Nation's top youth soccer players to descend on Overland Park Soccer Complex
Kingston, R.I., Des Moines, Iowa; Edmond, Okla.; Honolulu to host regional championships

FRISCO, Texas (August 2, 2012)- US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the dates and locations for the regional and national championships of the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. After another banner year in 2012, the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships will be held at the Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

"We are excited to be back at the Overland Park Soccer Complex for the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships and look forward to working with Kansas State Youth Soccer and the complex staff," said John Sutter, president of US Youth Soccer. "Each year, more than 10,000 teams play in our National Championship Series as teams test their development and skill; earning their way from state to regional events, with the ultimate goal of earning a ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Overland Park was an outstanding host in 2010 and I'm sure 2013 will be even better."

The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 88 teams. This year marks the addition of the Under-13 Boys and Girls to the National Championships, the first change in age groups since 2001 and the addition of two more US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-17 age groups and four in the Under-18 age group.

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 U.S. The national championships are the final stage 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 and the tradition continues.

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 2012, more 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championships.

2013 US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championship Dates/Locations

Region I (East) - Kingston, RI
University of Rhode Island
Opening Ceremony: June 27
Round Robin: June 28-June 30
Semis: July 1
Finals: July 2

Region II (Midwest) - Des Moines, IA
James W. Cownie Sports Complex
Registration: June 21
Round Robin: June 22-24
Semis: June 25
Finals: June 26

Region III (South) - Edmond, OK
ESC Complex
Opening Ceremony: June 20
Round Robin: June 21-23
Quarters: June 24 (U14, U15, U16)
Semis/Quarters: June 25 (Semifinals U13 & U19/ Quarters U17 & U18)
Finals/Semis: June 26 (Finals U13 & U19 / Semis U14-U18)
Finals: June 27 (Finals U14-U18)

Region IV (West) - Honolulu, HI
Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex
June 17 - June 23
Round Robin: June 17-19
Quarters: June 21
Semis: June 22
Finals: June 23

National Championships - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Soccer Complex
Player Luncheon: July 22
Round Robin: July 23-26
Finals: July 27-28

For more information on the US Youth Soccer National Championships, visit http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more. Get all US Youth Soccer National Championship Series updates are Twitter.

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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.

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-13 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the 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.

The championships are expected to draw more than 4,500 players and an estimated 15,000 spectators.

The US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships consist of US Youth Soccer State Champions from 14 states, including the host Hawaii Youth Soccer Association, drawn wildcard entries as well as US Youth Soccer Far West Regional League Premier Division wildcard teams. Following individual state championship tournaments, the regional championships are the second leg of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.

The tournament will attract more than 248 boys and girls teams, ages Under-12 through Under-19, from the 14 Western US Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV (Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming).

"It is always exciting to begin planning future US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, and part of that initial planning is choosing the best possible host city for each of our four regional championships," said John Sutter, President of US Youth Soccer. "Hawaii was a great host for the 2008 US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships and we look forward to working with them again in 2013 for an even better tournament."

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Region IV (West) - Honolulu, HI
Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex
June 17 - June 23
Round Robin: June 17-19
Quarters: June 21
Semis: June 22
Finals: June 23

The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series gives US Youth Soccer teams the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play.

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 2012, more than 600 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships including several top-10 programs including the University of North Carolina, Louisville and the University of Virginia.

To learn more about the US Youth Soccer log on to USYouthSoccer.org. For more about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series log on to http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org, the online home for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, providing the latest in news, information and more.

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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.

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-13 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the 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.