While competitive, merit-oriented soccer organizations disagree, primarily recreational soccer organizations such as AYSO and USYS (including, CYSA-N in northern California) believe that tournaments with winners and losers are not 'healthy' for players U10 and younger. In order to provide tournament-environment playing opportunities for these younger age groups, jamborees - where there are no overall standings, winners and losers, or selective awards - are offered. In jamborees, no one keeps track of the game scores or team standings except the players, coaches, and parents.

Read on to learn more about jamborees. Click here to jump Jump straight to the Northern California Jamboree Calendar below. If you are looking for a list of 'real' tournaments with winners and losers for U11 and older teams, click here.

While any team can apply to any jamboree of its choice, both the team and jamboree must be aware of the ramifications (if any) of participation by an unaffiliated team. Teams from one youth soccer organization may or may not be permitted to attend jamborees affiliated with other youth soccer organizations without jumping through several hoops. In northern California, for example, CYSA-N does not want its teams participating in any US Club Soccer events, no matter what the merit. Accordingly, CYSA-N has made it very difficult for a CYSA-N team to participate in any USCS event. Whether or not a team is given permission is affected by many factors, the most important of which is said to be insurance coverage.  However, several 'work-arounds' have been developed to replace any denied insurance and to permit a team to participate in any jamboree of its choice.

This issue is covered in greater detail on the Find-a-Tournament page.

Jamboree Costs

Tournaments are often fundraising events, while jamborees are considered to be introductions to traveling, a weekend of soccer, and the tournament atmosphere. In order to encourage jamboree attendance by new and young-age teams, jamborees do not generally charge entrance fees as high as tournaments. CYSA-N, for example, limits jamborees to fees of $50 unless the jamboree organizers can show that higher costs are warranted. Most jamborees don't have any problem showing that higher costs are warranted. Jamborees are permitted to ask for donations in excess of the entrance fees. Visiting teams may be asked or required to supply or pay for referees in order to reduce the jamboree's operating expense.

Other youth soccer associations may have similar requirements.

Other youth soccer associations may have different procedures. Follow the jamboree's instructions in this regard.

Deadlines for applying vary from jamboree to jamboree. Like tournaments, jamborees may (and, will) accept last-minute teams even after the published application deadline if there are openings in the schedule or to replace teams that have dropped out. However, jamborees usually accept fewer teams than tournaments, and they often fill up quickly.

Finding a Jamboree to Attend

US Club Soccer permits its clubs to put on jamborees without significant restrictions. CYSA-N gives its districts the authority to put on jamborees. While they may approve the jamborees, the districts give responsibility to offer jamborees to the leagues, which in turn, may pass on the responsibility to the league's clubs. And, while jamborees are seldom at a loss for teams, the events may be promoted only locally. CYSA-N does not maintain an inclusive jamboree listing as it does for tournaments. Finding a jamboree - USCS or CYSA-N requires researching via phone and internet.

CYSA-N and Other Jamborees Known to SAYSO
Click here to see how CYSA-N has divided northern California into districts.

Jamboree organizers: We'll gladly list your jamboree here. Click here to provide the information needed (date, jamboree name, web address, phone number, and email).