HISTORY
Founded in 2011 and recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2014, GulfSouth Soccer Club is Walton County's home for youth soccer—serving families across Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties. We started to fill a local need for a development-first club with professional coaching, clear standards, and a pathway from developmental to local and regional competitive travel teams.
EXPERIENCE
Our coaching staff blends professional, licensed trainers with experienced former players to deliver a development-first, age-appropriate curriculum. Sessions emphasize technical mastery, tactical intelligence, and athletic foundations. Specialists lead position-specific work, while the club’s player development standards ensure a positive, player-centered environment.
OUR MISSION
To develop confident, character-driven players through professional coaching, a clear pathway from Academy to competitive teams to college, and a supportive community that serves families across Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties.
OUR VISION
To be the Emerald Coast’s model youth soccer club—where every child can grow in skill and character, compete with integrity, and access opportunities from local play to elite pathways while staying rooted in Walton County, Florida.
OUR HISTORY
Founded in 2011 and recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2014, GulfSouth Soccer Club is Santa Rosa Beach’s home for youth soccer—serving families across Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties. We began to address a local need for an option more professionalized than recreational soccer that was still a development-first club, offering professional and licensed coaching, clear standards, and a clear pathway from developmental to competitive travel teams to college.
Our home base is the Boys & Girls Club in Santa Rosa Beach, where players train in a supportive, growth-minded environment that emphasizes technical skill, tactical intelligence, fitness, and character development. As part of the Rush Soccer pathway (via Coastal Rush), our athletes gain access to best-practice curricula, regional competition, and expanded opportunities while keeping their community club feel.
From local friendlies and multi-tournament calendars to specialized goalkeeper and speed/agility training, we offer a complete player pathway—including a GulfSouth Academy (ages 5–8) that builds confident, ball-comfortable players ready for the next level or to enhance their recreational season.
GulfSouth Soccer Club exists to elevate kids and community through the world’s game—one session, one season, and one player at a time.
MEET THE TEAM
The Directors of Coaching
The Director of Coaching sets the club’s technical vision—designing the player development pathway, curriculum, and training standards—while mentoring coaches through session planning, evaluations, and ongoing education. They also coordinate tryouts and rostering, align match models across age groups, communicate with families, and ensure player safety and compliance with league and club policies.
Jayson Houp, Director of Coaching: Development
Coach Jayson leads GulfSouth’s player and coaching development standards across its academy and competitive teams, working directly with coaches and families to align training and expectations.
Brian Maas, Director of Coaching: Operations
Coach Brian leads team operations, scheduling, and registration for GulfSouth, guiding academy, and competitive teams with a clear, development-first approach.
The Board of Directors
All Board Members are unpaid volunteers. Positions are appointed after the end of the Spring session every two years (even years). The Board of Directors provides governance and strategic oversight—setting mission and policy, approving budgets, managing risk and compliance, and evaluating/holding club leadership accountable. They also steward resources and reputation by guiding fundraising and sponsorships, ensuring transparent operations, and representing the club to members and the community.
David Sempervive, President
president@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Amelia Beard, Vice President
vp@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Alex Rouchalea , Secretary
secretary@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Rob Valesco, Treasurer
treasurer@gulfsouthsoccer.com
David Sempervive, Social Media
president@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Mac McCool, Field & Facility Operations
operations@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Hailey Waters, Communications
community@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Kevin Johnson, Sponsorships | Fundraising
sponsorships@gulfsouthsoccer.com
Avery Carl, At-Large
at-large01@gulfsouthsoccer.com
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