Nation's top youth soccer players to ascend on Ankeney Park
James P. McGuire Cup (Under-19 Boys) celebrates its 75th anniversary [link]
Barboursville, W.Va., Beavercreek, Ohio, Baton Rouge, La., and Albuquerque, N.M. to host regional championships
FRISCO, Texas (July 27, 2009) - US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the dates and locations for the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. After another banner year in 2009, the 2010
US Youth Soccer National Championships will be held at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
"We are excited that the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships will be held at the new Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas. All of us look forward to working with Kansas State Youth Soccer and the complex staff," said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer. "Each year, the nation's top players look forward to another year of outstanding competition as teams earn their way from state to regional and national finals competitions, striving to be one of the top 60 teams in the country playing for the national championship."
"Hosting the US Youth Soccer National Championships will be a wonderful opportunity for young players in the area to see some of the best teams in the country," said Alan Blinzler, president of the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association. Kansas State Youth Soccer Association will serve as the local organizing committee for the event. "The vision of the project was to host the top events in the country. The awarding of the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships, the first ever such event in Kansas, speaks to that vision and quality the new complex. The result will be a chance for players and their families to learn more about the game and for thousands of people from across the country to see a what a great community we have in Overland Park.""
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the
US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 60 teams.
Each year brings about new challenges and highlights the motivation and commitment of these youth as they continue pursuing their dreams of being one of the best youth soccer teams in the U.S. The national championships are the final leg of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and open to any US Youth Soccer member. The U.S. Soccer Federation initiated the open youth championships with the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport, (Under-19 Boys) in 1935. In 2010, the McGuire Cup celebrates its 75th anniversary. Since its creation in 1974, US Youth Soccer has added 11 divisions to the national championship tournament, most recently with the Under-14 and Under-15 Boys and Girls divisions in 2001 to create the current format.
Annually, the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2009, over 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships.
2010 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series dates
US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships | Village of Barboursville, W.Va.
Opening Ceremony: July 1 | Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Barboursville City Park Soccer Complex, YMCA Kennedy Center and Scott Orthopedics Soccer Complex
Round Robin: July 2-4
Semis: July 5
Finals: July 6
US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships | Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio
Ankeney Park
Round Robin: June 26-28
Semis: June 29
Finals: June 30
US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships | Baton Rouge, La.
BREC Burbank-Soccer Complex
Opening Ceremony: July 17 | Location TBD
Round Robin: June 18-20
Quarters: June 21
Semis: June 22
Finals: June 23
US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships | Albuquerque, N.M.
Farmers Insurance Soccer Complex (Bernalillo, N.M.)
Round Robin: June 21-23
Quarters: June 25
Semis: June 26
Finals: June 27
US Youth Soccer National Championships | Overland Park, Kan.
Overland Park Soccer Complex
Player Luncheon: July 20 | TBA
Round Robin: July 21-23
Finals: July 24-25
For more information on the US Youth Soccer National Championships, visit
http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more. Get all US Youth Soccer National Championship Series updates are
Twitter.
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About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series – The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the National Championship Series provides top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. For more information, visit
http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!
®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit
www.USYouthSoccer.org.