SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP Jefferson Cup - U13 Girls

CESA 93 Girls Premier have been accepted into what looks like a pretty strong field. The tournament is March 24 & 25 in Richmond, VA.

Girls U13
BEACH FC 94 PIRANHAS (Virginia)
TOMS RIVER BLAST (New Jersey)
SCORPIONS SOCCER U13 ELITE (Massachusetts)
BETHESDA SC FREEDOM 93 (Maryland)
MCLEAN MPS STRIKERS (Virginia)
YMS 93/94 PREMIER (Pennsylvania East)
CHARLOTTE SC 93 BLUE G (North Carolina)
ROCHESTER JR. RHINOS U13 YELLOW (New York West)
BANGU TSUNAMI FC 93/94 BLUE (Minnesota)
MONTGOMERY SC MUSTANGS (Maryland)
FC GREATER BOSTON BOLTS (Massachusetts)
RICHMOND KICKERS ELITE U13 GIRLS (Virginia)
MT. LAUREL UNITED POWER (New Jersey)
CAROLINA ELITE 93 GIRLS PREMIER (South Carolina)
MCLEAN FUSION (Virginia)
RICHMOND STRIKERS U13 ELITE (Virginia)
LOWER DAUPHIN LDC UNITED (Pennsylvania East)
WEST CHESTER UNITED PREDATORS 93 (Pennsylvania East)
FREEHOLD SHOOTING STARS (New Jersey)
CENTURY UNITED U-13 GIRLS (Pennsylvania West)
FC PENNSYLVANIA STRIKERS (Pennsylvania East)
SEVERNA PARK DYNAMITES (Maryland)
CHANTILLY BURN (Virginia)
SYA FREEDOM (Virginia)
HIGHLAND DYNAMITES (New Jersey)
HOCKESSIN HOTSPUR (Delaware)
NORTH MECK 93 STORM RED GIRLS (North Carolina)
CASL 93 SPARTAN ELITE (North Carolina)
BRADDOCK ROAD SANTOS (Virginia)
PSC HEAT (Maryland)
SOUTH CHARLOTTE 93 SCSA GOLD G (North Carolina)
FC BUCKS XTREME (Pennsylvania East)
SMITHTOWN ATTACK (New York East)
HEMPFIELD POWER (Pennsylvania East)
MASSAPEQUA FORCE (New York East)

Good to see that CESA U-14 & U15 boys premier teams plan to play in Jefferson Cup, even during HS ball. That is true dedication to your club.

I really have a problem with the 3-team bracket format. With 12 teams in a division, you think the tournament committee would group them in three brackets of four teams each. The three winners advance to the semi-finals, as does the top second place team (based on points).

Instead the Jefferson Cup has gone to the dreaded four brackets of three teams each, giving (IMO) one team in each bracket a distinct competitive advantage. Here's the CESA Premier Girls U-13 bracket:

Group C

9:30 AM CHANTILLY BURN (VA) MT. LAUREL UNITED POWER (NJ) Courthouse Park #5

12:30 PM CAROLINA ELITE 93 GIRLS PREMIER (SC) CHANTILLY BURN (VA) Courthouse Park #5

3:30 PM MT. LAUREL UNITED POWER (NJ) CAROLINA ELITE 93 GIRLS PREMIER (SC) Courthouse Park #5

Which team has the biggest advantage? Which team has the worst draw? Does this seem fair?

You go to this tournament to play against the best. I my opinion they are in the toughest bracket which is good for them. They are a great team that needs to be challenge. I would not cry too much about that. It’s only to our credit to be placed in such a group.

It's fantastic that they are in this group....but doesn't Mt. Laurel have a bit of an advantage?

2004 Striker,

Agreed, particularly if you're talking about the boys!! Having the U14's and 15's playing in the Jefferson Cup will make three Spring tournaments by my count for the 14's (Concorde Fire, Vulcan Cup and Jefferson Cup), in addition to Premier league play. For the '91's have played college scrimmages in addition to the Jefferson Cup in preparation for Regionals is great. An impressive display of commitment by club, coach, families and players of both teams during the High School season.

2004 Striker,

I was just told my statement regarding the 15's in my prior posting was wrong. The 91's have not played college scrimmages to date.

Coach P,

You are correct. Five games in two days wouldn't work. That's why they have people smarter than me running these tournaments.

The problem I have with it is that the team playing the first game and third game gets substantially more rest than the other two teams. Also, the team playing in the first and second game faces an absolutely fresh team in their second match.

These are only U-13 Girls with 15 or 16 players on the roster so I assume that finishing a game at 2 PM and starting the next one at 3:30 PM is enough rest. Any coaches want to chime in?

I understand your point exactly. I have coached in tournaments with 3-team groups for over 10 years. But my experience is that the perceived advantage does not always have the expected affect. I've seen as many won by the team that plays the first 2 games as by either of the other two. But, like you, I prefer 4-team groups. The solution would be to limit the divisions to eight teams in two 4-team groups or go to a 3-day format. Since I am unaware of any widely observed Friday or Monday school holidays at that time in March, the 3-day format would be difficult for the Jefferson Cup.