FRISCO, Texas - Pizza Hut Park, the home of FC Dallas, will host the 2007 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships from Tuesday, July 24 through Sunday, July 29. The tournament will consist of four national finalists, teams that won their respective regional championship, in the Under-14 through Under-19 age groups for boys and girls.
These 48 teams have advanced through the first two legs of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series where more than 10,000 teams began the journey at their US Youth Soccer State Championships. State champions advanced to the regional competition, which ended on July 4, where more than 900 teams played in one of four regions. The national championship field consists of these regional champions.
The teams will play matches Wednesday, July 25 through Friday, July 29 to determine who will advance to play for the national title. All round robin match times will be scheduled for 7:30 am, 9:30 am and 7:30 pm. 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 28 and Sunday, July 29.
The 2007 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 ultimate destination for the country's collegiate soccer coaches and the future of soccer.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys and girls teams in multiple age groups as teams earn their way from the top team in their state to the regional championship tournaments. State Cup champions and selected wildcard teams in most age groups are eligible to compete in one of four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. The champions in the under-14 through under-19 age group from each regional event converge to enjoy the nation's top competition.
The complete 2007 US Youth Soccer National Championships schedule as well as game scores and highlights are available at the Series website: http://Championships.USYouthsoccer.org. The schedule is also copied at the end of this release.
US YOUTH SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FACT SHEET
OVERVIEW: Each summer US Youth Soccer crowns a boys and girls national champion in each of its six age divisions (Under 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19). The finals are a culmination of a year-long series of competitions at the state and regional levels. The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides approximately 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.
STATE CUPS: US Youth Soccer State Championships (often referred to as 'State Cups') are held in each of the 55 US Youth Soccer member state associations, some in the fall, but most throughout the spring. Champions are crowned for boys and girls in various age groups between Under 11 and Under 19. Champions in the Under 14 through Under 19 age divisions advance to represent their state association at their respective regional competition.
REGIONALS: Four regions, commonly known as Region I (East), Region II (Midwest), Region III (South) and Region IV (West), host the next level of play in the national championships tournament structure. The US Youth Soccer Regional Championship tournaments are truly tournaments of champions, as only teams who have won their state championship or who are invited can participate in their regional tournament. Regional champions in the Under 14 through Under 19 age divisions advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships.
NATIONALS: The US Youth Soccer National Championships serves as the crown jewel of competitive youth soccer as the nation's top 48 youth soccer teams, in the Under-14 through Under-19 boys and girls brackets, compete for the US Youth Soccer National Championship title.
DATES: June 18-24 US Youth Soccer Region IV (West Regional) Championships - Las Vegas, NV
June 22-27 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest Regional) Championships - Des Moines, IA
June 28-July 3 US Youth Soccer Region I (East Regional) Championships - Portland, ME
June 28-July 4 US Youth Soccer Region III (South Regional) Championships - Oklahoma City, OK
July 24-29 US Youth Soccer National Championships - Pizza Hut Park - Frisco, Texas
BACKGROUND: A form of the US Youth Soccer National Championships has been held since 1935 with the awarding of the James P. McGuire trophy to the Under-19 boys National Champion, the oldest youth trophy in the country. Additional age groups have been added throughout the years to reach the present format in 2001.
FUTURE SITES: The 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championships will take place at the Burns Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Arkansas, July 22-27, 2008.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (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.
