madison-56ersa2191ea6

Madison 56ers Alumna Madi Foley Celebrates Back-to-Back National Championships

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 02:32:33 GMT

From the fields of Madison to the national championship stage, Madison 56ers alumna Madi Foley continues to make her mark on collegiate soccer.

A Middleton native and former Madison 56ers player, Madi is now a senior at Washington University in St. Louis , where she has helped the Bears capture back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships in 2024 and 2025.

During the 2025 championship season, Madi played an important role in the Bears' success, appearing in 23 matches with 20 starts. She recorded five goals and three assists, including three game-winning goals.

Her contributions were equally impressive during the 2024 season, when she appeared in 24 matches and scored six goals, including two game-winners. Madi also earned Academic All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honors, recognizing her achievements both on the field and in the classroom.

Madi's journey is a great example of the opportunities soccer can provide and the dedication required to compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics. Her accomplishments are a source of pride for the Madison 56ers community and an inspiration to young athletes following in her footsteps.

Congratulations, Madi! We look forward to following your continued success, both on and off the field.

70 Years a Sixer: Join Us for an Alumni Celebration

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:55:32 GMT

Seven decades. One Sixer Family.

Madison 56ers invites alumni from across the generations to celebrate 70 years of soccer with an evening of futsal, food, and club memories. Reconnect with former teammates, share your favorite stories, and celebrate the people who have shaped the club.

Join us on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, from 6–9:30 p.m. at the Madison 56ers Indoor Training Facility, 155 Braun Road, Oregon, WI 53575. Family and friends are welcome to attend, with tournament play reserved for alumni.

The alumni futsal tournament will feature 4v4 play plus a goalkeeper, a double-elimination bracket, and two eight-minute halves per game. There is room for up to 14 teams, with six to eight players per team.

Throughout the evening, enjoy light food and refreshments, browse the silent auction, and check out limited-edition celebration merchandise, including 70th anniversary scarves.

Please RSVP so we can plan for tournament participation and food. Whether you’re ready to play or simply want to catch up with the Sixer community, we hope to see you there. Share this invitation with former teammates and anyone who has been a Sixer!

Bringing a Female Lens to Player Development: Madison 56ers at U.S. Soccer's herLENS Conference

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:19:25 GMT

Madison 56ers Executive Director Jess Nash joins leaders from across the sport to explore the future of girls' and women's soccer.

Madison 56ers Executive Director Jess Nash was among 300 leaders from across the soccer landscape invited to attend the 2026 herLENS Conference, hosted by U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes and U.S. Soccer on September 30 and October 1 at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia.

The two-day event brought together leaders and experts from coaching, sports science, research, medicine, performance, and other sectors to explore one central question: What happens when we put women and girls at the center of how we approach the game?

Understanding the Female Athlete

A central theme of the conference was the importance of applying a genuinely female lens to player development, rather than simply adapting systems and practices historically designed for male athletes.

Through classroom presentations, practical field sessions, and discussions with experts, attendees explored how physical, psychological, and social factors influence the experiences of female players.

Topics included athlete health and recovery, training methodologies, injury prevention, confidence, resilience, and the environments that influence whether girls stay in or leave the sport. The conference focused on three guiding principles:

Know Her : Understand the individual player and the physical, psychological, and social factors that shape her experience.
Coach He r: Develop coaching practices and training environments that reflect the needs of female athletes.
Empower Her : Create environments where girls and women feel supported, challenged, and empowered to succeed.

One particularly important message was that creating challenging environments and creating supportive environments are not mutually exclusive. Coaches can maintain high standards while fostering confidence, belonging, and a willingness to learn.

Bringing the Learning Back to Madison

For the Madison 56ers, participation in opportunities like herLENS reflects the club's commitment to continued learning and investment in player development.

"One of the most important things we can do as leaders and coaches is remain curious and willing to challenge how we've always done things," said Nash. "There is so much emerging research and knowledge about female athletes, and we have a responsibility to continue learning and applying what we can to the youth game."

