San Diego Surf College Cup Showcase
College is the #1 destination for the majority of America’s youth soccer players. The 2018 Surf College Cup Showcase – a top, national recruiting showcase held at world-class facilities in San Diego over Thanksgiving weekend – is now preparing for another year of matching talent with opportunity.
Youth Soccer News: Surf Cup Sports is set to host the 24th San Diego Surf College Cup Showcase held on November 23-25, 2018.
The 2018 College Cup tournament is a nationally recognized premier tournament, rated among the top two recruiting events in the USA.
San Diego Surf College Cup Showcase offers calendar-year age group flights for U14 (2005) U15 (2004), U16 (2003), U17 (2002), U18 (2001) and U19 (2000).
Teams can roster up to 22 players for USYSA and 24 players for US Club Soccer, but only 18 players may be eligible to play per game.
In 2017, 380 top-level teams were accepted. Players from 7 countries – Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, USA – competed in front of top college coaches.
The minute registration opened, top college coaches signed up.
The tournament will be held at both the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, CA, and the Surf Cup Sports Park in Del Mar, CA.
The Surf Cup Sports event brings elite players from all across the country and other countries around the world.
Last year, more than 450 college coaches and scouts watched 220 top youth soccer teams from 6 countries and 16 States play at Surf College Cup.
The prestigious list of college coaches who have attended the College Cup impresses all. Even with many college coaches flocking to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy showcases to recruit players, the College Cup is still a top proving ground for college hopefuls. Historically the College Cup attracts over 500 Men’s and Women’s coaches who attend in search of adding to their rosters and this year’s coach registration is on track to meet or exceed these numbers.
And, just like last year, the 2018 College Cup will also be scouted by professional domestic and international scouts looking to identify elite players.
This youth soccer event is the gateway for many aspiring collegiate players and attracts top college coaches from around the country.
Providing talented and hardworking youth soccer players with the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college recruits from the best D1, D2 and D3 colleges and universities has always been the inspiration for the Surf College Cup.
Longtime tournament director Mike Connerely, now semi-retired, and his staff, work tirelessly to create the professional environment in which players can shine.
”I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW MANY PLAYERS WERE AWARDED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM BEING SEEN AT SURF COLLEGE CUP. THE MONEY WE HAVE SAVED THEIR PARENTS — IT HAS TO BE OVER $100,000,000,00,” says Connerely.
The players come to San Diego with a dream of being recruited by a top college coach or scout — and, often players have prepared for this tournament for years. It is the opportunity to prove their worth on the pitch in front of college DI, DII, DIII and NAIA coaches.
“WE COME TO THE SURF CUP SERIES TO SCOUT FOR TALENT THAT IS UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN THE COUNTRY,” ANSON DORRANCE, HEAD COACH UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S SOCCER.
ScoutingZone, the easy to use mobile app for college coaches and players, will be onsite again helping match abilities with opportunities.
Founders Tara Parker and Brooke Oxberry both grew up playing soccer and remember what it was like with pieces of paper flying across the field. Their passion for the sport — and for harnessing the power of technology — has made a significant impact on the college scene and is the only application which is actually paid for by colleges.
“The impact of the Surf College Cup is huge,” says Brooke Oxberry who was even surprised by the high number of top college coaches who registered immediately once she posted the link to the College Cup. “Mike Connerly is the Godfather — he is the visionary who started all of this — he is the godfather of all youth soccer tournaments providing players with the opportunity to be seen by college coaches.”
Known for always producing a first-rate youth soccer event, Surf Cup Sports’ Mike Connerley‘s passion for creating opportunities for talented youth soccer players still burns bright.
A philanthropist at heart, Connerly is the man behind Surf Cup Sports whose famous saying of “Do it First Class or not at all,” is a well-known sacred mantra of the organization.
“We were investing in the future,” said Connerely. “And, we are proud of our efforts.”
Helping youth soccer players earn scholarships has been Connerley’s guiding mission for decades — now retired, he still is hands on to make sure the tournament is the Best of the Best. Connerley will be on the pitch this November to the this year’s event and continues to inspire the industry, ever raising the bar to benefit players and coaches and providing an excellent environment for dreams to be realized.
Who Else Walked This Walk?
Attracting the Best of the Best, Landon Donovan and Alex Morgan are just two of the many famous soccer players who competed in Surf Cup events as youth players.
Who knows who could be discovered this year at the Surf College Cup Showcase?
To compete in the Surf College Cup Showcase is a dream for many players who dream of playing in front of hundreds of college coaches and earning a scholarship.
What else is there to do?
Home to the best weather in the United States, San Diego offers plenty of things to do and sights to see while attending our tournament. The world-famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and Wild Animal Park are just a few famous attractions in America’s 8th largest city.
Related Article: SURF COLLEGE CUP XXII SHOWCASE
With an amazing 500 college coaches anticipated to be onsite at the Surf College Cup over Thanksgiving 2018, this is clear proof of the tournament’s well-known reputation.
According to Michelle Romero, 2018 Surf College Cup Tournament Director, applications are streaming in for this year’s event.
Good luck to all those who make this an important stop on their soccer journey.
Registration deadline is September 21, 2018! Register here.
