The City Council announced at their meeting Tuesday that June 27 will now be known as Karl Grosch Day as the city will honor him for all of his contributions to both youth soccer and Federal Way.

But Grosch’s contributions to youth sports have spread further than just Federal Way.

In 1974 Grosch, Don Greer and Robert Nessler wrote the initial constitution and regulations that led to the formation and recognition of US Youth Soccer. Grosch was inducted into the US Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009 for his actions.

“He is recognized as the father of youth soccer in Washington; he literally brought the game here,” Parks and Recreation Director John Hutton said during the council meeting. “Karl embodies what it means to give back to your community and as an immigrant to our country, has been an amazing role model to all of us.”

Grosch was also a co-founder of the Federal Way youth Soccer Association in 1967 and a former president of the Washington Youth Soccer Association. He has also worked as a member of the Parks and Recreation and Civil Service commissions for Federal Way.

At the age of 90, Grosch is still very active in the community as a volunteer for the local bridge program and he can often be found around the Federal Way Community Center.

Karl Grosch Field at Steel Lake Park will also be receiving a facelift as the Federal Way Soccer Association, Federal Way Mod Soccer Association and Federal Way Football Club are donating $90,000 to resurface the field.

“I think it’s very appropriate that Karl, who is the founder of the Federal Way Soccer Association is here tonight,” vice-president of the Federal Way Soccer Association George Pfeiffer said. “… He was the founding father.”

The field was dedicated to Grosch in November 2003.