About PDN

Paso Del Norte began as a regional soccer league in the 1980’s as a member of El Paso Youth Soccer. In the early 1990’s Kathy Ryan and Patricia “Patty” Gatzka, recognized a need to improve the programmatic offerings for the El Paso soccer community. They led the effort to branch out and establish Paso del Norte Youth Soccer Association (PDN). Over the course of the last thirty years, PDN has grown into the largest and most tenured youth soccer association in the tri-state region serving El Paso, TX, Ciudad Juarez, and Southern New Mexico. Kathy, Patty, and later Francoise Feliberti worked to create its’ own charter and establish PDN as a standalone association, club, and league. PDN is a member association of South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA) which is an affiliate of the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYS) and the U.S. Soccer Federation. PDN offers quality soccer programming for kids at every level, starting with recreational level play for those just starting or playing purely for fun, to programming for our more developed and talented players seeking to play at the State and National level. PDN represents over two hundred teams and nearly 3,000 players from Midland, San Elizario, Horizon, Fabens, El Paso, Canutillo, Cd. Juarez, and Southern New Mexico.

PDN strives to provide quality programming for every player, coach, and family associated with PDN. Our diverse programming is designed to accommodate players at every level and encourage and support personal and collective team growth. PDN has the distinction of serving as Association and Club which allows for great flexibility in program structures and offerings, as well as preventing cost from becoming a barrier to participation for players, coaches, and families. PDN prides itself on community investment and prioritizing player participation. To this end PDN provides what many other clubs and leagues in the region are unwilling to provide. PDN invests all resources back into its’s program structure through scholarships to players and families to cover participation expenses, reimbursements for coaches who seek and attain higher level coaching credentials and participates in the Soccer Start program. PDN has recently invested additional resources in referee development and outfitting and sponsors referee’s certification for youth referees. Because of its’ work and advocacy at the state level, PDN affiliated teams receive automatic qualification to Spring and Fall Championships and are allowed to by-pass regional qualifying rounds. PDN has and will continue to sponsor teams who participate at State Cups and advance to Nationals. And when our community was struck with one of the greatest tragedies in El Paso’s history, PDN supported and coordinated efforts to assist our members victimized that dark day.

During its’ proud 30+ year history PDN has been managed and overseen by a purely volunteer staff and Board of Directors and plans to continue that tradition of service. All proceeds from league registration are invested back into programming. As a result of this commitment to excellence PDN can proudly claim that it is home to two of STYSA’s seven national champions and has produced several nationally and internationally recognized players like Omar Salgado, Jenny Chu, and Ricardo Pepi. PDN is also proud of its’ two STYSA Hall of Fame Members, Dr. Manuel, and Ms. Francoise Feliberti, Class of 2016.

We believe that our steady growth and position in the community is a result of our commitment to kids first and prioritizing player opportunity. We thank our teams, players, volunteers, and staff for making PDN El Paso’s premiere option for quality soccer programing.