Connecticut Cup

Each fall and spring season, the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (our state governing body) sponsors a single-elimination tournament for boys and girls travel teams in the state in each age group from U11 to U19. (Exception: there is no fall tournament for high school age teams.) A team plays a Connecticut Cup game each week, usually on Saturday, until it is eliminated; the last team standing is the Connecticut Cup champion.

Weston teams have competed strongly in the past, and in Fall 2009 our U14 Boys were Connecticut Cup champions. However, the reasons the Club strongly encourages each of its travel teams to enter the tournament have little to do with ultimately winning or losing the Cup. The main benefits, instead, are:

• providing more games, and therefore more playing time, to our players each season;
• competing against teams outside of the team’s Southwest District league (new venues, and exposure to the different levels of skill and styles of play around the State); and
• the entry fee is paid by the Club, and coaches’ contracts include Connecticut Cup coverage (i.e., no additional team expense).

For these reasons, the WSC Board strongly encourages travel team managers and parents to make the (small) effort required for players to enjoy the Connecticut Cup experience.

 Before the start of each season, Cup entry forms and rules are available on our state association’s website: www.cjsa.org. (Please refer to the website’s Connecticut Cup information only; the companion information regarding State Cup, a separate competition oriented toward Premier teams, does not apply.) After the entry deadline, the same website posts tournament brackets and weekly results.

 Are you a soccer parent looking for a way to volunteer? Before the season starts, tell your team’s manager you’d be willing to organize its run at Connecticut Cup. And don’t miss the entry deadline!