Washington Youth Soccer has four main levels of play, Recreational, Select, Regional and the Elite Player Development (EPD) program. Recreational teams play at the local level and do not hold tryouts, Select teams compete in district leagues and Regional teams compete in the Regional Club League (RCL), the top tier of player development and highest level of play in the State of Washington. EPD is a state level development program that players participate in while continuing their regular club training and competition. For more information visit our Leagues page and our Player Development page.
The Washington Youth Soccer Open Cup is an open tournament for RCL and Select level teams that gives Select level teams the opportunity to place into lower divisions of the RCL. Outcomes in the Open Cup also influence State Cup seeding.
The tournament was developed to optimize like vs. like play and to create a clear pathway for non-RCL teams to place into different league levels based on RCL standards in tournament and league outcomes. The tournament will run as a pilot in the summer of 2012 and with success will become an annual competition.
The 2012 pilot Open Cup will consist of teams from the U12-U18 age groups that fall in one of three groups:
- Regional Club League (RCL) teams
- Select teams from Regional Club Associations with a letter of endorsement from their Regional Club
- Teams from non-Regional Club Associations with review and approval of their player development plans by the Regional Club Subcommittee and WA Youth Soccer Technical Director/Technical Advisor
Similar to the US Soccer Federation’s Lamar Hunt Open Cup and the English FA Cup, all Washington Youth Soccer registered Select and RCL teams are eligible to enter the competition, but teams enter the competition at various stages of the event based on their level play.
The point at which each team enters, the dates in which they play, and the associated costs, are outlined below:
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Round
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Team Level of Play
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Dates/Location
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Fee
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Round Robin 1
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Open to all Select teams and RCL Divisions 4 & 5
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June 15-17, 2012
60 Acres Complex in Redmond, WA
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$450 fee
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Round Robin 2, Quarters, Semis, & Finals
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Winners of Round Robin and RCL Divisions 1,2, & 3
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August 31- Sept 3 (Labor Day weekend)
One location that is TBD
(Girls HS)
August 4-5
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$450 fee
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*Rounds may vary based on the number of teams entered
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For the 2012 pilot Open Cup, U13 & U14 Round Robin 1 Bracket winners are slated to be placed into the lower divisions (4th & 5th) of the RCL this fall. U15-U18 non-Regional Association teams will be evaluated for probationary RCL membership, a temporary inclusion in the RCL league structure for growing Associations that do not currently have RCL Clubs in their organizations.
State Cup seeding for 2012 Open Cup: Round Robin winners, Quarterfinalists, Semifinalists and Finalists will receive bonus seeding points for State Cup tournament play in the 2013 State Cup Season
