2023 State Soccer Tournament Information

Congratulations on qualifying for the 2023 Iowa Girls State Soccer Tournament. The following information should answer some questions you and your fans may have in preparing for this year’s tournament. Read the information below carefully and share it with your parents and fans.

The State Soccer Tournament will be held on May 31, June 2, & June 3 at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines. The State Soccer schedule is on the IGHSAU website in the Soccer section. Please note: the Saturday championship games will be played alongside the IHSAA championship games.

Bound/QuikStats: Bound/QuikStats must be updated by noon Friday, May 26. Please be sure stats through your regional final match are posted in the QuikStats/Bound database. Also, please cross-check your Bound/QuikStats roster. The roster in Bound/QuikStats is the roster that will appear in the program.

TICKETS SOLD ONLY THROUGH BOUND: Tickets are $13 plus processing fees and must be purchased through Bound. The price of $13 includes the Cownie fee for parking.  All ticket sales are digital tickets. No cash sales will be conducted on-site. Spectator gates open at 9:00 a.m. on all three dates. Children not yet in kindergarten will be admitted for free. You will be stamped when you enter the complex. If you leave the complex and plan to attend another match later in the day, your stamp must be visible to re-enter the park. If no stamp is visible, you must purchase another ticket.

SATURDAY ADMISSION: With boys and girls championship games on Saturday, June 3, there will be one entrance for spectators (in the center). The girls’ team and pass gate entrance will be at the east gate entrance. There will be signage to direct teams and spectators to their proper entrance.

PLEASE NOTE: Spectators will NOT be allowed to bring the following items inside the Cownie Soccer Complex: Coolers & Thermoses, backpacks & large bags; outside food & drink, and weapons of any kind. Be prepared to have items you bring into the park inspected.

Lawn chairs, strollers, and umbrellas ARE permitted into the complex.

Teams may bring their coolers to the park and must be brought in by the team when they check into the facility. Water will be available at each team bench. The expectation is that the cooler is specifically for team use only.

SPECTATOR PARKING: The admission price of $13 will include the fee for parking from the Des Moines Parks & Recreation Department.  Be advised that if a spectator leaves the Cownie Soccer Complex and returns that same day, you will be charged an additional $13 to enter. Spectators MAY NOT park on the grass medians. Cars parked on the grass medians will be ticketed.

TEAM BUS DROP-OFF AND PARKING: Team buses have a designated parking area west of Field 9 (West field). Buses can no longer drop teams off at the pass gate. Please click on the attached map to see where buses should drop off and park

EMERGENCY PERSONNEL: The Des Moines Fire and Rescue Department will provide emergency personnel for players, officials and spectators. They will be located north of the concession stand. They will be on site 30 minutes before the start of the day's first match.

TRAINERS: Trainers will be on-site before the first game each day until the last contest of each day. Their tent will be located northeast of the concession stand.

ROYAL PUBLISHING: Royal Publishing out of Peoria, Ill., is licensed by the IGHSAU to sell “hometown” advertisements in the state tournament program. Royal Publishing may contact your local businesses and booster clubs about purchasing an ad in the State Soccer Program. Businesses and booster clubs are not obligated to buy an ad for the program.

TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS:  Please review the 2023 Soccer Manual, which includes rules and regulations for tournament play. The Soccer Manual is on the IGHSAU website in the Soccer section listed under the Coaches & Administrators tab. Please remind your fans that signs, banners, and artificial noisemakers are prohibited. Fans are not permitted on the playing fields at any time. Also, pets will not be allowed into the complex.

TEAM ADMISSION:  Upon arriving at the tournament site, your team will be admitted through the pass gate (Wednesday and Friday this will be at the west gate – on Saturday this will be at the east gate). You are limited to 28 people, which shall include 22 players, coaches, managers, bus driver, etc. A pass gate form can be found by going to the forms section in your Bound Account. Please fill out the Bound form, click save, print and bring the roster to Heidi Reed at the pass gate when you arrive at the Cownie Soccer Complex. School trainers must be included in the school’s travel party. Any additional personnel beyond the allotted 28 must purchase a ticket, or the IGHSAU can bill your school.

WARM-UP AND PRE-GAME PROCEDURES:  Each team must provide their own warm-up balls. We will be utilizing four fields during first round play at the state tournament. Fields 5 and 10 will be used for warm-up. Teams playing matches on fields 6 and 7 will warm up on field 5. Teams playing on fields 8 and 9 will warm up on field 10.

The National Anthem will be presented before the first match each day. Team introductions will commence five minutes prior to the start of each match. After the National Anthem, schools should line up in front of their bench at the touchline. If there is no National Anthem, line up at the touchline after the time has expired for warm-ups. The international method of lining up for introductions will be used. Coaches are required to participate in introductions.

BENCH ASSIGNMENT:  Both teams will occupy benches on the same side of the field during the state tournament. The home team (top seed) will occupy the bench to the right of the scorekeeper when facing the field. The visiting team (lower seed) will occupy the bench to the left of the scorekeeper when facing the field.

GAME ROSTER:  You are permitted to change your roster of 22 players from match to match. The coach must enter the eligible game roster in the official scorebook located at each field before the match. Please have a coaching staff member check with the public address announcer upon your arrival to verify pronunciations and starting line-ups.

AWARDS & ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS:  Awards will be presented to non-advancing teams following each match. The advancing teams will participate in an “Advance the Bracket” activity in the presentation areas.  Teams are expected to return to their team area immediately following handshakes so awards can be presented. The Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association will select the 11-member all-Tournament team based on play throughout the tournament. The all-Tournament team will be announced and presented on Field 9 immediately upon completion of the championship match in each class.

VIDEOTAPING:  There is no designated space for teams or fans to videotape. Paying spectators, including anyone filming for scouting purposes, are not restricted from videotaping as long as the video equipment is handheld. The use of tripods is prohibited in the stands. The tournament manager will not make special arrangements for seating or electrical hook-up for anyone wishing to videotape. Seating is limited in the press box, and teams will be prohibited from taping in the press box.

QUARTERFINALS/SEMIFINALS STREAMED: The IGHSAU Digital Network powered by MidAmerican Energy will stream the state quarterfinals and semifinals on the IGHSAU website. 

CHAMPIONSHIPS MATCHES ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION: We are proud to announce that the championship matches will be broadcasted and streamed live on Iowa Public Television. Links to the stream will be posted on the IGHSAU website.

FARM BUREAU SOUVENIR BALLS:  Each team participating in this year’s state tournament will receive 24 souvenir soccer balls from Farm Bureau for players and coaches. These balls will be shipped directly via UPS to your school. Your school may purchase additional balls for $25 each by contacting Taylor Anderson ([email protected]).

Please contact Gary Ross [email protected]) with questions regarding the State Soccer Tournament.

Congratulations and good luck!

Gary Ross

Associate Director/Soccer Administrator