ABOUT GEORGIA SOCCER
About Georgia Soccer
Georgia Soccer is the authorized state youth and adult association for Georgia within the United States Adult Soccer Association, United States Youth Soccer Association, and through them is part of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Also, Georgia Soccer serves as the official National State Association of USSF making it responsible to act on behalf of USSF and provide licensing courses for coaches and certification courses for referees.
In turn, the United States Soccer Federation is the recognized national soccer association within the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), the worldwide governing body for soccer. Essentially, we serve affiliated member organizations throughout Georgia in both program and administrative support activities.
Board of Directors
| President | Russel Rankenburg |
| Vice President – Youth | Eric Keller |
| Vice President- Adult | Andy Boyle |
| Treasurer | AJ Hurst |
| Director- Youth Recreation | Neil McNab |
| Director- Youth Select | Open |
| Director- Adult Competition | Mike Hogan |
| Director- Player Athlete | Richard Richmond |
| State Referee Committee Chair | Kevin Biando |
| Director- At Large GSSA | Neil Thompson |
| Director- At Large Youth | Melissa Camp |
| Director- At Large Adult | Mark Bloom |
| Executive Director/Secretary – Non Voting | Laura Halfpenny |
| Director – Non Voting | Leigh Jakes |
Committees
| Appeals | Mike Hogan |
| Bylaws and Policy | Mike Hogan |
| Nominating | Mike Kirschner |
| Discipline and Protest – Adult | To be appointed |
| Discipline and Protest – Youth | Charlie Cornell |
| Ethics and Grievance – Adult | To be appointed |
| Ethics and Grievance – Youth | Micheal Lake |
| Scholarship Committee | Daniel McAdams |
| Finance | AJ Hurst |
| Risk Management | Cornelius Samuel |
| State Cup – Youth | Eric Keller |
| State Cup – Adult | Mike Hogan |
| State Referee Committee Chair | Kevin Biando |
| Youth Recreation | Neil NcNab |
| Youth Select | Melissa Camp |
| Hall of Fame | Vacant |
State Referee Committee
The State Referee Committee (SRC) is responsible for leading the State Referee Association in promoting and implementing U.S. Soccer’s referee initiatives and programs in support of all affiliated members and competitions within their jurisdiction. This committee works with all U.S. Soccer Member Organizations.
| State Referee Chair | Kevin Biando |
| State Referee Administrator (SRA) | Matt Jackson |
| State Director of Assessment (SDA) | Patrick Baker |
| State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) | Patrick Lama |
| State Director of Instruction (SDI) | Richy Serota |
| State Director of Assignment | Vacant |
| Referee Operations Coordinator & Compliance | Anne Wright |
| Vice President – Youth | Eric Keller |
| Vice President – Adult | Andy Boyle |
Staff
| Executive Director | Laura Halfpenny | (770) 452-0505 x 2010 |
| Director – Membership | Kim Bowen | (770) 452-0505 x 2011 |
| Referee Operations & Compliance Coordinator | Anne Wright | (770) 452-0505 x 2014 |
| Director of Tournaments & Event Operations | Cristina Coca | (770) 452-0505 x 2018 |
| Business Coordinator | Susan Holbrook Ridarick | (770) 452-0505 x 2016 |
| Director of Coaching & Player Development | Kostas Hatzikoutelis | (770) 452-0505 x 2015 |
| Content Marketing & Social Media Specialist | Hilik Haviv | (770) 452-0505 |
Age Group Coordinators
| Academy | |
| Academy 12U | Angelo Yokaris |
| Girls GPL/Championship/Conference | |
| GPL/Championship /13U | Angelo Yokaris |
| GPL/Championship 14U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship 15U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 16U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship 17U | Lee Blenman |
| GPL/Championship 18U | Lee Blenman |
| GPL/Championship 19U | Lee Blenman |
| Boys GPL/Championship/Conference | |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 13U | Angelo Yokaris |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 14U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 15U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 16U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship/Conference 17U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship 18U | Eric Keller |
| GPL/Championship 19U | Eric Keller |
Recreational | |
| Boys | |
| 12U | Ashlyn Keller |
| 14U | Ashlyn Keller |
| 16U | Dan Esmond |
| 18U-19U | Ashlyn Keller |
| Girls | |
| 12U | Ashlyn Keller |
| 14U | Ashlyn Keller |
| 16U | Dan Esmond |
| 18U-19U | Ashlyn Keller |
Life Members
Lifetime Membership is a special recognition for any player, coach, referee, administrator, volunteer or supporter who has had a positive impact on the game of soccer at the state level for a period of five years or longer.