Nash will share key takeaways with the club's leadership staff and coaches, including practical considerations for training environments, player recovery, and the importance of creating a positive culture where female athletes can thrive.

While some advances in research and performance science will take time to reach the youth level, there are meaningful steps coaches can take today. Understanding individual athletes, encouraging confidence, promoting belonging, and balancing challenge with support are all important parts of the player development experience.

A Commitment to Continued Learning

For 70 years, the Madison 56ers have played an important role in developing soccer players in our community. As the game continues to evolve, so does our understanding of how athletes learn, develop, and perform.

While herLENS focused specifically on the female athlete, many of the broader principles discussed, including creating positive learning environments, building confidence and resilience, understanding individual players, and challenging traditional coaching methods, have applications across both our boys' and girls' programs.

Our commitment to coach education and continued learning is ultimately a commitment to every player who wears a 56ers jersey.

By bringing new perspectives, research, and best practices back to our coaching staff, we continue to build on the club's history while looking for ways to improve the experience and development of every player.

Nine Championships: Madison 56ers Shine at the 2026 Fall Invitational

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:54:41 GMT

A weekend of championships, outstanding performances, and community pride

The 2026 Madison 56ers Fall Invitational was another tremendous success, welcoming 147 teams from across the Midwest for a weekend featuring 249 matches and competition across 26 boys' and girls' divisions.

For the Madison 56ers, the tournament was particularly memorable. With 31 teams representing the club, the Sixers advanced to 12 division championship matches and captured nine tournament titles , demonstrating the strength and depth of our organization across multiple age groups.

While the championship trophies were certainly worth celebrating, the performances throughout the weekend reflected something even greater: the continued development, dedication, and competitive spirit of our players and coaches.

A Weekend of Impressive Results

Across the tournament, Madison 56ers teams put together an outstanding collection of performances:

Nine tournament championships across boys' and girls' divisions.
12 division finals featuring Madison 56ers teams, including two championship matches between fellow Sixers teams.
57 victories in matches against teams outside the club.
322 goals scored , averaging 3.5 goals per match.
30 clean sheets , highlighting strong defensive performances throughout the weekend.
 Eight teams finished undefeated , including four teams that completed perfect 4–0 tournament runs.

Nearly 70% of our matches against outside competition ended in either a victory or a draw, an impressive reflection of the club's competitiveness across age groups. These accomplishments speak to the work our players and coaches put in throughout the season and the collective commitment to continued improvement.

Standout Performances Across the Club

Several Madison 56ers teams delivered particularly impressive tournament performances.

The U14 Girls White team put together a dominant weekend, finishing with a perfect 4–0 record, scoring 29 goals, and not conceding a single goal on its way to a tournament championship.

The U12 Boys Silve r team was equally impressive offensively, finishing undefeated with four victories, 33 goals scored, and just two conceded while bringing home its division title. Our U11 Girls Red team also completed a perfect 4–0 weekend, scoring 22 goals and allowing just four. The U11 Boys Bronze team added another undefeated championship performance, winning all four matches and scoring 20 goals.

Defensively, the U12 Girls Red team produced one of the tournament's strongest performances, finishing unbeaten with three victories and a draw while recording four consecutive clean sheets. The team did not concede a goal throughout the tournament and earned a championship.

The U13 Boys Red and U15 Girls White teams also completed unbeaten tournament runs and captured division championships.

One particularly exciting reflection of the organization's depth came in the U14 Boys Red Division and U11 Girls White Division , where Madison 56ers teams occupied both spots in the championship match. Having fellow Sixers teams compete for a title demonstrated the quality and competitiveness developing throughout the club.

From our youngest age groups through our high school teams, the weekend provided countless examples of individual growth, teamwork, and players rising to the occasion.

