TOURNAMENT/CHAMPIONSHIP

Holiday Championship Final

Coaches and Parents,

As we close out another great season, we want to share an important update. We just received notice on 11/10/2025 that Due to the football stadium turf being redone at the high school, the high school football team and soccer team will be taking over the River Park Soccer Field and has required TCYSA to push up the Holiday Championships games by 1 week. We ask each of you to help make our Holiday Championship Games something truly special for the kids and our community. We are asking for something NEW and BOLD. Even if your team isn’t playing in the finals at River Park under the lights, we encourage everyone to come out, celebrate your season’s hard work, and show your presence, both as coaches and as teams.

Take a step back and really think about it. When our players see full sideline and hear cheers not just from their families but from other teams and friends in their age group, it reminds them what TCYSA stands for: teamwork, sportsmanship, and community. This isn’t just about trophies, it’s about creating an environment where every child feels supported by the entire league.

We’re asking that each age group show up to support their own division’s championship game:

U8 teams for the U8 Championship Game - Mon, December 8th 2025 @ 6:00pm
U10 teams for the U10 Championship Game - Tue, December 9th 2025 @ 6:30pm
U12 teams for the U12 Championship Game - Mon, December 8th 2025 @ 8:30pm
U15 teams for the U15 Championship Game - Tue, December 9th 2025 @ 7:45pm

You don’t have to attend every match, but showing up for your own age bracket’s final 1-hour game means a lot to those kids who worked hard all season.

I know several teams are already planning end-of-season parties or gatherings. I’d like to invite you to combine those celebrations and host them right at River Park during the Championship Games. We’ll have a fun soccer/dart inflatable for the kids to enjoy, and teams are welcome to set up tents, bring pizza, and celebrate together while cheering on the finalists. This is about more than soccer. It’s about showing our young players that we stand together, as one organization.

When they see that unity, they’ll carry it with them long after this season ends.

Let’s make this Championship a true celebration of every TCYSA player.
See you all under the lights at River Park.

Respectfully,
Tri City Youth Soccer Association

holiday championship finalists

holiday championship structure

2025 Holiday Championship game, Medal, & trophy Process

Tournament Participation:
All teams competing in the Turkey Tournament will receive medals recognizing their effort, teamwork, and participation this season.

Medal Distribution:
This year, medals will be distributed at the conclusion of the Championship Games in December.
Every player from all participating teams will receive a medal.
Players are encouraged to attend the Championship Games to support their teammates and celebrate together as a league

Championship Recognition:
1st Place Team: Medals and photo opp with the new TCYSA 1st Place Trophy (custom trophies will be ordered after)
2nd Place Team: Medals and photo opp with the 2nd Place Trophy (custom trophies will be ordered after)
3rd Place Team: Medals and photo opp with the 3rd Place Trophy (custom trophies will be ordered after)

Customized 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Trophies:
This year, after the Championship Games, personalized player trophies will be ordered for ALL 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Each 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place personalized trophy will include:
Player’s name
Year
League level played (e.g., U8, U10, U12, U15)
Team name

Attendance Encouragement:
Players and families are strongly encouraged to attend the Championship Finals to receive medals, take team photos, and show support for their division’s finalists.
This helps foster community spirit and unity across the league.
Unable to Attend?
If a player cannot attend the Championship Game, their team’s coach will pick up the medals and distribute them directly to their players during or after the Championship event period.

holiday Championship

Pleasanton river park

U8 Championship Game - Mon, December 8th 2025 @ 6:00pm

U10 Championship Game - Tue, December 9th 2025 @ 6:30pm

U12 Championship Game - Mon, December 8th 2025 @ 8:30pm

U15 Championship Game - Tue, December 9th 2025 @ 7:45pm

bracket structure

Teams will be seeded into brackets based on the following measurable performance criteria from the regular season:

Win/Loss Record: Win-to-loss ratio will determine placement.
Total Goals Scored: If differentiation is needed, teams with higher cumulative goals across the season will receive higher seeding positions.
Point Differential: If further differentiation is needed, teams will be ranked by total point differential.

This system ensures that teams are bracketed fairly and competitively, rewarding consistent performance throughout the season. *Data from the "Make-Up" games will not count towards G.O.A.T. rankings and are solely to make up playing day.*

U12 final game Update

After a detailed review of the facts and discussion among all parties, the U12 coaches and board came to the agreement for the following resolution:

1. Penalty Kick Shootout Rematch

A retake of the penalty kick shootout to determine who advances to the Championship Final against Coach Castillo’s team.
The rematch will be conducted next week when both teams have availability afterschool.

2. Updated U12 Championship Scheduling

To accommodate the rematch and ensure all teams have a clear and fair path:

U12 Third Place and Fourth Place Match will begin at 7:15 pm on December 8th at River Park
U12 Championship Final will take place on December 8th at 8:30 pm at River Park

3. Rationale for the Resolution

This situation involved several moving parts, including a disputed call, a coach suspension, and internal disagreement regarding team advancement. This was a highly unusual, rare, and difficult scenario for everyone involved and the last thing everyone wanted was for this to impact the players directly to no fault of their own. After reviewing the facts together, the coaches and board agreed that re-taking the penalty kick shootout is the most balanced compromise as it:

Preserves competitive integrity,
Gives both teams a legitimate opportunity to advance, and
Avoids penalizing players for adult disputes or decisions.

4. Commitment to Improvement

The board recognizes that not every situation will proceed perfectly in a recreational season. Every member of the TCYSA board is a volunteer parent who is working to apply the rules consistently while protecting fairness across all teams. The cooperation of the U12 coaches in resolving this issue is extremely appreciated, and the lessons learned will only be used to strengthen procedures for the next season.

Thank you to all U12 coaches, players, and families for your patience as this matter was resolved. TCYSA remains committed to a fair, positive, and competitive environment for all participants.

TCYSA is providing this update regarding the U12 tournament bracket and the upcoming Championship Final to provide clarity to many parents reaching out. After the Turkey Tournament semifinal match, a dispute was raised regarding the penalty kick shootout and how advancement should be determined. During the same period, one team’s head coach was suspended for conduct and shortly after that same coach forfeited, which created uncertainty about whether the team could continue in the tournament and whether a forfeit submitted by a suspended coach could be treated as valid. The board was required to clarify these points before confirming advancement.

Shortly after, one team was informed that it could advance in place of the suspended coach’s team. After reviewing the situation and speaking with the U12 coaches in a meeting, both the board & U12 coaches worked together to address the situation in a way that protects fairness for all U12 teams, TCYSA held a joint meeting with all U12 coaches, including the interim adult representative for the suspended coach at 8pm on 11/26/2025. After a detailed review of the facts and discussion among all parties, the U12 coaches and board came to the agreement for the above resolution.