California State Soccer Challenge

As discussed at the State Planning Meeting, the California State Soccer Challenge format will change this year in order to promote increased participation by the Councils, Districts and Chapters.  Rather than a single venue for the state championship contest, there will be three regional contests in the following format:

1.           The locations will reflect the major regions of the state: Northern, Central and Southern California.

2.           The regional contest winners’ scores will be compared by the California Soccer Challenge Coordinator to determine the state winners for each category.  

3.           The three regional contests will be conducted simultaneously.  The regional coordinators will determine the regional champions and immediately communicate the information to the state coordinator by telephone.  If there is a tie between regional champions, then a state level “shoot-out” will immediately be conducted at the regional site.  The results of the shoot-out will then determine the state championship.

4.           The regional championship trophies will be presented to the winners immediately upon completion of the regional contest.  The State championship awards will be coordinated by the state coordinator and provided to the respective regional coordinator for presentation at an appropriate event.

Coordination with the Central and Southern California regional coordinators will take place within the next few weeks to develop date and contest location information.  In the mean time, please encourage the local Councils to appoint their Soccer Challenge Coordinators and have the coordinators meet with their areas' youth soccer league directors to coordinate the local events.  The Council level contests should be in September.  The District and Chapter contests should be in October.  In order to avoid potential scheduling conflicts with youth league soccer, Council, District and Chapter contests should be scheduled on Sundays.  Be careful to avoid weekends when other soccer tournaments may be happening.  It is projected that the state contest will be conducted during the first or second weekend of November 2010.

Because this contest/program is conducted so early in the Columbian Year, we can't wait until the next administration to start on it.  Current Grand Knights and Chapter Presidents should appoint their Soccer Challenge Coordinators right away and put them to work!  Soccer Challenge kits may be ordered through the Supreme Office.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (707) 495-5425.

Good Luck!

Vivat Jesus!

Dennis R. Martinez

Coordinator

California State Soccer Challenge