The People Behind the Tournament

While nine championships gave us plenty to celebrate, some of the weekend's greatest contributions came from the people working behind the scenes.

Our volunteers, coaches, and club families played an essential role in making this year's Fall Invitational a success.

A number of Madison 56ers coaches went above and beyond their normal team responsibilities to assist with tournament operations, often balancing their coaching commitments with additional responsibilities throughout the weekend.

We also experienced some of the strongest volunteer participation we have seen in recent years. From event setup and field operations to supporting visiting teams and families, the willingness of our community to contribute made a noticeable difference.

Their dedication helped create an organized, welcoming, and enjoyable tournament experience for everyone involved.

More Than a Club

One of the greatest strengths of the Madison 56ers has always been the community behind the crest.

Our players represent the club on the field, but it is the dedication of our coaches, parents, volunteers, and supporters that allows us to continue providing meaningful opportunities for young athletes.

As we celebrate 70 years of Madison 56ers soccer , weekends like the Fall Invitational serve as a reminder of the tradition we have built and the future we continue to develop.

Our success is measured not only in wins, goals, and championships, but also in the relationships, experiences, and sense of community that make being a Sixer special.

To every player, coach, parent, and volunteer who contributed to this year's tournament: thank you.

Congratulations to our nine championship teams and all 31 Madison 56ers teams that proudly represented the club throughout the weekend.

Madison 56ers Soccer Club Names Jess Nash as New Executive Director

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:33:52 GMT

Madison, Wisconsin. Madison 56ers Soccer Club is pleased to announce Jess Nash as its new Executive Director. Nash brings more than 15 years of experience in soccer leadership, coaching education, player development, and organizational management. She will begin her new role on September 8.

Nash was selected following a thorough national search conducted by the Madison 56ers Board of Directors. The search attracted a strong field of candidates from across the country, and the Board ultimately identified Nash as the leader best positioned to build on the club’s longstanding foundation while helping shape its next chapter.

“We were fortunate to have a very strong group of candidates, but Jess distinguished herself throughout the process,” said Christian Rickman, President of the Madison 56ers Board of Directors. “She brings an exceptional combination of soccer expertise, leadership experience, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to developing people. Just as importantly, she understands what makes a club like the 56ers special. We believe Jess is the right leader to help us elevate every aspect of the 56er experience for players, families, coaches, and our broader soccer community. Her vision aligns with our commitment to honoring our history while building an even stronger future.”

Nash currently serves as Executive Director of Rush Wisconsin, where she has led the club’s operations and strategic growth. During her career, she has held leadership and coaching roles across youth, high school, collegiate, and Olympic Development Program. She has also served as Rush Soccer’s Women’s Alliance Coordinator, a United States Soccer Federation SheChampions Mentor, and a Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association Coach Educator. She holds a Master of Education degree and a USSF A-Youth License.

“The Madison 56ers have such a rich history and a deep connection to the soccer community in Madison. When you think of soccer in Madison, you think of the 56ers,” said Nash. “I’ve been part of this soccer community for the past decade, and to join the 56ers as its first Executive Director, during its 70th anniversary year, is incredibly meaningful. I’m excited to build on our incredible legacy, strengthen the club at every level, and cement the Madison 56ers as the gold standard for soccer in our community for many more years to come.”

Founded in 1956, the Madison 56ers continues to serve as one of Wisconsin's most respected youth soccer organizations. As the club celebrates its eighth decade, it is focused on investing in the next generation of players, coaches, and leaders who will shape the future of soccer in our community.

Under Nash's leadership, the Board looks forward to advancing key priorities including player development, coaching excellence, community engagement, operational sustainability, and continued investment in outstanding experiences for players and families across all levels of the club.

“Reaching 70 years is a remarkable accomplishment, but we believe the most exciting part is what comes next,” said Christian Rickman. “Jess brings the leadership, energy, and experience to help us continue growing, innovating, and delivering an exceptional experience for every player who wears a 56ers jersey.”