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 129,000 players on 7,200 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 East, Midwest, Southern and Far 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. 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.

US Youth Soccer:
US Youth Soccer - The Game for ALL Kids!® is the largest youth sports organization in the United States 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. Visit www.USYouthSoccer.org for more information.