SALINAS VALLEY — Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is expanding opportunities for local youth this fall with the launch of its first in-house youth soccer league through MLS GO, Major League Soccer’s recreational youth soccer program.
The eight-week league combines MLS resources, scholarship support, trained volunteer coaches and community programming to give young players across the Salinas Valley an opportunity to learn the game, develop their skills and become part of the local soccer community.
The league builds on the Complex’s commitment to making soccer accessible to children throughout the community. That commitment has included free field access for youth leagues supported by donors and community partners.
Through the MLS GO PLAY FUND, families can apply for financial assistance toward player participation fees as part of Major League Soccer’s national effort to expand access to recreational soccer.
At the center of the new league is Simon Dawkins, director of soccer programs and development for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. Dawkins developed through the Tottenham Hotspur system in England, competed professionally in England, represented Jamaica internationally and played for the San Jose Earthquakes, helping the club win the 2012 Supporters’ Shield before later returning as a Designated Player.
He joined Monterey Bay F.C. for its inaugural season in 2022 and remained with the club through the conclusion of his professional playing career in 2024 before moving into coaching and technical leadership.
Dawkins helped establish the MLS GO partnership and will direct the league while guiding its volunteer coaches.
“Soccer gave me opportunities to grow, travel, compete and learn from people at every level of the game, and being able to bring some of that experience back to young players here is incredibly meaningful,” Dawkins said. “MLS GO gives us a strong structure for teaching the game, while our volunteer coaches bring the relationships and community connection that make youth soccer special. We want coaches to feel prepared and supported, players to feel encouraged to grow, and families to see a place for their children in the game.”
Volunteer coaches will receive support from Dawkins and MLS GO coaching resources, including age-specific training materials, practice plans, videos and exercises designed to help coaches teach technical skills, teamwork and game understanding.
The program is intended to give parents and community members the tools to become more confident coaches while strengthening the network of adults helping local children develop a lasting connection to soccer.
“Access is central to the vision for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, and that vision comes to life when our fields are filled with local kids who are learning, growing and discovering what they are capable of,” said Jonathan De Anda, the Complex’s general manager. “MLS GO gives us another way to turn the investment our community has made in this Complex into direct opportunities for families across the Salinas Valley, while Simon and our volunteer coaches create the kind of experience that can help a child build a lasting connection to the sport.”
The inaugural MLS GO season will welcome players ages 7 to 14 from Sept. 9 through Oct. 31, with one training session and one league game each week. Players will receive an official MLS GO uniform kit, including a jersey, shorts and socks. The program is designed for children with a wide range of soccer experience.
Registered players also will receive a complimentary ticket to an October San Jose Earthquakes match and have the opportunity to participate in a pregame on-field parade.
Registration, scholarship information and program details are available at SalinasSoccer.org/mlsgo.
