The Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) will sponsor competition this Spring to determine the VYSA State Champions and representatives eligible to compete in Cup competition above the State level (Summer 1998) for the following age groups.

U20 August 1, 1977 and younger	State	Regional	National	Competition
U19 August 1, 1978 and younger	State	Regional	National	Competition
U14 August 1, 1983 and younger	State	Regional	xxxxx	Competition
U13 August 1, 1984 and younger	State	Regional	xxxxx	Competition
U12 August 1, 1985 and younger	State	Regional	xxxxx	Competition

Eligibility:
Any team of a member of VYSA and participating in a recognized League and properly registered (official VYSA roster and USYSA passes), is eligible to enter any one age group corresponding to the age of the oldest player on it's roster. If no competition is available for an age group, a team may enter the next oldest age group. Each player must have been registered on the official VYSA roster for 48 hours prior to the team's first State Cup game. If a player is registered on a VYSA State Cup team 48 hours before the team's first Cup game, the player may not compete in another State Cup for any other team during the seasonal year (Sept. 1 to Aug. 31). A team may have no more that three transferred players on it's VYSA roster. A team may compete in only one State Cup competition during a seasonal year.

Application Fees:
The process for paying fees for Cup has changed. The number of game fees collected has also changed. The fee for entry to State Cup competition is $185 for teams competing in single elimination competition and $240 for teams competing in tournament format. This is the only fee charged. This fee is for one or any number of games required to complete the competition. With the initial application, a check for $240 is required from all teams in the Boys U12, U13, U14 age groups, a check for $185 is required from all teams in all other age groups competing in the Spring State Cup. Teams in the Boys U12, U13, U14 age groups that are eliminated before advancing to the tournament round will be refunded $55.

Application Procedures:
By the appropriate deadline, teams must submit to the VYSA State Office: (1) a completed and signed application form; (2) a copy of your approved current VYSA roster; and (3) a check or money order for $185 for single elimination competition age groups or $240 for tournament format age groups. (NOTE: If your roster changes, an updated copy must be sent to the Cup Director at the time of any change). A faxed copy of the application form and your roster will not be acceptable to meet the deadline since the fee must accompany the application. An application, roster, and fee not in the hands of the VYSA State Office by the applicable deadline dates will be returned.

Entry Deadlines:
The application form, VYSA roster, and check or money order must be received in the hands of the VYSA State Office no later than 4:00 pm on April 1, 1998 for the U12, U13, and U14 age groups, and no later than 4:00 pm on May 15, 1998 for the U19 and U20 age groups.

It is always the responsibility of the coach of an applying team to confirm that the application, roster, and fees are in the hands of the VYSA State Office by the applicable deadline.

Brackets and Seeding:
Four teams in each age group will be seeded. Assuming roster continuity of a minimum of 8 players from the previous Cup year, last year's Champion will be seeded number one and last year's second place team will be seeded number two. The two teams eliminated in the previous year's semi-final games will draw for the next two seeded positions. All other positions are drawn at random. An 8, 16, 32, or 64 team bracket will be used for the process. An odd number of teams entered will result in byes for the highest placed teams in each age group. The U12 age group will be drawn at random from the list of teams entered.

The Draw, Location and Time:
The Draw for the U12, U13, and U14 age groups will be held April 6, 1998 at 6:30 pm for the girls and at 7:30 pm for the boys at the Sheraton Hotel in Fredericksburg. The draw for the U19 and U20 age groups will be held on May 16, 1998 at the VYSA State Office at a time to be determined.

U12, U13, U14 Competition:
Tournament bids were approved for the following boy's age groups; U12 Boys will be held in Winchester, U13 Boys will be held in Stafford, and U14 Boys will be held in Williamsburg. All three tournaments will be held on the weekend of May 9 and 10, 1998, with the rain dates of May 16 and 17, 1998. All girls age groups will be played single elimination. Competition will begin April 25, 1998 including, if necessary, play in games for the Tournament and will continue each weekend with the exception of Memorial Day weekend until semi-finalists have been decided. Semi-finals and Finals will be May 30 and 31, 1998. This is a change to the published Cup calendar. The rain dates will be June 13 and 14, 1998. Boys Semi-Finals and Finals will be played at Striker Park. The location for Semi-Finals and Finals for Girls competition will be announced at a later date.

U19 and U20 Competition:
U19 and U20 age groups will play single elimination. Competition will be scheduled for June 6 and 7 and June 13 and 14, 1998. Play dates will be determined by numbers of teams entered. Separate rules and roster forms will be used for U20 teams. These can be optained from the VYSA State Registrar or the State Cup Director.

All Applications, Rosters and Fees must be mailed or delivered to: (NO FAXES)
VYSA State Office
2239 G Tackett's Mill Dr.
Woodbridge, VA 22192

State Cup Director	Boys Cup Chairman	Girls Cup Chairman
Anne Thompson		Harry Gardner		Peter Downey
6604 Holford Lane	66 Saratoga Cove	5326 Black Oak Dr.
Springfield, VA 22152	Ruther Glen, VA 22546	Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 569-0543 - h	(804) 448-9120 - h	(703) 250-7969 - h
(703) 866-5196 - fax	(804) 448-9677 - fax	(703) 250-3170 - fax

VYSA has a Web Site and a Faxback system and voice Hotline for your convenience and information. All of the State Cup forms, the State Cup Calendar and the Snickers VYSA State Cup Rules and the National Championship Rules are available on both. During competition, the game schedules and game results will also be available on both. The Cup mail box on the Hotline will also contain important last minute changes for Cup. Please access this information and especially read the State Cup and National Championship Rules. The Web Site address is www.vysa.com and the Faxback/Hotline phone number is 703 645-0900.

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