TAMPA, Fla. – The United Soccer League has announced a new staff program, USL Impact Days, providing the opportunity for the league’s staff to receive an extra paid day off to honor and celebrate any societal cause of their choosing.

The initiative – which was announced on Wednesday, two days before the 2020 celebration of Freedom Day, also known as Juneteenth (Friday, June 19) – will allow all USL team members to select a day each year during which they will participate, volunteer, or contribute to a cause, organization, or holiday of their choosing as paid time off.

“It’s important that all USL staff are given the time and space needed to advocate for the causes most important to them,” USL Chief Operating Officer Justin Papadakis said in a statement. “As an organization, we believe in the importance of making contributions that impact our communities, as well as our society as a whole, in positive ways.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.