Advisory Board Bio – Joel Dragan

Joel Dragan is the Director of Membership and Participant Safety for U.S. Youth Soccer, where he oversees membership support for each of the 54 State Associations via the US Youth Soccer national office, as well as oversight of USYS’ player safety.

 

Dragan transitioned to the new role with USYS after being the Executive Director of the Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) since 2019. Under his leadership, FYSA made significant strides in enhancing the quality and safety of soccer for youth athletes at all levels, from recreational to elite competition. Registration hit an all-time high in 2023 at 113,000 registered soccer players in Florida. His focus on creating pathways for player development, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring access to high-quality coaching has solidified FYSA as a leader in youth sports within the state.

 

Furthering his commitment to athlete safety, Dragan also currently serves as Chair of the US Youth Soccer Participant Safeguarding Committee, which is tasked with developing and implementing safeguarding policies for each of the 2.68 million soccer players inside of USYS.

 

Joel has also served on several national committees including the US Soccer SafeSport Task Force, the Kansas City World Cup Bid Committee, Chair of the GOALS Council, and the Senior PGA Championship Technology Committee.

 

Prior to his tenure as Executive Director in Florida, he held leadership roles in Kansas and Michigan. His expertise spans organizational management, event coordination, and strategic planning, with a special emphasis on community engagement and grassroots development.

 

Recently, Joel has been instrumental in the implementation of Florida Statute 943.0438 (CS/CS/HB 975) regarding background checking and fingerprinting of youth sport coaches in Florida. In June 2024, Joel and Florida Youth Soccer Association were successful in passing an amendment to the statue benefiting the entire youth sports landscape of Florida by extending the implementation window.

 

Joel’s vision for the future of the broader youth sports community is one where every player, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to reach their full potential through the many benefits of sport participation