If you’re wondering where SoccerDad has been the past few weeks and why it’s been so quiet here at On The Pitch, here’s an update on what his travel team has been doing.
Entries Tagged ‘tournaments’
AYSO Games in Hawaii
For those of you who have children that participate on USYSA or US Club teams, it can be easy to forget there are other national soccer associations out there. The AYSO is a less competitive oriented program, but that doesn’t mean they are just grassroots and local. They’re holding their National Games in Hawaii this [...]
Tales From The Lunachick Fringe III
My U11 Girls team had one last hurrah at the NC State Games last weekend, and you just knew there would be a few Tales From The Lunachick Fringe!
The NC State Games are a huge annual amatuer sporting event styled after the Olympics, including opening ceremonies. The youth soccer tournament is only one of dozens of events, but attracts teams from across the state. So we were excited to be going as our last event together as a U11 team. The girls did well, reaching the bronze medal match, but that’s not what this post is about! It’s about the fun that ensues when the Lunachicks play soccer!
2008 USYSA Southern Regionals
The 2008 USYSA Southern Regionals are underway here in North Carolina, with teams form across the southeast looking to advance to the USYSA National Championships. Here’s a look at the rather muddy and wet start to the event.
I’m only an hour or so away from the action, but don’t believe I’ll be able [...]
The Venn of Soccer
Anne Glamore of My Tiny Kingdom has narrowed down the benefits of youth soccer into a simple Venn Diagram
Tragic
This is just tragic:
TAMPA – Two teenagers in town to play in a college soccer showcase left their hotel Friday to get a late night snack. Moments later, Kaitlyn M. Grogan lay dead in the street and Brittany J. Gruber had a fractured skull and other serious injuries.
“They had gone to Albertsons to [...]
Earth, Wind, but no Fire…
All soccer coaches have their stories of extreme playing conditions, usually related to rain, snow, or extreme heat or cold. Well my U11 Girls played in what arguably could be the worst conditions they’ll face as youth soccer players this past weekend. It was surreal.
Nike – The Secret Tournament
A few years ago, Nike put together a series of commercials about a ‘Secret 3v3 Tournament’ played by 24 professional soccer players from around the world. Chris over at The Offside feels it was one of the greatest sports marketing campaigns simply due to the ‘coolness factor’, and I’d have to agree. But I also [...]
No U10 Offside Vaporizes Within Hours
As you all know, NC finally eliminated offside for U10 play at the Challenge (travel) level. One of the unanswered questions after this decision was made was what the tournaments would do as they weren’t affected by the decision. One of the bigger regional preseason tournaments in Winston-Salem, that used to be Classic only, added [...]
Good Luck Princess…
I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet, even though I was there at tryouts, was there when she found out she made the team, and have taken her to practice these last few weeks. But only now, the night before her first match, is it really sinking in that my only daughter, Soccer Dad’s [...]
Let ‘Em Play – And Compete!
For those of you involved in travel soccer in North Carolina, there are two very important proposals coming up for a vote at the next NCYSA Challenge Council meeting (June 9th, 2007). One of them proposes the elimination of the NCYSA Challenge Cup for U10, U11, and U12 and replacing it with a festival, similar [...]
Heading To Wrangler/McDonalds This Weekend
I’ll be heading out to the Wrangler/McDonald’s tournament this weekend along with my U10 Recreational team. They had so much fun at the Rec State Cup last fall, we wanted to give them another opportunity to face some new opponents. The State Cup champs will be there too, so we could have a very fun [...]
Gotta Love A Good Sense of Humor
I found this over at the NC Soccer Forums, apparently an email from the NCYSA to the coaches who have teams going to the State Cup Final Four in Greensboro. I agree with the poster – I’ll have some of what they’re smoking:
Important Notes Regarding the Final Four. Please review with your players, parents and [...]
Drinking At Soccer Tournaments?!?!?
I stumbled across this post over at the NC Soccer Forums and it took me by surprise.
During the lightning/rain delay, a couple of young adult spectators had a ‘tailgate’ party in which beer was consumed in what appeared to be pretty large quantities.
First, in a county park, where there is a no alcohol policy; second, [...]
Try A Walkout Some Time
Here’s a neat idea that we’ve started to use before the championship matches of our league’s end of season tournament. We do a World Cup style ‘walkout’ with both teams. The teams lineup on the bench side of the field at midfield behind the ARs. The center then leads both lines, walking about 2/3rds of [...]
