The Dr. Carl Duer Soccer Complex.
CROSSVILLE-The Dr. Carl T. Duer Soccer Complex will be a site for one of the most prestigious youth tournaments in the nation later this spring.
The United States Youth Soccer Association recently announced the host sites for the Kohl’s US Youth Soccer American Cup, and Crossville was among them. The Duer Soccer Complex will serve as a host site on Saturday and Sunday, June 4th and 5th, officials said.
“We are extremely excited to be chosen as a host city for the Kohl’s American Cup in June,” said Crossville City Manager Curtis Adams.
“The Kohl’s American Cup is the largest recreational soccer tournament in the nation, and it is a tremendous privilege to be chosen as a location for the Spring schedule,” said Steve Hill, Crossville Parks and Recreation director. “This speaks volumes about the quality of the Duer Soccer Complex, and of the efforts of the Crossville Recreational Youth Soccer Association (CRYSA).”
“To say this will be a major undertaking is an understatement,” added Billy Loggins, Crossville Marketing director, “but we know Crossville and all the volunteers who will be involved in so many different ways are up to the task. This will be a tremendous economic boom not only for Crossville, but the entire region.”
US Youth Soccer officially announced the Spring sites for the highly-successful event in January, and the Fall schedule will be announced in May, US Youth Soccer officials said on the organization’s website. All events will feature Kohl’s American Cup elements (tents, banners, premium items) and in most locations the Kohl’s American Cup Soccer Experience, which comes with three larger-than-life inflatable soccer games and numerous prizes and souvenirs for participants and their families, the site said.
“Kohl’s is pleased to support US Youth Soccer – a strong organization that has a positive impact on kids and families in the communities we serve,” said Julie Gardner, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Kohl’s Department Stores. “This is just one more way that Kohl’s supports children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.”
The Spring Tour for the Kohl’s American Cup will begin in Tampa (FL) and Shreveport (LA) March 12-13, and will end with a pair of tournaments in Utah June 24-25.
“We are excited to kick off another season of the Kohl’s US Youth Soccer American Cup to highlight the many benefits of our sport, specifically fun and fair play, and further the experience with even more events scheduled,” said Jim Cosgrove, executive director of US Youth Soccer. “Last year, Kohl’s strengthened their commitment to providing this great program for our recreational players by extending our partnership through 2012.”
About Kohl’s American Cup
The event is the largest recreational youth soccer tournament in the country, and boasts more than 65,000 participants and over 175,000 attendees annually since its beginning in 2000. “US Youth Soccer’s 55 State Associations provide youth soccer players an opportunity to experience a high-quality statewide tournament in a fun, family-like atmosphere,” officials say. The Kohl’s American Cup is a national, grassroots recreational soccer program, providing players with the opportunity to experience a top-notch tournament in a family-oriented atmosphere.
“The Kohl’s American Cup philosophy is for all players to receive equal opportunities and benefits within their level of play,” said Angie Spitler of CRYSA. “Players have the right to participate in competitions where they can develop and exhibit their skills, while having a good time. The Kohl’s American Cup provides recreational players this opportunity and places emphasis on participation, as well as competition.” CRYSA will be heavily involved in the planning and logistics for the event.
“In the past, I have taken CRYSA teams to the Kohl’s Cup when it was held in Columbia, TN,” Spitler said. “The experience was great. It is an honor for Crossville to be chosen to host this event. This will give our local teams the opportunity to compete without having to travel.”
Kohl’s has served as the official department store sponsor of US Youth Soccer for the past several years.
US Youth Soccer
U.S. Youth Soccer is the largest youth sports organization in the country, and the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the country. US Youth Soccer has more than 3 million players, ages 5 to 19, and has a nationwide body of over 600,000 volunteers and administrators, and over 300,000 dedicated coaches, most of whom also are volunteers, the group’s website says.
US Youth Soccer is a non-profit organization, whose stated mission is to “foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition,” the site says. “Our job is also to make it fun, and instill in young players a lifelong passion for the sport.”
For more information on the Kohl’s American Cup and US Youth Soccer, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.
