Arsenal Challenge Cup

About the Arsenal Challenge Cup

WHEN:	August 16-17, 2008
WHERE:	Cincinnati, Ohio
FEES:	U08-U10, $435; U11-U12, $450; U13-14, $500.00
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Saturday, Jul 12, 2008
PAY TO:	The Arsenal Challenge Cup; attn: ACC COMPETITION COMMITTEE - 8736 Tiburon - Cincinnati, OH 45249

HISTORY
The Arsenal Challenge Cup was born in 1995 as the Sycamore Arsenal Club Classic and hosted 80 teams that first year. Since 1995, the management of the tournament has put one goal above all else ... to provide the most challenging, rewarding and unique soccer experience possible for teams of higher skill levels.

TYPE OF PLAY
For 2008, the ACC has restructured its U08 through U12 fall divisions to parallel changes made by the Cincinnati United Soccer League.

For many years, the Ohio South YSA has formatted these divisions differently, conflicting with the formatting of surrounding states. Begining with the fall 2008 season, including the Arsenal Challenge Cup, play will be as follows:

U8, U09 and U10 fall teams will play 6v6
U11 and U12 fall teams will play 8v8
U13 and U14 fall teams will continue to play 11v11

These changes mean that other top teams from throughout the Midwest can now apply for, and compete in, the ACC where they could not previously.

FIELD OF PLAY, DIVISIONS AND BRACKETING
The Arsenal Challenge Cup invites all elite, premier, "A" & strong "B" level teams from throughout the United States and Canada to apply for entry into the 220 team field.

The tournament hosts the following divisions:
Gold - Elite and Premier level teams
Silver - Lower Premier, "A" level teams teams
Bronze - Lower "A" and strong "B" level teams

Applicants will be selected and bracketed according to the following general criteria with the objective of forming the most competitive divisions possible:

- strength of league record
- strength of league or division
- recent tournament play & competitive level of tournaments selected
- ranking in NationalSoccerRanking.com (both current ranking at the time of
acceptance and historic ranking through the spring months) ** we do NOT use GotSoccer rankings **
- state cup/regional/national results
- past performance in the Arsenal Challenge Cup
- other competitive/geographic factors

(The Director of Competition and/or the Tournament Director may make exceptions or adjustments to the above guidelines in order to balance the competitiveness of certain divisions, depending upon entries)

REGISTRATION
The ACC's central communications vehicle is this web site. Teams will find all information about the tournament here.

All teams accepted into the ACC will be notified by e-mail and directed to this site to obtain the forms necessary for Friday evening registration. NO ACCEPTANCE PACKETS WILL BE SENT.

The ACC Scoring Services Group will provide real-time scoring of all play during tournament weekend. By applying for the ACC, your team agrees to permit the taking and posting of event photographs, including game action, as well as off-the-field human interest shots. If your team has concerns about the posting of game photos, please do not apply to this event.

TOURNAMENT MANAGEMENT
The Arsenal Challenge Cup is staged by the parent volunteers of the Sycamore Soccer Club who take enormous pride in making the ACC an outstanding soccer experience. They are directed by the Tournament Committee:

Tournament Director - Missy Ciricillo
Assistant Tournament Director -
Director of Competition - Bill Posey
Director of Volunteers - Lisa Wiedmann
Director of Scoring Services - Steve Blieden
Director of Facilities - Frank Patterson
Director of Recruitment -
Referee Assignor - Rick Brizzolara
Site Director -
Site Director - Joyce Bileden
Site Director - Frank Patterson
Asst. Site Director - Tom Carroll
Asst. Site Director - Joel Sorger
Asst. Site Director - Adonis Vergara