WELCOME TO THE OHTSL
This is the website for the Ohio Travel Soccer League. The OHTSL is a youth soccer league for travel/community players both boys and girls between the birth years of 2008 - 2014 (U09 - U15). The league is comprised of 101 members and 900 teams throughout Northern Ohio with both competitive and geographical brackets. The league is a proud member of US Club Soccer.
For more information about the league, sponsorship opportunities or to consider joining; please contact Howard Klebanow at howard@ohtsl.com or (216) 469-7104.
Soper Silent Sunday May 17, 2026
Please see the below information regarding Soper Silent Sunday this Sunday ALL TEAMS MUST OBSERVE
SOPER SILENT SUNDAY DETAILS
Date: 5/17/2026
Soper Silent Sunday has been a regular event within the league for the past 20 years developed by OHTSL retired president Al Soper and Carl Pavolich, a longtime NOGSL board member.
The concept is that youth players need to develop communication skills within the game of soccer. The opportunities for players to dictate the match has unfortunately, become drowned out by parents and coaches who do a lot of the talking for them.
Soper Silent Sunday does not allow for any parents to yell anything during the game other than to applaud a good play, goal or save. It also minimizes the coaches role to only be able to call out for substitutions and have conversations with players on the bench. The only exception to this rule is at the U9 age, where coaches are still encouraged to coach, as players are still learning and developing within the game, however we as a league promote even U9 coachs to keep coaching to a minimum on this day, if possible.
On this Sunday, September 19 Soper Silent Sunday will be mandated. Referees cannot decide not to honor Silent Sunday nor can coaches or parents. Coaches are responsible to remind your parents of this weekend and the value to the players. Any parent or coach not adhering to Silent Sunday will first be warned and then asked to leave the facility. Referees will receive an email reminder as well as all coaches and reps.
Keep points to remember:
1) U-9 coaches only may continue to give instruction and talk to players on the field during the game.
2) All Coaches with the exception of U9, should refrain from coaching during the match, with the exception of calling out substitutions, and conversations to players on the bench.
3) Parents should refrain throughout all match including U9 from any communication other than to applaud and be supportive of the play on the field, when the play is dead (i.e. substitution, ball goes out, goal is scored, etc.)
4) Please remember the goal of Soper Silent Sunday is to give the players a voice, so please do your best to support this opportunity to develop a specific area of the game which must be encouraged for successful play to occur, as players continue to grow.
Meet Our Board
The President shall execute all legal documents and other obligations with the prior approval of the Board in the name of the Corporation and shall have such other authorities and shall perform such other duties as may be determined by the Board. The Board may, at its discretion, require the signatures of other Officers, in addition to the President, on legal and financial documents which bind the Corporation.
Directors are responsible for attending regular and special meetings of the Board and Member Meetings. Directors are to be active participants in the activities of the Corporation in accordance with the policies set by the Board. Directors shall also run the OHTSL committees that manage bracketing, discipline and board nominating committees.
In the event of the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President.
The Treasurer shall maintain current and complete records of account, have custody of the funds of the Corporation, deposit all such funds in such depositories as the Directors may designate, and render to the Directors upon their request statements of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Directors are responsible for attending regular and special meetings of the Board and Member Meetings. Directors are to be active participants in the activities of the Corporation in accordance with the policies set by the Board. Directors shall also run the OHTSL committees that manage bracketing, discipline and board nominating committees.
The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes as required in these Regulations.
Meet Our Staff
The League Administrator/Registrar coordinates the day to day activities of the running of the league and all communications to community contacts. Team declaration, bracketing, game scheduling and game rescheduling are all managed by the OHTSL Administrator. The processing and verification of all player information for US Club carding is handled by the League Registrar as well as assisting community registrars with staff and player pass issues within the US Club registration platform.
The Events Administrator organizes the Ohio Travel Cup, the Ohio Indoor Travel Cup and the 8th Grade All Star Game. They are also the liaison between the OHTSL and US Club for recreational soccer. Additionally, they are the Concussion and Lindsay's Law compliance coordinator.
The DOC will be responsible for coaches training and education, as well as assisting clubs with player development. The DOC will also serve as the league's program director in charge of new events including OHTSL camps, US Club sponsored USSF Coaching Licenses, Community coaching clinics, and other potential programs.
The Referee Assignor Coordinator is responsible for managing the referee assignors that handle assigning referees to all OHTSL league games which involves ensuring all games have referees and reconcilement of payment to the referee assignors. The Coordinator also assists with the management of field issues, red card reporting and analysis, monitoring of game changes as needed as well as referee management at the two annual OHTSL tournaments.