State Cup Champions going to the Midwest Regional will be responsible for the $600 entry fees for the event.

This tournament is open to ONLY Nebraska teams. 

The NEBRASKA STATE CUP, formally the Nebraska Championships, is the premier tournament in the state. The teams battle to be declared the Nebraska State Champion and will advance to represent Nebraska at the Region II Midwest Regional. They will play against 14 other states in our region and the winners at U14 and above will move on to the National Championship.

The Nebraska State Cup is open to any team that is registered and in good standing with the Nebraska State Soccer Association at the U13 - U19 Age groups. It is designed for Premier and Classic I teams that compete at the highest level of play.
The Nebraska State Soccer Association hosts the Nebraska State Cup.
The State Cup for U15 through U18 age groups is played during the fall of the seasonal year. The State Cup for the U13 - U14 and U19 age groups is played during the spring.

U17 and U18 age groups will play one (1) game a day, so weekday play is a must. We will attempt to play the U15 and U16 age groups round-robin rounds on the first weekend, but we may need to play during the week. Some age groups will play two (2) games on Saturday; the others will play two (2) games on Sunday at the U15 and U16 age groups.
*** Any U17 or U18 team who wishes to participate from Districts IV, V or VI will be allowed to play their round-robin games on the first weekend. The teams will not have to travel for weekday games unless there are weather cancelations. They will play two games on one of the weekend days and one game on the other.

Games may be played at multiple sites in Omaha or Lincoln. Team and Individual awards to 1st and 2nd place will be given. World Cup Format will be implemented depending on the number of teams in each bracket. Play will be governed by the FIFA Laws of the Game, except where amended by US Youth Soccer Rules of Play, National Championship Policy and/or the Nebraska State Cup Policy.

See the Nebraska State Cup Policy for substitution rules. Each coach should read the complete policy.
Games may be considered complete if one-half of the game has been completed and the Game Director stops play. See the Nebraska State Cup Policy for the refund policy on the number of games played.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Team Check-in will be held the Tuesday prior to the first day of play for any age group in the championship. This is mandatory for teams from Districts I, II & III. If you miss the check-in you will be fined $100 late fee. Team from Districts V, IV & VI will be allowed to check-in 2 hours before their first game. Teams will also have to present a birth certificate or a document approved by US Youth Soccer to verify the age of each player.
 
For the new "Club Pass" and "National Championship Roster" please read the policy that is under the Tournament Rules link above.

A player may play for only one team in Nebraska State Cup competitions in any seasonal year. If a player is named to the roster of a team under Nebraska State Cup Policy, the player may not be on the roster of any other team for Nebraska State Cup competitions for that seasonal year.
 
When a State Association allows a player to be rostered on more than one team, the first team (primary team) to which the player is rostered is the only team with which the player may participate in Nebraska State Cup competitions for a seasonal year, except—
a.   if a player is rostered to more than one team (secondary team) the player is eligible to compete, as long as the first team (primary team) to which the player is rostered is not playing in Nebraska State Cup, without changing registration status (transferred to primary), but will count as a previously rostered addition. Teams may not have more then 5 (five) previously rostered additions as provided by Nebraska State Cup Policy.
 
All coaches and players participating must carry a US Youth Soccer player pass. Passes must have a picture, signed and laminated. All teams are also required to carry written medical releases from parents/guardians in case emergency medical care is necessary. Medical Releases are not required to be notarized; this is a policy of US Youth Soccer and the Nebraska State Soccer Association. Teams will also have to present a birth certificate or a document approved by US Youth Soccer to verify the age of each player.
 
Players under suspension from any part of last year's Nebraska State Cup, Regional or National Championship must serve the suspension before being allowed to compete in Nebraska State Cup play. Suspensions received will be served in the next State Cup or Championship game(s) that a player or coach participates. 
 
For Team and Player Eligibility please read the policy that is under the Tournament Rules link above.

REFEREE
We only use US Soccer Federation Registered Referees and a 3-Referee System will be used on all matches. Individuals interested in calling games need to contact the Referee Assignor listed above.

Referee abuse will not be tolerated during the tournament. Referee abuse by a player, coach or fan will be reported to Nebraska State Soccer Association within 48 hours of the end of games. The player, coach or fan will be removed from the soccer complex and will not be allowed to return.
 
STATE CUP DRAW/SEEDING
a. At the U13 Age Group: If all teams entered in the Nebraska State Cup are leagued in the same age group, the top four teams will be seeded off the fall league results. In any division with 5 teams or less, teams will be seeded #1 through #4 and the last spot (if needed) will be filled by a blind draw. In any division (6 teams or more) with two brackets the #1 and #4 seeds will be in one bracket and the #2 and #3 seed will be in the other bracket. All other spots will be filled by a blind draw. In the event that a team changes clubs or name a team must demonstrate continuity of rosters between the old team and new team by maintaining a minimum of 9 players common to the team rosters to maintain their spot in seeding. If a team loses their spot they will be put in the blind draw and the next highest team will take their spot. If not all teams entered in the Nebraska State Cup are in the same league (i.e. a team plays in older age group league), the seeding for the top four teams will be reviewed and placed by a group consisting of the Nebraska State Cup Committee members , Executive Director, and Director of Coaching.

b. At U14 and older Age Groups: The top four teams will be seeded from last year's Nebraska State Cup results. The Champion will be seeded #1, the Runner-up is seeded #2, the Semi-finalist that lost to Champion will be seeded #4 and the Semi-finalist that lost to Runner-up will be seeded #3. In any division with 5 teams or less teams will be seeded #1 through #4 and the last spot (if needed) will be filled by a blind draw. In any division (6 teams or more) with two brackets the #1 and #4 seeds will be in one bracket and the #2 and #3 seed will be in the other bracket. All other spots will be filled by a blind draw. In the event that a team changes clubs or name a team must demonstrate continuity of rosters between the old team and new team by maintaining a minimum of 9 players common to the team rosters to maintain their spot in seeding. If a team loses their spot the vacated seed spot will be filled as part of the blind draw. If one or more of the final four teams from the previous year does not participate in the current year's tournament, the vacated seed spot will be filled as part of the blind draw.
 
CONFLICTS
One conflict request will be allowed at the time of application. This would include coaching conflicts, so coaches who coach more than one team need to make sure they have an assistant available at the tournament as we will not be able to accommodate every request for conflicts. 
 
ACCOMMODATIONS (and rental cars if needed)
Accommodations, Transportation and Expenses - Your Entry Fee includes cost for referees, games, field painting, Referee Assignor and Game Scheduler. You will be responsible for transportation, lodging, meals and any other costs associated with the tournament.

REGION II MIDWEST REGIONAL
U13 - U19 age group teams that are declared the Nebraska State Champions will represent Nebraska at the Midwest Regional. Any team that withdraws from the regional or is fined by the National or Regional tournaments the club will be subject to pay the said fine and could be fined and/or suspended by the Nebraska State Soccer. All teams qualifying for the Midwest Regional will be required by US Youth Soccer Region II to stay in their assigned hotel rooming block. If a team does not stay in the assigned hotel rooming block they may not be able to compete in the Midwest Regional. U13 - U19 age group teams will need to have Birth Certificates for each player or be able to produce them in twenty-four hours. If there is a complaint filed, a birth certificate will have to be produced or the player cannot play.

State Cup Champions going to the Midwest Regional will be responsible for the $600 entry fees for the event.
 
TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION
Click on the "Registration" link above to complete the on-line registration form.