February 22, 2012
The Ocean Springs Soccer Organization (OSSO) was commissioned on March 1, 1978, and has operated continuously since that time, providing the residents of Ocean Springs with a high quality, affordable recreational soccer program. The Ocean Springs Soccer Organization is entirely funded by proceeds from registration and fundraising. OSSO is managed by an elected Board of Directors and supported by nearly one hundred volunteers including coaches, assistant coaches, and team parents.
The Ocean Springs Soccer Organization provides youth soccer players the opportunity to play recreational (Division 3) soccer. For the 2010-2011 season, 444 boys and girls from four to 15 years old were registered with the Ocean Springs Soccer Organization, playing on 49 teams. People as young as age 12 also participated as licensed soccer referees, officiating 20-25 games scheduled each week. There was a total of 294 games in the regular season for the U5-U12 age groups played November 2010 through February 2011, and 30 games during the OSSO 2011 U10 and U12 Tournament that took place in March 2011. The OSSO regular season schedule included games with teams from the West River Soccer Club based in Gautier. The OSSO U14 and U16 teams played 60 games in February through April 2011, against teams from across the Mississippi Soccer Association (MSA) Southern District. The majority of practice sessions, regular season games, and the OSSO Tournament were played at the Jackson County Soccer Complex. Nine OSSO Division 3 teams qualified for the MSA Southern District Tournament in April, hosted by HYSA in Hattiesburg.
Through it's membership in the Mississippi Soccer Association and affiliation with the United States Youth Soccer Association and United States Soccer Federation, OSSO provides players the foundation to excel and progress to the highest levels of soccer. The Ocean Springs Middle School and Ocean Springs High School soccer teams benefit from the steady stream of experienced OSSO soccer players eager to represent Ocean Springs. Many players on the 2011 State Champion Ocean Springs High School Greyhound Boys Soccer team started their soccer careers playing recreational soccer with OSSO.