FRISCO, Texas (July 7, 2010) – US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the schedule for the 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships to be played July 20-25 at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan., outside of Kansas City. The tournament will consist of US Youth Soccer regional champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups for Boys and Girls 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.

 

The traditional 48 teams have advanced to the national championships via success through the first two legs of the annual US Youth Soccer National Championship Series where more than 10,000 teams began their journey at the US Youth Soccer State Championships. 

 

State champions advanced to their respective US Youth Soccer Regional Championship, four in all, where over 900 teams competed from all corners of the country. In addition to these 48 regional champions, eight teams have punched their tickets to the national championships via success in the national league. 

 

The league consists of teams, Under-15 through Under-17 Boys and Girls, who qualified for league play through their respective US Youth Soccer Regional League. Established in 2007, National League representatives have captured a combined eight US Youth Soccer National Championships. In 2008, seven of the eight championship finals slots in the Under-15 and 16 age groups were won by National League teams, which resulted in the league's first four National Championships, and the league notched four more National Championship titles in 2009.

 

The annual Player Luncheon will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan. The luncheon serves as the kickoff to the weeklong event highlighting the achievements of these national qualifiers. The event is not open to the public. 

 

The teams will play matches Wednesday, July 21 through Friday, July 23 to determine who will advance to play for the national titles. Round robin match times are scheduled for 8, 10 a.m. and Noon. Teams will earn three points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss. The team with the most points at the conclusion of Friday's play will advance to play for the national championship on Saturday, July 24 or Sunday, July 25.    

 

 

The complete 2010 US Youth Soccer National Championships schedule as well as game scores and highlights are available at the Series website http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, or click the direct link here. Look for live game Tweets, video and more on the championships site. 

 

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 United States. 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. 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. 

 

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The event provides over 185,000 players on more than 10,000 teams, from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations, the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The Series is known as the destination for collegiate soccer coaches and the future of soccer. 

 

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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.

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 as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.

 

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 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.