The Daily Courier
Youth soccer teams from as far away as Vancouver, Canada, and Colorado will descend on the tri-city area this Friday through Sunday for the annual Yavapai Cup.
Yavapai Soccer, an Arizona Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) member celebrating two decades in Prescott Valley this year, is playing host to the tournament.
Mary Sterling, YSL president, said that as of Sunday 111 teams of 7- to 18-year-old boys and girls from across Arizona as well as Colorado, New Mexico and Vancouver were registered for the event.
Ed Andert, who doubles as the 2010 Yavapai Cup’s director, said the clubs will bring an estimated 3,300-plus visitors and provide an economic impact of at least $1 million over the three-day weekend.
The tournament will be played on the Town of Prescott Valley‘s fields at Mountain Valley Park, Antelope Park (behind Coyote Springs Elementary School), Quailwood Park, Viewpoint Park and Pronghorn Park, as well as Bradshaw Mountain High School, two of the lower fields at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott and fields in Chino Valley, among others.
Yavapai Soccer, which is operated entirely by volunteers, offers a wide range of opportunities to boys and girls who are interested in playing soccer, from Prescott and Prescott Valley to Dewey-Humboldt and Mayer.
It features a 10-week recreational season for those ages 3-16 and a club/select season for players seeking a higher level of competition. Club/select squads conduct their tryouts over the summer and play from September through May…
Philip Reid, Bradshaw Mountain High School’s varsity boys’ soccer coach who doubles as YSL’s director of coaching, said he oversees the level of coaching in the club, from the recreational to the competitive clubs.
In order for the league to gain more structure, Reid said he is developing a coaching curriculum and educational program that league coaches will follow to develop their players’ skills. Backed by coaches’ clinics and training sessions for its 35-40 recreational teams, the hope is that some of the league’s rec players eventually will join its competitive clubs.
This was a great article with a good photo from a tournament we really enjoyed. Emma will always have a special article and photo to remember her first soccer tournament. Life goes by so fast and children grow up too fast. Great Job Yavapai Soccer !