Regional Events in Barboursville, W.Va., Frisco and Plano, Texas, Lancaster, Calif., and Sioux Falls, S.D., total over $44 million to local economies in 2009

FRISCO, Texas (May 13, 2009) - The 2009 US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships, to be played June 15-21, is estimated to provide more than $15 million in economic impact to the Lancaster, Calif., area.

Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more 4,900 players and their families who take part in this seven-day tournament.

The top 248 US Youth Soccer boys and girls teams, including 18 teams from host California Youth Soccer Association – South (Cal South), will compete at the Lancaster National Soccer Center for the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships.

"We are thrilled to host the US Youth Soccer Regional IV Championships and look forward to ensuring a wonderful experience for all of the teams coming to sunny Southern California," said Ann Shoemake, local organizing committee chairperson. "Not only is it a great opportunity to host such a successful event for the participants, but this tournament will generate a significant economic impact for the entire area. Visitors will be drawn by sunny weather, the best beaches and a variety of destination amusement parks and attractions all within a short commute from the Valley."

The US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships, featuring top teams in the Under-12 through Under-19 age groups, begin with round robin games Monday, June 15 through Wednesday, June 17. Following a rest day, quarterfinal matches will be played Friday, June 19, with semifinal matches Saturday, June 20. The US Youth Soccer Region IV Champions will be crowned following final games on Sunday, June 21.

US Youth Soccer State Cup champions and select runners-up from 14 US Youth Soccer State Associations in Region IV, including host Cal South will participate. The other State Associations represented are Alaska, Arizona, California North, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 21-26, at Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park in Lancaster, Mass.

One of the 12 national crowns awarded is the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships. The Under-19 Boys National Champion will hoist the McGuire Cup on the 74^th anniversary of the storied cup. 

The dates and locations for the 2009 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships and the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships are:

US Youth Soccer Region I (East) Championships | Village of Barboursville, W.Va.
Fields: Barboursville Soccer Complex, Huntington YMCA Kennedy Center and Scott Orthopedics Soccer Complex
Opening Ceremony: July 2 | Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Round Robin: July 3-5
Semis: July 6 
Finals: July 7

US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships | Sioux Falls, S.D.
Fields: Yankton Trails Park
Round Robin: June 20-22
Semis: June 23
Finals: June 24

US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships | Frisco and Plano, Texas
Fields: Pizza Hut Park (Frisco) and Russell Creek Park (Plano)
Opening Ceremony: June 18 | TBD
Round Robin: June 19-21 
Quarters: June 22
Semis: June 23
Finals: June 24

US Youth Soccer Region IV (West) Championships | Lancaster, Calif.
Fields: Lancaster National Soccer Center
Round Robin: June 15-17
Quarters: June 19
Semis: June 20
Finals: June 21

US Youth Soccer National Championships | Lancaster, Mass.
Fields: Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park
Player Luncheon: July 21 | DCU Center
Round Robin: July 22-24
Finals: July 25-26

To learn more about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, visit championships.usyouthsoccer.org.

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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 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.

Media Request: When referring to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the most prestigious event in youth sports, please refer to the event as US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on first reference and National Championship Series on anything thereafter. Never refer to as NCS or USYS NCS. We appreciate your cooperation.

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 3.2 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.

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.