SAN JOSE, CA - Twenty-four youngsters from the San Jose region will compete Saturday, Sept. 25 at Spartan Stadium for the San Jose Earthquakes Team Championship competition of the Sierra Mist MLS Dribble, Pass & Score program prior to the Quakes game at 7:00 p.m. PT against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
These boys and girls, ages 8-14, have already won two previous levels of competition to reach the Earthquakes Team Championship. A champion will be named in each of the six age and gender divisions: 8-9, 10-11 and 12-14. The winners in each category will be honored at halftime and have their scores matched against the other MLS Team Champions for the right to advance to the National Finals. The finals will take place during MLS Cup weekend at the Home Depot Center.
The Sierra Mist MLS Dribble, Pass & Score program began in 1998 and is the official youth soccer skills competition of Major League Soccer. The competition includes events in three soccer skills - dribbling through a slalom-style course of flags for speed, passing to zones for accuracy and shooting at a regulation-sized goal target for accuracy. The program has been designed and implemented by Major League Soccer and sponsored by Sierra Mist.
Over 800 competitions were conducted throughout the nation, with events held at tournaments, camps, youth league complexes/game fields, Parks & Recreation facilities and Soccer Celebrations at MLS games. Local winners advanced to Sectionals in each market. The Sectional winners then possibly advance to the Team Championship at their respective MLS team's stadium.
