United States Youth Futsal Presents the Largest Youth Futsal Tournament in the World
- Updated: February 19, 2019
The 2019 United States Youth Futsal National Championship is comprised of 161 teams from twenty-one states and two Canadian provinces. A diverse collection of referees, players, and teams makes this the largest youth futsal tournament in the world. KANSAS CITY, 2/15/2019 – The 14th United States Youth Futsal National Championship kicks of today in Kansas City February 15-18, 2019. In its 25th year, the organization brings together the largest group of youth players to form this year’s National Championship. This year’s prestigious event will be held at 4 top-tier futsal facilities in Overland Park, Kansas and the surrounding areas with the championship games culminating at the New Century Fieldhouse in Gardner, Kansas. The 161 teams qualified through the 10 regional tournaments that make up the United States Youth Futsal Championship Series: Great Lakes – 40, Northeast – 9, South Atlantic – 8, Southeast – 3, Central – 49, Atlantic – 2, Mid-Atlantic – 8, Northern California – 4, Southwest – 1, Midwest – 36. The teams represented are a collection of champions, finalists and a few at-large teams from each of the Regional Tournaments. “The USYF National Championship will feature some of the best futsal team in the United States and we look forward to hosting the largest youth futsal tournament has ever seen in this country.” said USYF Executive Director, Jon Parry. “This competition represents the hard work the USYF membership and their commitment to the growth of futsal and player development in the United States.” The 2019 USYF National Championship Committee selected 68 referees from 14 states to participate in this year’s tournament. The referees were selected based are the performances in the USYF Regional Tournaments. The tournament relies heavily on the USYF Youth Referee Academy to develop quality referees for the future of the game. The Youth Referee Academy was implemented three years ago at the 2016 USYF National Championships by FIFA Futsal Referee Instructor, Ed Marco. FIFA Referees, Sergio Cabrera (Cuba) and Chris Grabas (Canada) will mentor the 21 referees selected for the Youth Referee Academy throughout the tournament. Ed Marco observed the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup and was a 2016 Assessor in charge of the venue in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Sergio Cabrera worked the 2012 and 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand and Colombia. He was a referee for the final Futsal World Cup Match: 3 Brazil vs. 2 Spain. |