The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) is set to host its 2026 Leadership Symposium on Saturday, February 28th, at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bristol, Connecticut. The event will run from 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM and will once again serve as a cornerstone gathering for leaders across the Connecticut soccer community.
Registration is currently open for the 2026 CJSA Leadership Symposium, which is designed to empower the soccer community with tools and knowledge to enhance the game for club leaders, coaches, players, families and administrators. Through a series of educational workshops and interactive sessions, the event will address critical topics impacting youth soccer today.
“We’ve built a dynamic lineup with something for everyone, and we encourage our members to take advantage of the wide range of sessions and opportunities available throughout the day,” said Josh Krusewski, Executive Director of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association.
Sessions at the CJSA Leadership Symposium
Attendees at the CJSA Leadership Symposium can participate in the following sessions designed to educate and inspire:
- Tackling College Sports Recruiting Truths
- Prevent to Perform: ACL Injuries (Advanced Physical Therapy)
- Anxiety Management (Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance)
- State Registration System (Playmetrics)
- When Fun Turns Frenzy: Adults, Expectations and Youth Sports (Presented by Nate Taylor, LPC, Loomis Chaffee)
- Summer of Soccer: How Connecticut Clubs Can Activate in 2026, “The Big Tournament” (Presented by Josh Krusewski)
- Speeding Up the Brain-Body Connection (Advanced Physical Therapy)
- Supporting Players, Coaches & Parents in Avoiding Burnout (Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance)
- Social Media & Marketing Your Club (Resolution Promotions)
- TOPSoccer: Best Practices and CJSA Support (Presented by Bill Fallon, CJSA TOPSoccer Chair)
- Focus on the Field: Admin & Business Services
- CT State Referee Programming (Connecticut State Referee Program)
- US Soccer 9v9 Course (Advanced Registration Required)
- US Soccer 11v11 Course (Advanced Registration Required)
Please note that workshops are subject to change. Prior to the Leadership Symposium, check our website for any updates regarding the event schedule.
CJSA is also honored to welcome Kari Seitz as a featured guest speaker at the 2026 CJSA Leadership Symposium. Seitz is one of the most distinguished figures in international soccer officiating, having made history as the most experienced female referee in the world. Over her remarkable career, she officiated at four FIFA Women’s World Cups and multiple Olympic Games, representing U.S. refereeing at the highest levels of the sport. Beyond her on-field achievements, the National Soccer Hall of Famer has continued to shape the future of the game through leadership roles focused on referee development and empowerment worldwide, making her insights especially inspiring for all members of the soccer community.
CJSA would also like to extend its gratitude to the sponsors and supporters of the 2026 CJSA Leadership Symposium, which include DICK’S Sporting Goods, GCI Outdoor, Kwik Goal, Soccer Wars, NYCFC, Hudl, Soccer & Rugby Imports, PRIME Hydration, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, New England Revolution, Nike, Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance, Hartford Wolf Pack, Advanced Physical Therapy, and Resolution Promotions. The event is also powered by the book From the Sandlots to the World Cup: Inside Seven Decades of American Soccer, which was written by Dr. Joseph Machnik.
Leaders from clubs across Connecticut are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to connect, learn and prepare for the year ahead.
The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association recently announced the winners of its 2025 annual awards, who will be celebrated as part of the 2026 Annual President’s Awards Dinner on Friday, February 27th.
