Inaugural Youth World Series® Event to be Held in Miami Sept. 16-17
New Event Focuses on Younger Players
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 18, 2006) – US Club Soccer today unveiled its newest competition, the Youth World Series®, and announced the inaugural Youth World Series® event will take place Sept. 16-17 in Miami. The Youth World Series® provides an introductory tournament experience to US Club Soccer’s youngest members.
“Launching the Youth World Series has been a top priority for our organization,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage. “Pre-teen players need an arena to develop their skills while growing their love of soccer. We hope the Youth World Series will spur young players to make a long-term commitment to the game.”
Boys and Girls U11-U13 teams will compete in the inaugural Youth World Series® event in Miami. Three Lakes Park will host the event Sept. 16-17. Applications are being accepted online. Open to US Club Soccer academy, club and league teams, non-members can participate by joining US Club Soccer or by contacting John Borozzi (954-509-1004).
Champions at this stand-alone tournament will be crowned in each age group. Game sizes will consist of 8-v-8 for U11-U12 teams and the standard 11-v-11 for U13 teams. Scouting will occur at all ages for US Club Soccer’s player identification program, id2.
Additional Youth World Series® events in the Fall of 2006 and Spring of 2007 are in the planning stages and will be announced shortly. All Youth World Series® events are administered by US Club Soccer in cooperation with a local host. More information can be found at the official Youth World Series® page at www.usclubsoccer.org.
About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 1,200 member clubs and league teams in 47 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, for member teams for boys and girls’ U12 to U17. The 2006 National Cup V kicked off Memorial Day weekend and continues through late July. US Club Soccer also began its own player identification and development program in the summer of 2004, termed id2. Over the 2006 Easter Weekend, US Club Soccer, in conjunction with Disney’s Wide World of Sports, held the inaugural Champions Cup to determine the nation’s top boy and girls’ clubs. US Club Soccer’s growing list of National Corporate Partners include: Nike, 24 Hour Fitness, Accor Hotels, American Airlines, Budget Rent A Car, Etriptix, Major League Soccer, Slammers® Ultimate Milk and TEKK Athletic; as well as a supplier group of six additional corporations. For more information, visit www.usclubsoccer.org.