Association Cup

Geared toward Division 3 level teams, the CYSA Association Cup is an open competition for any CYSA Division 3 or 4 team in the U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-16 and U-19 age groups. It begins with a weekend of preliminary rounds, and during the course of several subsequent weekends of single elimination rounds, it culminates with the annual CYSA Association Cup Championships where the state champions are crowned, team recognitions and individual awards are presented. The CYSA Association Cup takes place in early winter for the U-10 through U-14 teams and in early spring for the U-16 and U-19 teams. Teams are encouraged to apply for CYSA Association Cup online.

Coaching

CYSA has a Coaching School program that is available throughout the year for all affiliated leagues to conduct licensing courses. The sequential curriculum exposes coaches to modern youth training methods. The staff instructors, under the guidance of the State Director of Coaching, are all United States Soccer Federation and CYSA licensed coaches. Licensing Courses offered are:  "Pre-F", "F", "E", "E/D" and National/State "D" licenses. Special workshop and goalkeeper courses are also available. There is no waiting period between these courses, and candidates may advance as rapidly as they are able to master the curriculum.

CYSA also offers advanced courses free to its coaches in the CYSA - Cal Soccer League and in the Olympic Development Program, through the Competitive Coaching School run by the CYSA State Competitive Coaching Director and through CYSA's Olympic Development Technical Director.  These courses emphasize tactical attacking and defending themes involving multiple player formats.

CYSA - Cal Soccer League

The CYSA - Cal Soccer League (CCSL) is open to all Division 1 and Division 3 soccer teams aged U9 - U19 offering a fall, spring and winter league option to accommodate the changing needs of the Northern California soccer community. The CCSL is the only league that offers teams the flexibility to play in a state wide top level premier division, a regional or local level division. Winners and finalists of the U15, U16, U17 U18 and U19 year old boys and girls CCSL State Premier Division will earn the right to represent CYSA North in the Annual California Premier League State Championships against the Cal South/CCSL Premier League Champions and Finalists. For more in depth information regarding CYSA - Cal Soccer League, visit the CYSA - Cal Soccer League page on the CYSA website http://www.cysanorth.org/ or go to http://www.calsoccerleague.org/.

The CYSA Founders' Cup program is exclusively for our recreational level teams. The CYSA Founders' Cup is an open competition for any CYSA Division 4 team in the U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-19 age groups. It begins with a weekend of preliminary rounds, from which winning teams advance to the single elimination rounds. Cup play culminates with the annual CYSA Founders' Cup Championships extravaganza where the state champions are crowned with awards presented to teams and players alike. The CYSA Founders' Cup takes place in late fall for the U-10 through U-14 teams and in late winter for the U-16 and U-19 teams. Teams are encouraged to apply for CYSA Founders' Cup online.

Olympic Development Program

The Primary objective of the State Olympic Development Program (ODP) is to identify, evaluate and promote highly talented youth soccer players.  As part of the National effort, the CYSA ODP is dedicated to finding the highest level youth soccer players in northern California.  The Olympic Development Program is a National process for identifying the best youth soccer players.  The process promotes players to the U.S. National teams, which represent the United States in International competition, such as the World Cup, the Olympics and Youth World Cup events.

CYSA's Recreation Committee focuses on the needs of the recreational players and their coaches. It sponsors orientation courses for coaches and managers, which give invaluable instruction to the "rookie" parent.  CYSA is also active in the TOPSoccer program, a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with special needs, and the Soccer Start program, designed to introduce soccer to children living in economically disadvantaged areas such as rural and inner city communities. 

The Referee Program offers instruction for entry-level referees as well as training, mentoring and evaluation for advancement. Referees register directly with USSF and are assigned as independent contractors to league, tournament, cup and other matches by the affiliated league, the CYSA District or by the State Association for all CYSA sanctioned competitions and/or events. Registration is on an annual basis. Regular meetings take place at the local level and communication from all levels is distributed and published to ensure that referees are kept abreast of changes in the Laws of the Game and their interpretations. Continuing education programs are available for all referees. Contact your League or District Referee Administrator for further information and course dates.

State Cup

CYSA State Cup is an open competition for any U12 through U19 CYSA Division 1, 3 or 4 team although primarily Division 1 teams participate. It is the state-level qualifier for the US Youth Soccer National Championship series and the champions will go on to represent CYSA in the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships against the teams from the 14 western region State Associations that are deemed "the best in the west." Winners of U-14 through U-19 Regional Championships advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, which is widely considered to be the nation's premier youth soccer event. CYSA State Cup begins with a weekend of preliminary rounds and during the course of several more weekends of single elimination rounds culminates with the annual State Cup Championships where the state champions are crowned.  CYSA State Cup takes place in mid-winter for the U-12 and U-13 teams and in spring for the U-14 through U-19 age groups. Teams are encouraged to apply for CYSA State Cup online. 

Soccer Start

A program designed to introduce soccer to at-risk children living in economically disadvantaged areas such as rural and inner city communities. In addition to soccer being used as a tool to increase the child's self-esteem and as a positive alternate activity, it can be an opportunity for them to be recognized for their achievements and provide potential scholarships for academic, athletic, or leadership skills.

Presidents Cup

CYSA Presidents Cup offers competition in the U-10 through U-17 age groups and is the state-level qualifier for the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup series.  Modeled after the State Cup and US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, Presidents Cup is a new and exciting level of competition being offered to ensure competitive events for all levels of play. It is THE premier-level state championship event for our U-10 and U-11 teams.  CYSA Presidents Cup will accept applications from all levels of CYSA teams, but was created primarily to serve all Division 1 and the strongest Division 3 teams in the U-10 and U-11 age groups and for the second tier Division 1 teams and the high-level Division 3 teams in the U12 through U17 age groups. CYSA Presidents Cup provides teams with an opportunity to advance to regional play at a level that may be better suited to their team than the State Cup and National Championship Series competition. The U13 through U17 age groups champions have the opportunity to advance to Regional Presidents Cup Competition where they will compete against champions from the teams from the 14 State Associations in US Youth Soccer Region IV.  Winners of that competition in the U14 through U17 teams move on to National Presidents Cup.  Teams are encouraged to apply for CYSA Presidents Cup online. Presidents Cup takes place in the winter for the U10 through U13 teams and in spring for the U14 through U17 teams.  It is played over the course of several weekends with preliminary round competition on the first weekend and teams either advancing to the next round of play or being eliminated based on their results.  The competition culminates with the state championships extravaganza that includes team recognitions and player awards.

TOPSoccer

TOPSoccer is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with special needs. These needs are because of a physical or mental disability that might discourage or preclude the child from participating in a sports program

Tournaments

Every CYSA affiliated league is entitled to apply to host a CYSA sanctioned tournament. The league's District Tournament Coordinator can provide information on how to apply to host. Tournament invitations, applications and the proper procedure for applying to a CYSA tournament may be obtained from your District Tournament Coordinator.