Karl began his involvement in soccer in the 1960’s when his two sons began playing the sport. He began coaching and volunteering for the Federal Way Soccer Association as a board member and their MAR representative to the state. In 1971 he became the Director of Commission of WSYSA and later that year he was elected president. He held that position from 1971-1977.

Karl’s accomplishments include the co founding of the Washington State Youth Soccer Referees Association and the introduction of the girl’s program in the1971/72 season. Washington joined Texas at the helm of the girls soccer program.

As president, Karl brought his considerable administrative skills to the association. He changed an organization that had been previously run from the basements of good intentioned volunteers to a more professional arena. He opened the first WSYSA office and hired an office staff to help the volunteers with their programs and brought a structured organization that would reflect the expected growth of the program. Soon after, the programs of WSYSA began to grow and this organizational structure was duplicated by many states.

In the spring of 1974 Karl wrote the initial version of the USYSA Constitution, By-Laws, and Rule & Regulations together with Don Greer and Bob Nessler. This action concluded a three year campaign to unite the diverse elements of youth soccer in the US. This move was considered revolutionary by some who chose to ignore the obviously successful approaches and programs conducted in youth soccer at that time, especially on the West Coast. The immediate effects of this move were:

1. To unite all youth soccer programs throughout the US by affiliation and self-government to enhance youth development through national programs.
2. To make common rules & regulations available to everybody for a concerted effort to standardize play regarding ages, playing time, ball size, etc.
3. To provide regional competition for the u-12 u-14 and u-16 players for the 1974/75 season

But the biggest effect was the major decisions by the 58^th annual council of the USSF that affected virtually every level of the soccer community especially US Youth soccer, and that decision was to adopt the previously mentioned Constitution, By-Laws, and Rules & Regulations and to officially formulate the National Youth Soccer Association which later became known as USYSA.

Karl was elected to the position of First USYSA-Region IV Commissioner that year and held the first Region IV meeting in February of 1975 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He served in this position from 1974-1976.