WORCESTER, Mass. (July 21, 2009) - The 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships officially began today with the 60 teams competing for national crowns, in Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, gathering for the Player Luncheon held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

 

Over 1,800 players, coaches, referees, officials and administrators shared the afternoon honoring each other's accomplishments and commitment to soccer.

 

""Today, we celebrate the players' accomplishments at the player luncheon. This adds to the excitement of the week. I am looking forward to a great championship and crowning the national champions," Jim Martella, chairman of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series committee said.

 

US Youth Soccer President Larry Monaco spoke to the players saying, "Congratulations players, for being the finalists of the biggest and greatest youth soccer championships that exists. Play great, play hard, play fair and have fun.""

Teams will have the chance to test their skills when round robin play begins tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22 with games at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and runs through Friday. National Champions will be crowned on Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26.
 

The highlight of the afternoon for the players was the 2009 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships finals and US Youth Soccer National League highlight video. As the intro music began the players began clapping and bobbing their heads to the sights and sounds. Seeing their past successes during the second leg of the Series spurs them forward to emerge as the National Champions this coming weekend.

 

The US Youth Soccer National Championship trophies were paraded into the banquet hall by honored referees. The players were able to take pictures in front of the displayed trophies during the luncheon, but only a select 12 teams will be able to raise their trophy in victory after this weekend's finals. These 12 trophies hold a rich history of great soccer and will again be on display for the championship finals over the weekend. 
 

The regional highlight videos are available on the event's official Web site (http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org).  In addition to a video highlight of today's Player Luncheon, the site will feature daily video clips including game footage and feature stories. To receive daily information to your inbox, sign up to be a Championships Insider http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/InsiderNewsletterSignup.asp.

  

The 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing 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 tournament will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-14 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups 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.

 

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.  

 

Annually 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. In 2009, over 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships.

 

On Saturday, August 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern, The US Youth Soccer National Championships Highlight Show, Presented by adidas, will air on the Fox Soccer Channel, US Youth Soccer's official television partner. The show will highlight the national championships providing feature stories, interviews, game highlights and more.

 

Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org. Keep up to the minute with US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on Twitter.

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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 US Youth Soccer 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.

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.