U9/U10 State Cup to Conclude This Weekend
In a competition that began all the way back at the beginning of September, the U9/U10 State Cup concludes with Finals Weekend this Saturday and Sunday at Davis Legacy Soccer Complex and Granite Park in Sacramento.
The teams remaining, who are fighting to win one of 103 different divisions, have each played seven matches so far, with those still alive having won their quarterfinal matchups in the past few weeks.
“Each of the teams who have reached this stage of the competition should be proud of themselves as they’ve had to battle against equal competition over the course of four different weekends this fall,” said U9-U12 State Cup Coordinator John Stoppelmann. “We look forward to hosting everyone in these age groups one last time this fall in what should be two fun days of soccer.”
In order to ensure that the competition is as fair as possible, NorCal seeds teams in their first group stage, based on a number of factors, including the league they play in and how they did in State Cup the previous year.
After three matches at that level, teams are then re-seeded again based on how they finished in their group, before playing in a second group stage. Following those three matches, NorCal again pairs up teams into their final brackets, where the competition begins its knockout stages.
“This unique format ensures that all of our games are as competitive as possible, meaning that everyone who plays can develop in the best way possible,” Stoppelmann said.
This year, 780 teams entered the U9/U10 State Cup, the largest State Cup in the country when compiled with all age groups.
For a full preview of the State Division semifinals, click here.
Meanwhile, some of those other age groups will also play this weekend as the U11 and U12 Gold, Silver, and Bronze divisions kick off the knockout stages with round of 16 and quarterfinal matches on the Boys side.
After many teams began with a round of 32 at a club-hosted site, this weekend switches to NorCal hosted games as matches will take place at Mistlin Sports Park in Ripon and Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center.
The Girls will then take part in the same rounds November 15 and 16 with matches hosted at Mary Grogan Community Park in Modesto, San Juan Soccer Complex in Rancho Cordova, and Rancho San Ramon.
The teams that win both of their knockout games will then qualify for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Finals Weekend, which will be held December 6 and 7 at Mary Grogan Park in Modesto and Robertson Park in Livermore. All finals will be held at Mary Grogan.
For more information about State Cup, click here.
