Cups Director, Brad Roos will host a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, September 3rd from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. to discuss potential changes to the State Cup competition beginning with the 2026 tournament cycle. This meeting will provide club leaders, directors of coaching, and team officials with an opportunity to hear proposed updates and share valuable feedback.
As we look ahead, MSYSA is committed to improving the structure and experience of State Cup to better serve our member clubs and teams. Your participation in this conversation is highly encouraged and appreciated.
Key Discussion Topics:
- New 11U Tournament Opportunity: An exciting new opportunity for 11U teams to attend a regional/national tournament hosted in Maryland the weekend of June 27–28, 2026.
- Updated Competition Dates: A review of the 2026 State Cup calendar, including the potential addition of a second Cup window outside the traditional April–May timeframe.
- Format Revisions: Exploration of single elimination vs. round robin formats and how each could impact the competition structure.
- Elimination of the Regional Stage: Discussion on the potential removal of the regional tournament and how that might streamline advancement.
- Direct Advancement to Nationals: A proposal for Maryland State Cup champions to advance directly to the USYS National Championships, with an overview of expected dates and location.
- New 12U State Champions Tournament: Introduction of a 12U state champions tournament, also to be hosted in Maryland in June 2026.
This meeting is a key step in shaping the future of the State Cup and ensuring it meets the evolving needs of our players, coaches, and families.
For any immediate questions, please contact Brad Roos at Cups@msysa.org.
