NeighborhoodNettm

Public Misled: 20 Soccer Fields Not Required On Site
See Letter from US Youth Soccer

October 27, 2006

Johnson County Park and Recreation and "YES on Soccer" in their most recent mailing promotion give incorrect information about why 20 soccer fields are needed at the same site . (See sources 1 and 2 below.)

They say that in order to meet National tournament requirements, at least 20 fields must be located on the same site. This is not true. This is also not true for Regional tournaments.

A letter from US Youth Soccer forwarded to us by Mr. Meadors, Director of Johnson County Park and Recreation verifies this. (complete text of letter is included below).

Here is what the US Youth Soccer letter says (and this is important because these fields would be hosting US Youth Soccer regional and national tournaments to which a majority of our local soccer clubs belong):

  1. For National tournaments you need:

    • Minimum of 6 fields
    • two practice areas (fields usually)
    • minimum of 2 fields per Region

    Total maximum number of fields needed for National (all US Youth Soccer) tournament would be 16 fields, if all 4 regions into which the US is divided showed up at the same time.

    Only 12 fields were needed in 2006 at Cownie Soccer Park in Iowa where the US Youth National Championships, the highest level of youth soccer in the United States, were held. (see source 3 below).

  2. If Park and Rec instead means that these 20 fields are needed for Regional tournament play instead of National tournament play, then they are incorrect when they say "at least 20 fields must be located on the same site.".

    The letter from US Youth Soccer states that 22 fields are required, but it's not mandatory to have them at the same site:

    "a big part of the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series is the Regional Events. The size of the complex for Regional Championships averaged more than 22 fields – it’s ideal to have all of the fields at the same complex, but it’s not mandatory [emphasis added]. The minimum required fields for US Youth Soccer Region II Championships is currently 22 fields. These fields must be of similar surface (natural grass or artificial turf) within each age group, but the tournament committee would certainly consider a site where the overall tournament is played on a combination of these surfaces."

    (for full text see letter below).

    Note that Johnson County already hosts big soccer tournaments:

    From Heartland Soccer website: "Last year (2005) the Toyota Heritage Invitational Tournament was the largest in Kansas City and Kansas history with over 380 teams participating."

    http://www.heartlandsoccer.net/tournaments/HIT/index.php Click on Heartland Invitational Tournament

    The 2006 Toyota Heritage Invitational Heritage tournament is scheduled here again for 2006 and will be held in November.

So 20 soccer fields are not needed on the same site, whether one is talking about US Youth Soccer regional or national tournaments.

Shirley Phillips for
NeighborhoodNet
www.nbrhd.net

Sources:

  1. Johnson County Park and Rec statement on number of fields needed:
    http://www.jcprd.com/pages/soccer_park_faq.cfm

    Q. Why not spread the fields out across the county?

    A. In order to meet national tournament requirements, at least 20 fields must be located on the same site. In addition, construction and operational costs would increase significantly if the fields were spread throughout the county.

  2. From "YES on Soccer" mailing labeled "Just the Facts." We all received this is the mail.

    Q. Why not spread the fields out across the county?

    A. In order to meet national tournament requirements, at least 20 fields must be located on the same site. In addition, construction and operational costs would increase significantly if the fields were spread thoughout the county.

  3. "US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the dates and locations for the 2006 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. After another banner year in 2005, the US Youth Soccer National Championships will head to Des Moines, Iowa's James W. Cownie Soccer Park, July 25-30, 2006."

    http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/index.php?s=&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=699

    For Cownie Soccer Park details:
    http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/Cowniesoccer.htm

    For Cownie Soccer diagram:
    http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/PR/socrlayout.htm

Jill Geller
Superintendent of Recreation
Johnson County Park & Recreation District
Recreation Administration Building A, Antioch Park
6501 Antioch Road,

Merriam, KS 66202-3637

Dear Jill Geller,

As discussed on the phone in August 2006, here is a follow-up to our conversation regarding the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series site requirements. First, you first must understand that the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series is not just one event; it is a total of 60 events.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships cap a yearlong series of competitions for boys’ and girls’ teams in multiple age groups, as teams earn their way from the top team in their state to the regional championship tournaments. State Cup champions and selected wildcard teams in under-12 thru under-19 age groups are eligible to compete in one of the four US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. More than 900 teams play in one of four regions for the chance to win a spot at the National Championships. The championship series consists of:

  • 55 US Youth Soccer National Championships State Cups – mostly U12 thru U19
  • 4 US Youth Soccer National Championships Regional Championships – Region I and Region IV are U12 – U19, Region II is U13-U19 and Region III is U14-U19.
  • 1 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Based on past events, US Youth Soccer National Championships Series economic impact on the local city is as follows:

  • US Youth Soccer National Championships Region II Championships (Kansas is considered Region II) - $6,500,000
  • US Youth Soccer National Championships - $3,000,000

US Youth Soccer has set the current guidelines for facilities wanting to host the US Youth Soccer National Championships.

  1. Minimum is 6 fields for games.
  2. All fields must be at the same site.* *
  3. Fields must meet the requirements of FIFA Laws of the Game and /US YOUTH SOCCER/ Rules regarding the dimensions, markings and equipment.
  4. The playing field must be at least 75 yards in width and 110 yards in length, surfaced in natural grass or artificial surface meeting FIFA guidelines, and level.
  5. There must also be at least two (2) warm-up areas in close proximity, large enough for a team to warm up prior to their matches. These warm-up areas must be separate from the playing fields to be used for competitions. The areas must be surfaced with natural grass or artificial turf of a similar nature to the playing fields, and it is preferable that they be equipped with goals.
  6. Two (2) practice fields per each Region must be available (in addition to the 6 game fields and 2 practice areas). These practice fields must be surfaced with natural grass or artificial turf of a similar nature to the playing fields, be in playing condition and be equipped with goals.
  7. Hotels within 30 minutes of the fields.
    1. Location must be able to offer approximately 660 rooms in not more than 4 properties for the teams.
    2. 30 double/double non-smoking for referees

As mentioned above, a big part of the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series is the Regional Events. The size of the complex for Regional Championships averaged more than 22 fields – it’s ideal to have all of the fields at the same complex, but it’s not mandatory. The minimum required fields for US Youth Soccer Region II Championships is currently 22 fields. These fields must be of similar surface (natural grass or artificial turf) within each age group, but the tournament committee would certainly consider a site where the overall tournament is played on a combination of these surfaces.

Also, US Youth Soccer is considering additional age groups to the National Championships Series by adding U13 and U20 in 2008, so it is reasonable to expect that future sites for the National and Regional events will require more fields.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me at 800-476-2237

Thank you,

Rob Martella
Director of Soccer Operations
US Youth Soccer

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