If you are actively playing soccer, then you know all too well what it really means to participate in soccer tournaments. It’s truly one of the greatest feelings you can experience on the field because it lets you show your skills to others.
Competition is a great thing that keeps us sharp, makes us dream for something greater, and continues to compel us to improve. Sure, it’s not as great as representing your country at the World Cup or another national/global competition, but youth tournaments definitely have their place.It’s a great way for young people all over the world to get to know each other and find other talented people they can connect with.
Staying fit and in shape comes naturally when you’re passionate about soccer, which means that young people will also be able to avoid classic illnesses that seem to follow with being overweight and/or obese.
Professional Players
Did you know that most of the now-famous professional players in Europe got their real start on a youth soccer team? They played in school, getting the experience that would later serve them well in the professional format.
Many professional English players were discovered on a youth soccer team and observed in real time, where scouts saw their real potential. Some of the most popular ones would include the North American and European tournaments.
The United States and Canada are known for their popular tournaments all year round, particularly focused around special occasions or events that would attract large number of supporters or spectators.
The game is undeniably popular in the country, although it was introduced here only some three decades ago. In fact, there are officially almost 3 million youth players in the United States alone, with another few hundreds of thousands in Canada.
Most Popular Tournaments
Among the most popular youth tournaments in the US would be the:
- GISA Shoot
- Lazers Cup
- Columbus Spring Kickoff
- Lanier Recreation Cup
- DCSA Winter Classic
- Augusta Arsenal Spring Shootout
- Texas Winter
- Twin City Classic
- Red River Classic
- Las Vegas Mayors Cup International Tournament
- Bethesda Thanksgiving Tournament
- Nike Norcross Cup TournamentTexas Cup
Information and dates for these soccer tournaments could easily be found online, and it’s seriously not out of the ordinary to find a famous participating team near you as well.
Hungry for more tournaments? You have to check out the USA Cup, which is held during the middle of summer. It has a rather European feel to it, with two separate events for different matches. One is held on the weekend and one is held on the weekdays of the tournament season.
This tournament is among the most famous in the country, apart from being one of the most expensive as well. Another large-scale tournament would be the Las Vegas Mayors Cup International Tournament, normally held in October.
Open for Both Boys and Girls
It is open for both boys and girls with individual awards for 1st and 2nd places aside from the team winnings. These tournaments are open to any teams countrywide, with particular attention given to independent teams with non-star or paid coaches.
If you’re looking for something broader, the American youth tournaments are also sometimes tied with foreign tournaments for friendly matches. There is also equal amount of youth tournaments in Europe, predominantly seen in the Eastern European countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and others; not including soccer’s homeland England itself.
Two of the most popular tournaments in the continent would include the Gothia Cup and Dana Cup. Gothia Cup is held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden around July, while Dana Cup is held annually in Hjorring, Denmark, normally a week after the Gothia Cup.
Dana Cup is also one of the largest tournaments in the world, not counting Europe itself. Both the tournaments are quite similar, where teams would play several matches to be then sorted out into new flights for a single elimination play.
Summary
Keep it fun! Any of the tournaments listed here are going to just be about young people having a good time. It’s meant to get our young people working together, having fun, and developing better soccer skills.
Youth tournaments aren’t going to feature famous professional soccer players, or be associated with big organizations like FIFA or UEFA. Still, watching all of the kids get together to compete is too much fun to pass up!
