USA CUP Header
Schwan's USA CUP, presented by PUMA Newsletter
International Youth Soccer Tournament
February 2008
The Schwan's USA CUP, presented by PUMA newsletter provides the latest information and updates about the tournament.
In This Issue
From Schwan's USA CUP to Homecoming Queen
NSCAA Convention Notes
International Team Update
NSC Soccer Tournaments
New Puma Vspeed Group
Now Accepting Applications
Tell Us About Your Tournament Experience
Link to Us
Representatives Travel Schedule
From Schwan's USA CUP to Homecoming Queen in Florida
By Colleen Bourdon
 
I am always amazed at how things tie together, especially when it comes to USA CUP. A few years ago a dad, James Mahler, wrote to me about his daughter Abbey who lives in Florida and plays soccer. They come to Minnesota each summer and how could she continue her soccer here during the summer? Naturally USA CUP was an option with our guest player program and that's what she did. The next year she with returned with her father and older sister, Brittany. Now the question was what could the older sister do while the younger sister was playing soccer? I had the answer to that question...Brittany Mahler decided to volunteer at USA CUP. Not for four hours one day, but everyday of the tournament for 8 hours a day. I was so proud when this fall she sent me a photo and some commentary about being crowned homecoming queen at her high school. I have interviewed Brittany about her USA CUP experience:
 
Mahler FamilyHow did you begin volunteering for USA CUP?
I became interested in volunteering at the tournament because I love to watch all the different soccer teams and the different soccer players that come to Minnesota. I also enjoy volunteering so I can earn community service hours towards my high school graduation, and volunteering also gave me a chance to watch my sister Abbey.
 
How many hours have you volunteered for USA CUP in the last two years?
I have volunteered a total of 114 hours. I start at 7 in the morning and my day ends at 4:30.
 
What do you enjoy the most about volunteering at the soccer tournament?
The most fun that I have experienced is the chance to meet all the different referees that come from around the United States and from England.
 
What is your volunteer role at USA CUP?
I volunteer in field services as a field manager. My duties include checking in all the referees at the fields, making sure the games get started on time, and if a player gets hurt I have to call for the medics. Field managers are the link from the games to the tournament headquarters, medical and referees.
 
How far do you travel each summer to volunteer?
It is 1,494 miles from Pompano Beach, Florida to Blaine, Minnesota.
 
What other things do you do for fun?
I have been dancing for the past 10 years. I was invited to dance with my dance studio this past Thanksgiving in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, but I decided to go on my fourth mission trip with my high school friends and classmates. I was very happy this past fall being named the Homecoming Queen at my high school, Boca Raton Christian School. I also devote much of my time studying for my high school classes, going down to the pool to suntan, and if I do have a free minute I am watching my sister Abbey play soccer on her high school soccer team or throughout Florida on her travel soccer team.
 
Thanks to Brittany for all the hard work and time. I hope that the whole Mahler family will be with us at USA CUP 2008.
NSCAA Convention Notes
By Vicki Barnes
 
The NSCAA is one of the best trade shows that Schwan's USA CUP attends and this year in Baltimore was no exception. It's where our tournament director Teri Vogt meets with our sponsors, where director of teams relations Colleen Bourdon meets with our international contacts, and where I connect with our college coaches. It's also where we met up with our team coaches and tournament partners.
 
This year I was on a mission to find out where athletes that played in USA CUP are now. It was interesting to me how soccer is still such a part of their lives. I meet a gentleman working at the NSCAA vendor registration booth that had played in USA CUP. I met a college coach from a college in New York, who played in USA CUP with a team from Washington state. I meet a young man from Indiana that came to the NSCAA for the indoor championships that had played in USA CUP. What did all these people have in common? When they talk about USA CUP their faces light up, remembering the lifetime experience they had. We are going to have a section on our website called "Where Are They Now" where our media department will interview past participants and how they are still involved with the game. For instance, Eric Avila came to USA CUP in 1996 with the U11 Nomads from California and was drafted this year in the Super Draft. Eric also plays on the U23 National team. If you want to be a part of "Where Are They Now" let me know and I will have the media department contact you.
 
NSCAA is a big show and a big investment for a non-profit organization like USA CUP. That is why we have become very creative. For instance last year we rented a 27 inch color TV and DVD player through the show, the cost was around $700. We had rented a car this year for meetings and because we had coupons for a free 3-day rental we decided it would be cheaper to buy a new TV with a DVD player and donate it then it would be to rent one for 4 days. We paid $188 for a 20 inch TV/DVD combo and at the end of the show we donated it to Maryland Youth Soccer. We saved over $200 and felt good about donating it to another non-profit.
International Teams Update
By Colleen Bourdon
 
I usually put together a list of the countries that are interested in attending USA CUP. From this point on I am going to include teams that are registered and a little history.
 
