Version as of 9/22/16
STATE CUPS FAQS
DEFINITIONS
Q. What is State Cups?
A. State Cup generally refers to the NJYS National Championship Competition, the NJYS
Presidents Cup Competition, or the NJYS Commissioners Cup. Although these are three
separate competitions, people often use the term 'State Cup' interchangeably.
Q. What is the NJYS National Championship Competition?
A. The NJYS National Championship competition is for top tier teams and is part of the US
Youth Soccer National Championship Series. The Series begins at the State level, and
depending on the age group, champions advance to the Regional level and then the National
level. The competition is for both boys and girls NJYS teams at the U12 through the U19 age
groups. U13 and above Regional winners advance to the National competition. It is the
highest level club team competition in the country.
Q. What is the NJYS Presidents Cup?
A. The NJYS Presidents Cup competition is for second tier teams and is part of the US Youth
Soccer Presidents Cup. The tournament begins at the State level, and depending on the
age group, champions advance to the Regional level and then the National level. The
competition is for both boys and girls NJYS teams at the U12 through the U17 age groups.
U13 and above Regional winners advance to the National competition.
Q. What is the NJYS Commissioners Cup Competition?
A. The NJYS Commissioners Cup competition is for third tier of teams and leads only to a
New Jersey champion. The winners of the NJYS Commissioners Cup do not advance outside
of New Jersey. Currently, this tournament is for boys and girls NJYS teams at the U11
through U14 age groups.
ENTRY
Q. When are State Cups played?
A. U11-U14 boys and girls state cups are played in the Fall season (mid-September through
the early November). U15-U18 boys and girls state cups are players in the Spring season
(early April through mid-May). U19 boys and girls state cups are player late May and early
June.
Q. Why don't all age groups play at the same time?
A. Playing at different times minimizes the demand for fields and referees. For the older
age groups, it also reduces the conflict with the high school soccer season.
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Q. Who can enter State Cups?
A. Any properly registered team in New Jersey Youth Soccer can register for any
competition, but is restricted to only one competition. Teams must possess NJYS Player
Passes. Teams cannot play with US Club Soccer, Super Y league, or other non-NJYS passes.
Teams must also be playing in an NJYS league. It is suggested that high level teams enter
NCS, mid-level teams enter Presidents Cup, and teams not looking for high competition
enter Commissioners Cup.
Q. How do I enter?
A. You need to apply online through NJYS Cups page or via Got Soccer. Teams must submit
a validated NJYS roster before they will be accepted. Once received then your credit card
will be charged. Payment is accepted only by credit card.
Q. What is the fee to enter Cup?
A. $175 for U12 Presidents Cup
B. $200 for U13-U14 Presidents Cup
C. $135 for U11-U12 Commissioners Cup
D. $160 for U13-U14 Commissioners Cup
E. $200 for U12 National Championship
F. $225 for U13-U14 National Championship
Q. Can I play in more than one of the competitions?
A. No, this is not permitted because it would negatively impact the integrity of the
competition.
Q. Today is the deadline date. Can I still register?
A. You may register up until 11:59 of the registration date deadline. Please make sure to
email you approved roster to [email protected].
Q. Do I have to play in a NJYS league to participate in the state cups?
A. No. However, you must play in a qualifying league which includes the NJYS leagues, the
Eastern Regional League, and the USYS National League. Furthermore, you must be
registered with a NJYS league to obtain a roster and player passes for your team. Eastern
Regional League and USYS National Leagues teams should contact the NJYS registrar at
[email protected] to obtain pass packets. Your league must schedule at least one
game against every other team in your flight and your flight must have a minimum of four
teams. All games must be played with both teams using NJYS player passes. League
qualification games for the Fall competition must be completed by December 15th and
qualification games for the Spring competition must be completed by June 15th.
Q. Are there any exceptions to league participation?
A. U19 teams, Regional and National level leagues are exempt from League participation.
FLIGHTING
Q. How do you determine who plays who?
A. NJYS conducts random flighting to determine match ups.
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Q. How do you seed the teams?
A. Only the previous year's semifinalists in the U13 and above age groups are placed in the
brackets as far away from each other as possible. The bracket is then completed randomly
from all other entries.
Q. How do I find out who I am playing?
A. NJYS publishes the brackets on our website after the draw with the first week's schedule
and will update the bracket each week by Tuesday.
ROSTERS
Q. What does it mean that your roster is frozen?
A. You cannot add players to your roster. You can drop players and you can add coaches on
a frozen roster, but you cannot add players. Teams that do add players to a frozen roster
may be disqualified from Cup play.
Q. When is my roster frozen?
A. Your roster is frozen at the beginning to the State Cups flighting and remains frozen as
long as you are in the state level of competition, either the National Championship,
Presidents Cup or Commissioners Cup. Regional and National Levels of the competition may
be subject to different rules.
Q. Can I have a secondary player on my roster?
A. No, this is not permitted.
Q. Can I have guest players for my Cup matches?
A. No, this is not permitted.
Q. Can I have out of state players on my roster?
A. Yes, as long as the majority of players on the roster are New Jersey players and they are
properly rostered on your roster
Q. I am in the National Championship, Presidents Cup or Commissioners Cup and
my roster is frozen. Can I add a player just for league play?
A. No, this is not permitted.
Q. I want to add another coach to my roster but the rosters are frozen. Can I add
a coach?
