US Youth Soccer Region IV

Top Referees Invited Back for 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships

FRISCO, Texas (May 19, 2009) – US Youth Soccer is pleased to announce the top 12 referees, based on their performance at the 2008 US Youth Soccer National Championships, who have been invited to return to the field at the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass., July 21-26.

"The US Youth Soccer National Championships is the most prestigious youth sporting event in the country and we pride ourselves on ensuring that prestige in every aspect of the tournament, specifically with the selection and advancement of our referees," said Jim Cosgrove, executive director of US Youth Soccer. "The referees are an integral part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and play a key role in its success. Being invited to the national level is a great honor for our referees who are dedicated to promoting fair play and furthering their development."

The selection process for referees for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is based on performance throughout the Series. Just as the teams advance from the state to regional to national level so do the referees.

Referees participating in the 55 US Youth Soccer State Association State Cup events are considered for advancement to participate in one of the four US Youth Soccer Regional Championship events. The top referees from each regional event are then considered for advancement to the National Championships. Once selected to the National Championships, the top 12 referees are identified and invited to return to the event the following year.

The referees selected hold jobs in various professions, ranging from veterinarian or teacher to EMT-Paramedic or bank examiner. In fact, Brett Lally of Ellicott City, Md., and Brad Meekins of College Station, Texas, are two referees selected to return, but unable to because of work or family commitments. Meekins is expecting his first child.

All four US Youth Soccer Regions and nine US Youth Soccer State Associations are represented by the 10 referees returning to the National Championships.

Each summer, the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series crowns the boys and girls national champion in each of its six age groups (Under-14 through 19). The finals are a culmination of a year-long series of competitions at the state and regional levels which provides approximately 185,000 players on over 10,000 teams from 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations the opportunity to showcase their soccer skills against the best competition in the nation.

Referees returning to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships:

Name	Hometown	Grade
Andrew Bigelow	Auburn, Ind.	5
Jeremy Fagundes	Clovis, Calif.	5
Michael Farmer	Streetsboro, Ohio	6
Shelley Finger	Fort Worth, Texas	5
Brett Lally*	Ellicott City, Md.	6
Brad Meekins*	College Station, Texas	6
Deleana Quan	Sacramento, Calif.	6
Russell Tolerton	Virginia Beach, Va.	6
Kyle Trimble	Fox Point, Wis.	5
Armando Villarreal	Brownsville, Texas	5
Jonathan Weiner	Miami, Fla.	5
Brandon Whitson	Menifee, Calif.	6
*Unable to return in 2009

For more information about the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, visit http://Championships.USYouthSoccer.org.

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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!^®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.

Media Request: When referring to the United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, please refer to the association only as US Youth Soccer, and never as USYS or USYSA. We appreciate your cooperation.

About the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides more than 10,000 teams from US Youth Soccer's 55 State Associations the opportunity to showcase their abilities against the best in the nation while emphasizing teamwork, discipline and fair play. The yearlong competition begins with over 185,000 players in the US Youth Soccer State Championships. These champions and selected wildcard teams, through US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues, advance to compete in one of four the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships. Champions (U-14 through U-19) from each regional event advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The Under-15 through 17 Boys and Girls age groups have two teams representative of the US Youth Soccer National League, in which the top two teams in each gender age group earn a direct path to the national championships. Overall the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country.

Media Request: When referring to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the most prestigious event in youth sports, please refer to the event as US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on first reference and National Championship Series on anything thereafter. Never refer to as NCS or USYS NCS. We appreciate your cooperation.