schedules to teams and take schedules offline as needed
2. Division Assignment 2.0 – Rank and assign teams in bulk based on rankings
3. Backup Schedules – Create backup schedules in anticipation of weather events
4. Division Fees – Charge fees based on the preferred division selection during registration
5. Game Card Options – Print different types of game cards including 1/4 and 1/2 page options

Tom Torres was recently announced as the new head coach of the Carroll University women’s soccer program. With 30 years of coaching experience, he has worked across the ECNL, USL W-League, NWSL, and Major League Soccer youth systems, including ten seasons with D.C. United and four with the Washington Spirit. He continues to coach youth teams and brings a deep background in developing players across competitive levels. A former collegiate midfielder and defender, Torres graduated from Radford University with a degree in Political Science. He holds a USSF A License, UEFA B License, Elite Formation Coaching certification, and a USC Advanced National Diploma.

Jess Nash is the Executive Director of Rush Wisconsin Soccer Club and the Rush Women’s Alliance Coordinator with Rush Soccer. She has spent 17 years working in the sport industry across coaching, education, and executive leadership roles. Nash holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education and is a U.S. Soccer Coach Educator with an A-Youth License. Her work includes leading national and club-level initiatives focused on coach education, leadership development, and long-term athlete engagement, including the creation of Rush Wisconsin’s Emerging Coach Program. She also serves as a mentor within U.S. Soccer’s SheChampions Program, supporting the professional growth of women leaders in the sport. She is committed to building sustainable, values-driven environments that support athletes and coaches at every stage of development.

Women and girls often disengage from sport not because they stop loving the game, but because the environment no longer fits their life stage. This session explores how better environments in soccer can support sustained engagement for women and girls through flexibility, mentorship, and clear pathways beyond playing. Using practical examples such as the Rush Wisconsin Emerging Coach Program and the Rush Women’s Alliance, the presentation highlights how intentional design and supportive leadership foster belonging and long-term connection to the game. Attendees will leave with practical ideas to help create environments that allow women and girls to stay involved in soccer across all phases of life.

WSCA Board Members will facilitate a roundtable discussion exploring timely and relevant topics impacting Wisconsin high school coaches, encouraging open dialogue, shared experiences, and collaborative problem-solving.