Spirit United Kick-Off Classic set for boys weekend
More than 200 U-9 to U-15 teams will compete in the Spirit United Kick-Off Classic boys weekend in Downington, Pennsylvania from August 15-16, one of the highest level tournaments in the country.
It is the second-largest youth soccer event in Pennsylvania, and includes top teams from throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest United States, as well as several Canadian sides. The 216 total teams competing in the boys weekend hail from the host state of Pennsylvania, as well as Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Canada.
The Spirit United Kick-Off Classic began in 1986 under the direction of Spirit United Soccer Club, and has grown from 34 teams in its first year to more than 500 total squads between the two weekends in recent years.
U-9, U-10 and U-11 age groups will play 8v8 matches, while U-12 divisions include both 8v8 and 11v11 formats. The U-13 and older age groups compete in 11v11 play with 30-minute halves. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games over the course of the weekend.
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This year, the boys weekend will also feature a showcase division for U-15 and U-16 girls teams. The six-team bracket is stacked with premier level squads, including the Council Rock United FC Bucks U-15 ECNL team, the Continental FC DELCO U-15 ECNL team, reigning Virginia State Cup champion and Region I finalist Northern Virginia SC (NVSC) Jr. Majestics 00, a top-five nationally ranked SUSA Commack SC Academy 2000 Gold side from New York, FC Long Island Lady Arsenal and a strong Lee Mount Vernon SC Patriots 00 Red team from Northern Virginia.
The boys divisions include seven reigning State Cup champions. Among the most loaded brackets will be the U-14 Championship Division, which includes Pennsylvania East State Cup champion Ukrainian Nationals Rangers Black, semifinalist Penn Fusion SA 01 Elite, EDP Cup Spring 2015 finalist and last year’s Spirit United Kick-Off champion Philadelphia SC Coppa 01 and another top EDP League competitor in LDC United Freedom, all representing Bracket A.
On the other side of the division, Bracket B will include reigning New York Club Soccer League champion Athletico FC Boys 01, Pennsylvania East State Cup semifinalist FC Europa Rapids, reigning PA Classics Mid-Atlantic Cup champion Bethesda SC South 01, and MLS’ Philadelphia Union U-14 Academy.
