2013 US Youth Soccer Region II Championshipsawarded to Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines last hosted the regional championships in 2007
Overland Park, Kan., to host National Championships
Kigston, R.I.; Edmond, Okla.; Honolulu to also host regional championships
FRISCO, Texas (August 2, 2012)- US Youth Soccer is proud to announce that Des Moines, Iowa and Iowa Soccer Association as hosts of the 2013 US Youth Soccer Region II (Midwest) Championships as part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. The games will take place at the James W. Cownie Sports Complex.
The championships are expected to draw more than 3,500 players and an estimated 12,000 spectators.
The US Youth Soccer Region II Championships consist of US Youth Soccer State Champions from 14 states, including the host Iowa Soccer Association, drawn wildcard entries as well as US Youth Soccer Midwest 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 212 boys and girls teams, ages Under-13 through Under-19, from the 14 Midwestern US Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region II (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South, Ohio North, South Dakota and Wisconsin).
"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. "Des Moines was a great host for the 2007 US Youth Soccer Region II 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 II (Midwest) – Des Moines, Iowa
James W. Cownie Sports Complex
Registration: June 21
Round Robin: June 22-24
Semis: June 25
Finals: June 26
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.