A. Yes, only players are frozen. You may add a coach at any time.
COMPETITION
Q. What is the format of the competition
A. The competition is a single elimination competition. Teams that win advance to the next
round. Teams that lose are out of the competition.
Q. What days are games played on
A. Games can be played on either Saturday or Sunday of the playdates given. If coaches
agree and want to play before the scheduled date you may do so. If coaches agree and
want to play before the scheduled date, they may do so. Games are scheduled during the
regular playing season.
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Q. What is the starting time of the games?
A. The home team determines the start time. The time given on schedule for preliminary
games is just a play by time. The game must be played by the date and time given.
Q. Where are games played?
A. For the preliminary and quarterfinal round games, the field is determine by the home
team. All semi-final and final matches will be at a location determined by NJYS.
Q. Can I use my US Club Soccer passes for a State Cup game?
A. No. If one or both teams use USCS passes, the game is not a NJYS game and therefore
not a State Cup match. Both teams may be disqualified.
Q. Who is the home team?
A. NJYS determines the home team and indicates home teams on the schedule posted on
our website.
Q: In preliminary and quarterfinal games, who is responsible for scheduling fields
and referees?
A. The home team is responsible for scheduling fields and referees. Both teams split the
referee fees 50/50.
Q: What are the referee fees?
A: Age Group
1 Referee
U19, U18, U17
$80.00
U16, U15
$80.00
U14, U13
$70.00
U12, U11
$70.00
AR
$50.00
$50.00
$40.00
$40.00
NJ Youth Soccer will pay the referee fees for all semi-final and final games
Q. Who assigns and pays for the referees for all semi-final and final matches?
A. NJ Youth Soccer is responsible for this.
Q. Can games be played earlier than the scheduled date or time?
A. Yes, but only if both teams agree and you notify NJYS at [email protected].
Q. Can games be player later than the scheduled date or time?
A. No. This may result in both teams forfeiting the match. NJYS needs to allow sufficient
time for the following week schedule.
Q. I have a league game scheduled for the same day as my state cup match?
A. State Cup matches take precedent over all league games. We will ask teams to
reschedule their league game.
Q. If both teams have the same color jersey, which team changes shirts?
A. The home team will change jerseys in this situation.
Q. How do I contact the opposing team?
A. Teams can use the chat feature found in their GotSoccer team account. Find the event
you have applied and choose the schedule. You will see the chat button there for the
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scheduled game. Contacts can also be found in the upper right hand corner of the schedule
published on the NJYS Cups page.
Q. What does the home team have to do to schedule the match?
A. Arrange for the field. Contact your league referee assignor to get referees; a three
referee crew should be assigned. Give directions to the away team thorough the chat
feature on GotSoccer.
Q. What paperwork do I need for the game?
A. Both teams must download the Game Report form from GotSoccer (found in team
account, schedule in events, game number will download Game Report). Please choose 16
players for U12 and under teams (cross out players not in the game) and 18 players for U13
and up (cross out players who are not in the game). Give it to the referee before the start of
the match along with your NJYS player/coaches cards. You must use the NJYS Cup Game
Report.
Q. How do I report the score of the game?
A. The winning team will find the game scoring link on the NJYS Cups page. Winning team
must report score by Sunday evening of the scheduled weekend.
Q. My team is advancing to the semifinals. What will I need to bring?
A. Download load the regional roster for your competition from the NJYS Cups page (refer to
specific competition). Please read the instructions completely before you start to fill out the
regional roster. NJYS will look at your regional roster before the semifinal match.
DISCIPLINE
Q. My player was ejected from the match. What happens?
A. The referee will send the player pass of the ejected player to the NJYS office. NJYS will
determine the number of Cup games that the player must sit out and return the pass to the
club after the player has sat that number of games. While the administration of this rule
may be delayed, any player ejected from a State Cup match MUST sit the next State Cup
match.
Q. We lost the match. When does my player sit?
A. Players ejected during State Cup matches must sit their penalty during State Cup
matches. The player will have to sit the games in next year's State Cup.
Q. My player was ejected during the final match and we won. Now what?
A. Your player will sit his/her penalty at Regionals.
Q. We have a league game during the week. Can I get my player's pass for that
game?
A. Yes, we will loan you the pass for league or tournament games. Contact the NJYS office.
The pass must be returned to the NJYS office before the Cup match your player will sit.
Remember, the referee will be mailing the pass to the NJYS office so please allow at least
three days for the pass to get there.
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REGIONALS AND ABOVE (Presidents Cup and National Championship Series)
Q. What are Regionals?
A. Regionals are the next level competition beyond the state level. The Cup winners from
each of the 15 member states of Region I compete along with wildcards to complete the
bracket of 16 teams.
Q. How are the wildcard teams selected?
A. For most age groups, the winner of the Region I Eastern Regional League is the wildcard
team. For U12, U13 and U19 age groups, the wildcard is a random draw amongst all the
states.
Q. We won the NJYS National Championship or Presidents Cup for our age group.
Do we have to go to Regionals?
A. NJYS expects its championship teams to go to Regionals. If, for unforeseen reason you
cannot go, you must inform the NJYS Games Commissioner as soon as possible. There are
significant fines if you withdraw late. There is a lot of information your team must put online
to be able to participate in Regionals. Make sure you meet the deadlines published by the
Region
HELP
Q. I didn't find the answer to my question here. What next?
A. Read the cups rules found on the NJYS Cups page.
Q. I read the Cup rules and still didn't find the answer to my question.
A. Contact NJYS at (609) 490-0725 or email [email protected].
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