Ela Soccer Club Executive Director named State Administrator of the Year

LAKE ZURICH, IL (October 25, 2011) - Ela Soccer Club is proud to announce that Jackie Marais, Ela Soccer’s Executive Director, has been named the 2011 Illinois Youth Soccer Administrator of the Year. The Illinois Youth Soccer Association has over 90,000 members statewide and is the official governing body of youth soccer activities in Illinois as designated by US Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation.                                        

“This is a huge and incredible accomplishment and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. We are truly honored to have someone of Jackie’s professionalism, vision and work ethic as our Executive Director,” said Doug Anderson, Ela Soccer Club President. “This award reiterates the fact that Ela Soccer is one of the elite soccer clubs in Illinois not only with our coaches but also with our administrative staff,” he continued. 

Jackie started with Ela Soccer Club five years ago as the club’s Operations Director and has quickly risen to take on more and more responsibility each year which finally resulted in her being named as the club’s Executive Director just over a year ago.

 Jackie entered into the world of youth soccer when her son’s Michael and Justin started to play soccer about 13 years ago . She started volunteering for Ela Soccer Club shortly therafter and has also played key roles with a number of other Lake Zurich area youth sports organizations, most recently serving as volunteer treasurer for the past ten years for the LZ Hoops Basketball organization. Jackie will now be considered for the nationwide US Youth Soccer Administrator of the Year award. 

Ela Soccer Club is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization with over 1,200 youth players.