What does an amateur team have to do to enter a team in next year's USOC?

There has to be a state association in New York. That's the first place to start. They administrate whatever competitions in the state lead into the Regional competitions. I believe only the four USASA regional winners (I, II, III, and IV) actually make the Open Cup proper. But there are many other cups - there's amateur cups and stuff like that.

Try to find whatever the state association is.

 

Your team has to be a member of a USASA-affiliated league. I don't know anything else about the process.

 

This year, 8 USASA regional winners (two from each region) entered in the Open Cup proper (see here, the first column for a list of the USASA teams that made it this year). Being in NY, you'd find this page interesting. It has the qualifying games in Region I from this year. It'll give you an idea of what you're up against.

Not that I want to dissuade you. I love more teams taking a shot at the Open Cup. And with 12 teams in MLS next year, they're definitely going to rearrange the number of teams and at what round they enter in the Cup.

BTW, there's a prize for the amateur teams that go the farthest (and other prizes for PSL and A-League teams that go the farthest). So there's that incentive.

 

Speaking of incentive, a guy I work with played in the Maryland state Open Cup qualifying. He said he is buddies with guys on the team from Maryland that made it to the tournament proper and lost to South Jersey. He said they just loved having the chance to play against a team that good.

 

Join a USASA-affiliated league- most are- then fill out the paperwork and pay the fee in the early springtime?? It's that easy. Prepare to do some travelling to play your game/games.

 

From what I remember from a few years ago when I was playing on men's club team. The team has to be in a USSF league and then you enter either your league's or area tournament rounds. I seem to remeber that not all of the teams in our league entered. The the winner of those early round advance to the state rounds and from there to the region. I seem to remember that they started really early in the spring or late winter. I think it will depend on how many teams are entered for your area or state. At the time I was playing for a team in central PA, which is part of Eastern PA state association.