For The Love Of Soccer – Second Annual Tournament of Champions
Cal South provides recreational players with the challenging, yet fun-filled experience of participating in an All-Star Tournament of Champions. Usually only competitive players get to experience the joys of playing in large scale tournaments – spending the day on the field preparing and playing their games, then watching other teams take on the challenge of an opponent, to finally coming home with a special event sweatshirt — tournaments can create memories that last a lifetime. Hundred’s of Cal South’s recreational players were delighted to play in the All-Star Tournament of Champions — a tournament to call their own.
Youth Soccer News – Inaugurating the event just last year, the 2016 Cal South Recreational All-Star Tournament of Champions returned for another successful year. US Youth Soccer’s Cal South represents over 300 youth soccer leagues and clubs in Southern California — with more than 204,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators.
Forty-eight teams from all seven Cal South districts from U10, U12, and U14 age divisions gathered at Frances Ryan Park in Escondido, California. More than 700 youth soccer players participated in this year’s soccer tournament.
In order to earn a ticket to the Recreational All-Star Tournament of Champions, each recreational youth soccer team participated in their respective district’s Commissioner’s Cup, earning their berth. The winning teams from each age group in the Commissioner’s Cup automatically qualified to the Tournament of Champions, adding in one wild card per age division.
“The mission and goal to have this recreational All-Star tournament is to have fun and to stimulate the young groups of players to develop great experiences and to continue playing soccer,” said Rick Velasco, District 7 Commissioner and Cal South Vice President of Youth.
The tournament not only gives recreational players a taste of competitive soccer, but also gives them the honor of being an all-star.
Although the weather cooperated the first day of the tournament, the second day of action was a complete turnaround as teams were only able to finish off the primary round of games due to heavy rain, playing a total of three games over the weekend, eliminating the final championship match.
Parents and coaches appreciated Cal South’s concern for player safety and the decision to keep kids off the fields during the stormy weather. The All Star Tournament of Champions were chosen by their team’s record in group play. Regardless of the skies opening up and drenching the fields — the players, coaches and their families were in good spirits — with smiles on faces of all ages.
2016 Cal South Recreational All-Star Tournament of Champions Results
| U10 | Boys | Girls |
| 1st Place | LMSA – B10 Rousseau | LMSA |
| 2nd Place | MYSL Recreational | AC Brea All-Stars |
| 3rd Place | AC Brea All-Stars Red | Orcutt Venom All-Stars |
| 4th Place | BU10 AS-Marantz | West Covina All-Stars |
| U12 | Boys | Girls |
| 1st Place | Colton YSO All-Stars | JUSA GU12 Diskin |
| 2nd Place | Escondido Soccer Club | Express GU12-Martine |
| 3rd Place | JUSA BU12 Ruiz | Palmdale Youth |
| 4th Place | Orcutt US United All-Stars | Vista Rec – G12 |
| U14 | Boys | Girls |
| 1st Place | Ways BU14 | Vista Rec – G14 |
| 2nd Place | Oceanside Breakers | Oceanside Breakers |
| 3rd Place | OJSC BU14 All-Stars | PDYSL G14 All-Stars |
| 4th Place | BU14 AS-Alexandrou | GU14 AS-Clement |
What is the most fun thing about playing soccer in the Cal South All Star Tournament? For some soccer players it might have been showing off their soccer skills — such as controlling the ball, distributing it across the field with well targeted passes — for other players, it could have been sharing their passion for the world’s greatest sport while spending the time with their friends and family, and for all — it was creating memories of being outside having fun.
Photo Credit: Carlos Torres / Cal South
