The history of soccer in Iowa goes back to the late 1800s when a number of teams were formed in the state. The game was played mostly by immigrants from England and Scotland. In 1908, under the direction of John P. McBride, the Des Moines Soccer Club was organized as one of the first clubs in Iowa. In 1915, the U.S. entered World War I and many young men were inducted into military service. This led to a decline in soccer activities until after World War II when there was a growth spurt of soccer organizations throughout the United States.
The first State Amateur Soccer Association (ASA) was formed in Iowa in 1919 at a meeting held at the YMCA Building in Des Moines on April 10th, 1919 with 33 delegates representing 25 clubs present at the meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to make plans for an Annual State Tournament which would be held on May 16th and 17th, 1919 at Fairview Park (now known as McKinley Park) in Des Moines with entries coming from clubs located within 150 miles radius of Des Moines City Limits.
- 1969-1970 – Iowa State Amateur Soccer Association (ISASA) and Iowa State Youth Soccer Association (ISYSA) are formed and recognized by the USSF in New York. Referees were SRA governed by a State Referee Administrator (SRA)
- 1971 – The ISASA was divided into two separate associations: Iowa Soccer Referee Association (ISRA) and Iowa Youth Soccer Association (IYSA). The IYSA continued to govern all referee activities for youth soccer in the state. The ISRA was required to send delegates to all IYSA meetings for approval of any rules or policies affecting referees.
- 1973 – First National Tournament held in Des Moines, IA
- 1976 – Iowa becomes the first state to have an organized high school girls’ program with two leagues in Des Moines and Ames
- 1977 – First National Tournament held in Des Moines, IA
- 1979 – First National Tournament held in Des Moines, IA
- 1980 – First National Tournament held in Des Moines, IA
- 1981 – First National Tournament held in Des Moines, IA
- 1983 – First National Tournament held in Ames, IA – hosted by ISRA