USL News Release
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. - After several months of hard-fought action throughout the United States and Canada, the 2012 Super Y-League North American Finals list of qualifiers is now complete. The 130 teams competing in this December's national finals at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida will find out their path to the championship on Thursday as the live group draw takes place at USL headquarters in Tampa.
"We are excited to be able to provide the 2012 Super Y-League North American Finals draw during a live chat this week,” Senior Director of USL Youth League Development Jason Arnold said. “This is just another step we are taking to enhance the quality of the event and the league and become more connected with our teams throughout North America."
The draw will be available for all to follow on Thursday during a live chat session by visiting http://supery.uslsoccer.com/syl/sylfinals/
During the regular season teams competed in five regional divisions for berths in the finals - Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New England, South Atlantic, and Southeast. December's tournament gives teams the opportunity to compete and test their mettle against the rest of the nation's best. While the 2012 Super Y-League North American Finals is two months out, Thursday's live draw will start teams' blood pumping in anticipation for on-the-field action.
"This will provide some added excitement to the finals and give teams a chance to watch the groups unfold as it happens," Arnold said.
Watch the live draw this Thursday at http://supery.uslsoccer.com/syl/sylfinals/ beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.
In its 14th consecutive year, the SYL North American Finals has helped launched the careers of many notable U.S. soccer stars such as Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo and 2010 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Mollie Pathman.
With 130 teams competing, the total daily attendance for December’s Super Y-League North American Finals is expected to exceed 15,000, and fill more than 7,000 hotel rooms in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Earlier this year, IMG hosted the Super-20 Finals, the Super Y-League Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Camps for boys and girls, and the USL PRO Combine.
The world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex, IMG Academy has hosted myriad soccer team training camps in 2012, including clubs such as the Seattle Sounders, D.C. United, Columbus Crew, Sweden’s Malmö FF, as well as the U.S. Women’s National Team preparing for the London Olympic Games and the Antigua & Barbuda Men’s National Team preparing for World Cup qualifying.