One of the up-and-coming youth tournaments in the country is adding a few wrinkles to raise itself to an even higher profile on the national soccer landscape.

The Albion Cup will be combining a college showcase component to go with its traditional format, plus a special bracket for U14 and U15 age groups with teams recruited by equipment sponsors Puma.

Club director of coaching Noah Gins said the tournament, going into its ninth year of operation, continues to grow in popularity.

“It’s always been a successful tournament in terms of quality and quantity of teams. We’re attracting from 300 to 350 teams and now turning away teams, which is raising the level of the tournament,” he said. “This year we’re adding the college showcase component and at UC San Diego we can have the perfect environment for college showcase games. In fact between UCSD and the other venues, we’ll have the feel of two or three distinct tournaments.

Gins explained that the club’s home ground at Robb Park, which is right on the Pacific Ocean, will be the host site for U8 to U12 matches. There will be more of a festive and family atmosphere there, while Puma is putting on a special Puma V Elite Bracket for U14 and U15 teams, including special invitations sent out to Puma clubs from around the country.

“They’ve brought all the bells and whistles for this including banners, retail stores and tents, and a lounge for kids to hang out in. We had (former women’s national team player) Leslie Osborne  here last year,” she said. “We’re at a point now where we want the best teams in the country and that’s what we’re after.”

The event runs from July 18-20, a Saturday through a Monday, with showcase and cup flights. Registration closes June 10, but Gins stressed that teams who need to travel will be notified quickly after applying as whether they should make arrangements.

More information and registration forms are available at: www.albioncup.org