Colombia - five teams registerd. Daniel has been bringing teams to USA CUP since the early 90's. Daniel is from Minnesota and plans a complete experience for his teams, they go to the Boundary Waters, USA CUP and do training at a college in Northfield.
 
Ecuador - has two teams registered, U14 and U16 boys and they are traveling with Nelson's contingent. There are at least five more teams expected to register. Nelson also builds a Boundary Water package for his teams that want another dimension added to their soccer experience.
 
Northern Ireland - one team is currently registered and I am expecting one more to sign up soon. The registered team has an interesting story. The coach came to USA CUP in 2006 as a volunteer to "check it out" and is back in 2008 with his U14 boy's team, he has arranged his own homestay with a team in Coon Rapids. The team from Coon Rapids already visited the team from Norhtern Ireland this past fall. Truly a reciprocal homestay.
 
Norway - there are two teams registered from Norway. They come to us from KFUM. This club which means YMCA, has been a strong supporter of USA CUP since the tournament's inception. I met with their leadership in Denmark this past summer and also visited their clubhouse in Oslo, Norway before I returned to Minnesota in August. These two teams will be hosted by a soccer club in Duluth prior to USA CUP Weekend and then will move to our dorms for USA CUP Weekend and Week.
 
Sweden - There are currently two teams registered from Sweden. They are both from Gothenburg and with play in both the USA CUP Weekend and Week. The teams will stay in the dorm during the Weekend Cup and then move into our famous homestay program for the Week. They will continue their travels to Chicago for a few days after USA CUP. There should be one more team registering from Sweden, Rudbeckianska. I will update further information when their application arrives.
NSC Soccer Tournaments
 
NSC CUP logoDon't forget to register for our Midwest's largest Memorial Day tournament, NSC CUP, May 24-26, 2008. New for 2008, all game start Saturday, May 24 and we're introducing a new guest player program. Learn more here...
 
Wal-Mart All American Cup LogoOur other pre-USA CUP tournament is the Wal-Mart All American Cup. We're excited to offer the new All American Boys Premier Flight. This flight is open to competitive club teams, state select teams, tournament select teams, ODP, Provincial, Premier and Classic I male teams. National teams are not eligible. Learn more here...
Schwan's USA CUP Weekend to Feature NEW! Puma Vspeed Group
PUMA Logo 
Puma and Schwan's USA CUP are undertaking a multi-faceted initiative to raise the caliber of teams represented at USA CUP over the next three years. At this summer's event Puma and USA Cup are introducing the Vspeed Group, a U-16 boys A-flight Group of the USA CUP Weekend as one step in the plan. Several of Puma's top US premier club teams, playing in a group with select international and US teams invited by Schwan's USA CUP is sure to bring new high profile teams to the event. Make sure to go to www.usacup.org to get updates on the elite teams that will be competing in the bracket or call to register your elite team.
 
 
 
Phone: 1.800.535.4730
Now Accepting Applications
The application for the 2008 tournament is now available. The weekend tournament is July 11-13, 2008 and the week tournament is July 15-19, 2008. Opening Ceremonies will be July 14.
 
 
 
If you have questions about registration, please contact Sha Leahey at registrar@usacup.org.
Tell Us About Your Tournament Experience
We want to hear from you! Tell us about your tournament experience and send us a photo of your team at Schwan's USA CUP and we'll post it on the testimonial page on our website.
 
Send your story and picture to Colleen Bourdon at cbourdon@usacup.org.
Link to Us
Many soccer clubs/teams put information on their website about their upcoming tournament travels, fundraising efforts to go to a tournament, and updates about what tournaments they have gone to. If your team/club has information about USA CUP on your website we would love to know this and link to you.
 
Send your website link to Colleen Bourdon at cbourdon@usacup.org.
Representatives Travel Schedule
The Schwan's USA CUP staff will be in Kansas City, Missouri February 21-23 and Hartford, Connecticut area February 27-March 1.
 
If you would like a representative to present an informational meeting for your club/team, please contact Vicki Barnes at 763.785.5652 or email at vbarnes@usacup.org.
 
There is no commitment required to host a meeting. We simply provide all the information necessary to determine if Schwan's USA CUP is the right tournament for your club or team. 
Quick Links
Our Sponsors
Schwan's Logo
Visit Our Sponsor
PUMA Logo
Visit Our Sponsor
Coca-Cola Logo
Visit Our Sponsor
Soccer America Logo
Visit Our Sponsor
MYSA Logo
Visit Our Sponsor
Join Our Mailing List