In the world of soccer in the Pacific Northwest, individuals automatically think of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Those avid soccer fans that are old enough to remember will think back to the days of the original North American Soccer League and the fierce rivalries that took place among the clubs that culminated in the creation of the Cascadia Cup in 2004. The Cup was created to recognize the best Northwest Soccer Club and at the time, each club were playing in the USL-1st Division. In recent years, the Cascadia Cup Derby has intensified to the point that during these heated matches, players, coaches and fans seem to forget about the regular MLS season and instead, turn their attention to the Cascadia Cup and important points that would determine who takes the Cup home. Well, that is all and good, however, there is a trophy that dates back further than the Cascadia Cup and involves clubs from Washington State, Oregon and British Columbia and that trophy is called the J.F. Kennedy Cup.
Grassroots Dispatch: Soccer Supremacy in the Pacific Northwest
The J.F. Kennedy Cup is awarded to the champion of a four-team tournament between the champions of the Evergreen Premier League out of Washington State, the Oregon Premier Soccer League and the Pacific Coast Soccer League out of British Columbia Canada. The fourth club is awarded to the second place club of the league that is hosting the tournament that particular year. The four teams that competed this past month were IPS Marathon Taverna and Spartans FC out of the Oregon Premier Soccer League, Khalsa Sporting Club representing the Pacific Coast Soccer League and Southsound FC out of the Evergreen Premier League. The eventual champion was IPS Marathon Taverna who defeated Khalsa Sporting Club in the final.
The original concept was created back in 1960 by the late President, John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy thought that there was a need for an International Amateur Soccer Champion between the United States, Canada and Mexico. In 1961, the fruition of his dreams came to light as the John F. Kennedy Trophy was awarded to the Mexican Squad. In order to boost awareness of the amateur tournament, President Kennedy connected the soccer tournament with his Presidential Physical Fitness Program. The tournament ran from the year 1961 until 1967, with Mexico capturing four of the seven titles during that span. The tournament went dormant until 1989 when it was resumed with the current format that includes teams from Washington State, Oregon and British Columbia. The trophy was renamed the J.F. Kennedy Cup and it symbolizes the belief of President Kennedy that the ultimate level of physical fitness resonates within the sport of soccer.
Soccer is a sport that benefits greatly from a grassroots movement, amateur leagues entitles those who may not necessarily have the skill to be a professional; however, they are able to engage in the sport they so do enjoy. On the other hand, playing in competitive amateur leagues may give an individual a platform in which to showcase their skill and be given a chance to be noticed by scouts from professional clubs.
Children may sit at home and watch a soccer match on television and believe that they may, at one time, be able to compete at that level and, as a matter of fact, they can. In today’s world, soccer is not just played in the Spring or Summer, it is played all year through thanks to the innovation of Indoor Soccer. For all those children out there, go ahead, grab a ball and a friend and begin kicking the ball around, one day, you may be the next MLS Star or an indoor soccer pioneer, it all begins on the grassroots level.
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