Alexander Safaei’s inclusive soccer team wins undefeated league title

Alexander Safaei built Beyond the Tryout and Elite United FC to give 14- to 16-year-old players a chance to compete without a tryout barrier. The team finished 3-0-1 and won its league championship in its first official season, underscoring the appeal of more accessible youth sports.

Why it matters: - Beyond the Tryout was built to open competitive soccer to young athletes who are often left out by tryouts, cost barriers, or limited access to training. - The project shows that inclusion and winning can coexist in youth sports. - The model may offer a template for more adaptive coaching and broader participation.

What happened: - Alexander Safaei created Beyond the Tryout: Building Community Through Soccer for players ages 14 to 16. - Safaei began building the team, Elite United FC, unofficially in 2023. - Elite United FC finished its first official league season undefeated at 3-0-1 and won the championship. - The team won its first three games and tied its final match.

The details: - Safaei recruited players through school, friends, word of mouth and direct outreach. - Safaei also created the team’s Instagram account to reach potential players. - Elite United FC built a roster of 18 athletes. - The roster included players who were not playing for another organized soccer team when they joined. - Safaei secured practice space on his high school’s turf fields. - Safaei coordinated schedules, communication, equipment and jerseys. - Safaei organized tournament participation before registering the team for a six-team league. - Safaei coached the players himself. - The team included athletes with different levels of experience. - Safaei focused on each player’s strengths and where support was needed instead of cutting less experienced players. - Safaei’s volunteer work with children with physical and intellectual disabilities and students at a local cottage school helped shape the coaching approach. - In those settings, Safaei used smaller steps, different explanations and different equipment, including a smaller soccer ball, to help children participate successfully. - Safaei is a student at Byram Hills High School in Armonk, New York. - Safaei is an All-Section and All-League varsity soccer player. - Safaei has earned six varsity letters across soccer, wrestling and lacrosse. - Safaei has completed OSHA 10-Hour certification and is working toward his ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician, Grade I certification.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a shift away from early exclusion and toward development-based coaching. - The undefeated season suggests access and competitiveness do not have to be in conflict. - A parent of one player, Frank Diodati, said the team helped kids become more invested and gave families a reason to show up and support them. - Safaei said leadership can mean creating opportunities for others rather than being the standout player.

What’s next: - Safaei wants to expand Beyond the Tryout with additional teams, clinics, mentorship opportunities and partnerships with youth organizations. - Safaei is inviting potential partners and supporters to connect by email and through Elite United FC’s Instagram account. - The broader goal is to use soccer to reach young athletes who might otherwise be excluded from organized sports.

The bottom line: - Beyond the Tryout turned an inclusion-first idea into a championship team, showing that giving more players a chance can also produce results.