The Georgia Soccer Board of Directors proudly confers this honor to these members.
| 1983 | 2002 |
| Sam Peddicord | Cy Strickler |
| Gail Turbyville | |
| 1984 | Ron Moore |
| Angus McAlpine | |
| Clyde Partin | 2003 |
| Rev. Joseph Caffery | Gloria Atkinson |
| John Warwick | |
| 1985 | Russel Rankenburg |
| Dan Weinstein | |
| 2004 | |
| 1987 | Leonard Bender |
| Harry Geisinger | |
| 2005 | |
| 1989 | Rick Inman |
| Karl Langheinrich | |
| Frank Jones | 2006 |
| Terry Ball | Lance Chaple |
| 1992 | 2008 |
| Barbara Jones | Eugene O’Brien |
| Jack White | |
| 2009 | |
| 1993 | Karon Beyer |
| Jack Spencer | |
| Rick Skirvin | 2010 |
| Harold Vernon | |
| 1995 | |
| Michael Rachel | 2011 |
| Larry Green | |
| 1996 | Nancy Marsden |
| Marilyn Childress | |
| 2012 | |
| 1997 | David Edwards |
| Mike Brewer | |
| Perroneau Scott | 2014 |
| Robert Ooten | Raymond Connelly |
| 2000 | 2015 |
| Bill Letbetter | Bryan McDermott |
| Jack Trover | |
| Susanne Conlon | 2016 |
| Steve Keiss | |
| 2001 | Delroy Ziadie |
| Carl Krauth | |
| Jim Archer | 2019 |
| Rex Hardaway | Maria Vivanco |
| 2020 | |
| Mike Hogan |
Hall of Fame
The Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame honors the pioneers throughout the history of Georgia Soccer. Each of those inducted has had a unique and lasting impact on soccer in Georgia.
To nominate a deserving individual for the Hall of Fame, please contact Laura Halfpenny .
Click here for the nomination form and procedures.
Below are the honored inductees of the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame.
| Inducted 1990 | Inducted 2003 | Inducted 2018 |
| Robert Sumpter | Daniel Hay | Clint Mathis |
| Josh Wolff | ||
| Inducted 1991 | Inducted 2004 | |
| Eugene O’Brien | Michael Balson | Inducted 2019 |
| Carl Krauth | 1968 Atlanta Chiefs | |
| Inducted 1994 | William Letbetter | Tony Annan |
| Ella Sheppard | ||
| Inducted 2006 | ||
| Inducted 1997 | Tom Frazee | |
| Robert Bass | Harry Geisinger | |
| Furman Bisher | Cy Strickler | |
| Rev. Joseph Caffery | ||
| Richard Cecil | Inducted 2007 | |
| Walter Gray | Jose Vivanco | |
| Benjamin Gross | ||
| Nicola Marino | Inducted 2008 | |
| Ron Newman | Richard Wagner | |
| Dr. Clyde Partin | ||
| Phillip Woosnam | Inducted 2011 | |
| Michael Hogan | ||
| Inducted 2000 | ||
| Dave Forestner | Inducted 2012 | |
| Steve Weeman | Graham Tutt | |
| Inducted 2001 | Inducted 2014 | |
| Marilyn Childress | Susanne Conlon | |
| Linda Hamilton | ||
| William Holleman | Inducted 2016 | |
| Robert Sims | Maurice LaFreniere | |
| Inducted 2002 | Inducted 2017 | |
| David Chadwick | Jim Archer | |
| Angus McAlpine | Alan Hamlyn | |
| Hugh O’Neill | Mark MacKain | |
| John Staniforth |
Hall of Fame Policy
Hall of Fame Nomination Instructions
Hall of Fame Nomination Form
Internships
The Georgia Soccer Internship Program is a work experience opportunity for students to gain practical work experience in a sports setting. The Georgia Soccer Intern will assist Georgia Soccer Staff with the planning and execution of all Programs, Tournaments and Events and work across Tournament & Event Operations, Marketing/Promotions, Member Services and Business Operations & Finance departments.
Participants in the program must be working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited college or university and have a basic understanding of soccer.
The program will coincide with Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. The program’s start and end dates will be based on your specific University or College’s semester schedule.
Applications for the Fall 2023 Internship Program will open July 31st, 2023.