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Vail Valley Cup returns this weekend

Teams from around the Vail Valley, Colorado and several western states will play this weekend in the annual Vail Valley Cup youth soccer tournament.

VAIL — The Vail Valley will be filled with some of the state’s most talented youth soccer players this weekend, as the Vail Valley Soccer Club hosts the 18th Annual Vail Valley Cup. Soccer fields from Vail to Eagle will be used for the weekend-long tournament that hosts teams from around Colorado, as well as surrounding western states.

A record number of teams have signed up for the tournament, and Vail Valley Soccer Club Director Kerri Thelen said the event is one of the most popular fall tournaments in the state.

“Having a tournament in Vail is a major draw” Thelen said. “The local towns and the hotel and business community have been very supportive and our visitors appreciate how welcome they feel.”



The Vail Valley Soccer Club has grown significantly throughout the past few years, and recently hired Travis Yoakum as director of coaching. Yoakum comes to the valley with skill and experience. He has his A license, his National Youth License and is a CSA trainer and ODP coach to mention a few accolades. Yoakum said he is excited to be here and further the development of soccer in the valley.

This year marks a milestone for the Vail Valley Cup. This fall the valley is hosting 148 teams. That represents more than 9,000 people coming to the valley to participate. The club is excited for the economic impact the tournament brings to the valley in October.

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The local soccer club spends months planning the tournament and needs more than 400 volunteers in the course of two days. It is a community-wide team effort that has a direct impact on local youth soccer.

The Vail Cup is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

“This allows us to continue to provide scholarship opportunities and experiences that allow our players to not only grow as athletes, but also as productive members of our community,” Yoakum said.

The successes of the Vail Valley Cup is reflected in the achievements of local soccer programs. Battle Mountain High School, Eagle Valley High School and Vail Mountain School consistently compete at top levels. Battle Mountain and Vail Mountain have earned state championships in the past few years. The Vail Valley Soccer Club has multiple teams competing at state premier levels and in the Presidents and State Cups.

“The Vail Valley Soccer Club is proud of our continued development of athletes over the years,” Thelen said. “Our commitment to youth and excellence in developing soccer players is evident in the successes they find on and off the field.”


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