In 1965, Joe Belluzzo (known as the "Father of Santa Rosa Soccer") and several other men and women joined forces in order to provide instruction and game opportunities for school age boys and girls who were interested in learning to play soccer. From that time until 1970, informally organized youth teams from Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park and Petaluma played each other on Sundays in various locations across the county.

In 1970, six members of the community met at Sequoia School on Calistoga Road (courtesy of the school principal, Hugh Wilson, who, even though he was not a participant in the proceedings, was an amused and supportive bystander). This group of parents determined that there were enough youngsters to play in leagues within the City of Santa Rosa, and that evening they founded the Santa Rosa Youth Soccer League.

The first officers of the SRYSL were five of the six founding members, whose names were as follows: Peter Jebens, President; Larry Nees, Vice President; Wayne Evans, Treasurer; and Tony Marques and Joe Belluzo, Referee Coordinators. The sixth person at that meeting was Ted Reidelbach. The first order of business at the meeting was the announcement by the treasurer, Evans, that the League treasury was without funds, and in his official capacity, he was forced to assess each member of the SRYSL a dues fee of $5.00, payable immediately. Around the table, each member ponied up the assessment fee, and the new organization, at adjournment, began with a treasury balance of $30.00.

Nees was assigned the task of addressing a meeting of six elementary school principals to ask for their assistance in getting the new program off the ground. The principals agreed to distribute to the students an information sheet called "Who Would Like to Play Soccer." Ninety-six students returned those sheets, expressing an interest in joining the SRYSL, and there were sixteen dedicated adults who served as coaches and referees that first year.

With the support of the schools, the Santa Rosa Optimist Club and the City Recreation and Parks Department, by the 1972/1973 season, the program had grown to 1,500 girls and boys who were organized into leagues of several different age groups. In 1978, due to the rapid growth of the community and widespread interest in the sport, the SRYSL Board of Directors reorganized their operations into five clubs, with the goal of facilitating play by dividing the city into geographical regions. This "club concept" led to the development of 184 teams.

Today, more than 6,000 youths on almost 500 teams are playing soccer in Santa Rosa, with the assistance of hundreds of adult volunteers, making the Santa Rosa Youth Soccer League the second largest soccer league in Northern California.