Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
THE DALLES — One of the many youth soccer programs that’s available for players to participate in is Gorge Soccer, which started it’s ninth year in 2025. The league, under the direction of The Dalles High Riverhawks boys soccer assistant Coach Matt Dallman, has seven different age group leagues for boys teams and five separate age group leagues for girls teams that compete every Sunday through June 22 at Thompson Street Park.
Matt Dallman as an assistant coach for The Dalles Riverhawks boys varsity soccer team.
“In our first spring league in 2018, we had nearly 20 teams,” said Dallman. “This year we have 68 teams from all over the Gorge area so the league has grown immensely. One of the things I’m most proud about is the community support of the league. Of the 68 teams currently playing, the league has worked with local businesses to cover league fees and they have provided Nike jerseys for 40 of the teams.”
The teams started the season May 4 and the next event is June 14. Championship games in the grade levels from fourth grade through high school will be held June 21-22. The games are usually double digits high scoring events since players compete on fields half the normal size of a regulation high school field.
Other Gorge Soccer programs include year around events with summer, fall and winter league schedules, including indoor soccer. A Gorge Soccer Division I soccer camp will be held July 12-13 at Thompson Park with college athletes from Portland instructing the young players and teaching them a variety of soccer skills to help them improve their performance on the field. Gorge Soccer also offers a free coaching clinic for local coaches with instructors from the University of Portland Pilots coaching staff.
Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
Mike Weber photo
“I originally started a skills program (Gorge Soccer Academy) in 2016 after coaching my first season at The Dalles High School,” said Dallman. “While coaching, I learned that the local soccer winter league would not be operating that year. My players asked if I could start a league so that they could continue playing during the winter.”
In 2016, Gorge Soccer had 15 teams competing in the winter league and last year the number increased to a total of 62 teams.
“The goal of Gorge Soccer is to find local businesses to cover league cost’s for half the teams in our league, so that it’s free for parents,” said Dallman. “If a team does not have a sponsor, the team fee is $350, which breaks down to about $38 per player on a nine player roster. We attribute our high participation to the low cost and high quality of our league.”
Players from The Dalles fifth/sixth grade team (orange jerseys) compete against a Parkdale youth squad in May 31 Gorge Soccer League game at Thompson Park in The Dalles.
Mike Weber photo
Gorge communities represented in the league include teams located in The Dalles, Hood River, Maupin, White Salmon, Goldendale, Trout Lake, Mosier, Tygh Valley, Stevenson, Sherman County, Parkdale, Odell and Dufur. The referees are high school players from around the Gorge.
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