Preparation is underway, and play is set to kick-off for the fall New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cups Presented by Players Health, featuring single elimination play for 11U-14U teams. Across the three tournament tiers, participation of nearly 600 teams exceeded the previous fall’s registration record of 500 teams.
The participation mark ushers in a third consecutive seasonal year of growth for the state association’s championship competitions. Since the pause-in-play in 2020 due to COVID-19, the competitions continue to grow, while cementing roots as the most prestigious pathway in New Jersey to state, regional and national championships.
“We are proud to provide the opportunity for a record number of 11U-14U teams to compete in the most prestigious championship events in the state,” said Ryan Foley, NJYS Manager of Communications & Strategy and tournament supervisor. “Nearly 10,000 New Jersey players have the opportunity to chase the dream of a ‘Champion’ title this fall.”
Competition preparation involves a host of stakeholders. The NJYS State Cups Advisory Board, which includes Board Members, League and Club representatives and the State Youth Referee Administrator, was actively involved in strategic planning. NJYS State Office staff, including Nicole Petras (NJYS Events Coordinator) and Ryan Foley (NJYS Manager, Communications & Strategy), worked diligently to coordinate with team applicants and complete their registrations.
The National Championship Series is the country’s most prestigious national youth soccer tournament, providing winners from each state the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The winners of the NJYS National Championship Series U12 teams and above will advance to the 2022 US Youth Soccer Eastern Regional Championships hosted in Loudon, Virginia.
The Presidents Cup provides a progressive, competitive environment to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie, and community. The winners of the NJYS Presidents Cup U12 teams and above will advance to the 2022 US Youth Soccer East Region Presidents Cup hosted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The Challenge Cup is the NJYS State Cup competition designed to create a challenging and enjoyable event for teams outside of the National Championship Series and Presidents Cup.
Throughout the competition, NJYS will provide highlights and recaps of key moments. To read more about the 2022-2023 NJYS State Cups, click HERE.
To contact New Jersey Youth Soccer, please email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer