US Youth Soccer Region III Championships Coming to Greenville

Through success in the US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Premier League (SRPL), several teams have punched their ticket to the 2016 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships, to be played June 24-30 at the MESA Soccer Complex in Greenville, S.C.

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The Southern Regional Premier League qualifiers will join US Youth Soccer State Cup champions and select wild card teams, as more than 200 top Boys and Girls sides from the 12 US Youth Soccer State Associations compete for the regional title. Daily reports and complete results from the tournament will be available on http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org/regionIII.

The SRPL provides an opportunity for the most competitive teams in the region to play each other on a scheduled basis while also competing for placement in the prestigious US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, as well as the highly-competitive US Youth Soccer National League. SRPL play offers college coaches a chance to see the top players in the region compete in meaningful games on a consistent basis with berths to the Regional Championships and National League on the line.

The teams who have qualified for the Region III Championships help make up the 32 SRPL sides who have also earned their place into the National League for the 2016-17 season. The SRPL East and SRPL West Division winners in the Under-13 and Under-17 age groups have qualified for next year’s National League, while division winners and runners-up in the Under-14 through Under-16 age groups have also earned a berth into the 2016-17 National League. A complete list of National League qualifiers can be found here.

2016 US Youth Soccer Region III Championship Qualifiers | SRPL East Division

2016 US Youth Soccer Region III Championship Qualifiers | SRPL West Division

The Region III Championships feature top teams in the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups and begin Thursday, June 23, with opening ceremonies at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, S.C. Preliminary games will be held June 24-26 with quarterfinals, semifinals and finals June 27-30. Games will be played at the MESA Soccer Complex in Greenville, S.C., while all Under-19 preliminary games will take place at the Carolina FC Soccer Complex.

Regional winners of the Under-13 through Under-19 age groups earn a berth to the 2016 US Youth Soccer National Championships, July 25-31, at the Toyota Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas. One of the 14 national crowns awarded is the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sports, dating back to 1935 with the inaugural youth championships.

The National Championships, along with each of the four Regional Championships, offer teams with additional opportunities for development and exposure to college coaches as they compete among the nation’s best. A majority of players who compete in US Youth Soccer National Championships Series events go on to play at the next level, and many selections in the MLS and NWSL Drafts have competed in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series during their youth careers.

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 US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-13 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups have four teams representing the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group division 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. For more information, visit http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org. 

About US Youth Soccer National League - Formed in 2007, the US Youth Soccer National League was developed as a path of advancement for the top teams from the US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues. In addition to meaningful matches, development and identification, the league created a direct path to the annual US Youth Soccer National Championships.  League play features the Under-14 through Under-18 age groups for boys and girls who are seeking to advance their college, professional and U.S. National Team aspirations.  Learn more at USYouthSoccer.org/National_League/.