The fields at Lake Country Soccer and local businesses will be buzzing April 11-12 when 1,500 soccer players, coaches and families arrive in Springfield for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association’s 2015 President’s Cup.

The  tournament is for teams seeking additional challenges to play against teams of similar abilities for a national title. It provides a progressive, competitive experience to teams that might not otherwise get the opportunity to participate in a series of unique experiences highlighting competition, camaraderie and community from the state to regional to national levels of US Youth Soccer.

MYSA President’s Cup events determine the state’s regional qualifiers that will compete in St Louis. Regional winners in the Under-13 through Under-17 groups, both boys and girls, will vie for the national title in Overland Park, Kansas.

Eric Sorlie, director of Springfield Soccer Club, has three teams competing in the event, which was won by the club in 2012.

“It’s a big deal from the standpoint that it’s a statewide competition and our teams can challenge themselves with other teams from across the state,” said Sorlie.

Games are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 11 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 12. The public is invited and admission for spectators is free.

Lance Kettering, executive director of the Springfield Sports Commission and sports sales manager for the Convention & Visitors Bureau, said he’s pleased MYSA has again selected Springfield for one of its events.

“The Springfield Sports Commission is excited to have the 2015 MYSA Spring Presidents Cup in Springfield,” Kettering said. “We are proud to be the host city for the event as well as the 2016 MYSA Fall State Cup and the 2017 MYSA Summer State Cup.”

Jim McCarthy, president of MYSA, said Springfield is a natural choice for soccer tournaments in Missouri.

“The President's Cup is rotated between the four soccer districts in the state as long as the area has enough quality fields,” McCarthy said. “Lake Country Soccer is one of the top soccer complexes in the state of Missouri with 18 fields.”

The Park Board in Springfield hosts several soccer tournaments annually generating millions of dollars for the local economy, said Bob Belote, Director of Parks.

"The Springfield-Greene County Park Board is very happy to host the President’s Cup at Cooper Park, in partnership with Lake Country Soccer," said Belote. "It's important for young athletes to have the opportunity to travel outside their community and complete on a state level. Tournaments like this bring thousands of visitors every year to Springfield and that has a huge positive impact on our local economy."

MYSA is the state affiliate & member of the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Youth Soccer Association.  The Missouri Youth Soccer Association is responsible for implementing our affiliate's programs, policies, and services for the state of Missouri.  Members of Missouri Youth Soccer Association automatically become members of the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Youth Soccer Association. More information can be found at www.moyouthsoccer.org/2015_spring_presidents_cup/ and www.usyouthsoccer.org/PresidentsCup/.

This is one of many events Lake Country Soccer, the Sports Commission and CVB bring to the city. The Sports Commission and CVB are nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the local economy through growth in travel and tourism. For more information, call 417-881-5300, 800-678-8767 or visit www.SpringfieldMO.org and www.SpringfieldMOSports.org.