August Youth Soccer Tournaments- Info and Team Management

As I laid in bed last night unable to sleep due to this oppressive heat we are dealing with on Long Island, I experienced a moment of pure panic as I realized it is already July 19^th.  Not only are we well into the heart of summer, but I realized that I had not yet gotten this post about August tournaments written for you AND that MY Soccer Team Manager had not yet registered my team for our August tournaments.  I WISH that I could fire my team manager, she has been increasingly unreliable the last few months, and I am not willing to be an understanding employer who realizes she is recovering from major back surgery.  NO! I expect my Team Manager to be organized, prepared, and making sure that we are registered and all paperwork is in order in a timely fashion prior to our tournaments.  I want the same commitment from MY team’s Team Manager that my son’s Team Manager gives.  Now, if you have been paying attention to my blog, you are scratching your head in complete confusion.  If you are new to my blog, I probably just sound like a true “B”.  Everyone rest assured, we will blame the heat and my need for additional medication the last few days.  I am my Team’s Coach and Team Manager (although I have a Team Parent who handles the money).  In addition, I am taking on more and more Team Managerial responsibilities for my older son’s  team and have had my hand in preparation and Travel arrangements for the Team’s June NJ tournament trip and our upcoming August PA trip.  The point of my poor attempt at humor is that not only are we deep into Summer Youth Soccer Tournament Season, but some of us are very unprepared and the most overlooked but probably most valuable person on the Youth Soccer Team is the Team Manager. 

I taught myself about Team Management and tournaments and what it takes to prepare a team for different events.  Our discussion of the role of Team Manager will be ongoing and I will begin a “Team Manager Diary” for others to follow as guidance.  In this blog, I will share with you information I have gathered on Upcoming Youth Soccer Tournaments on Long Island.  There isn’t much time left to register, but in case it is helpful, please read and learn about some of the local tournaments coming up on Long Island in August 2013.  This post will NOT take a look at every tournament available.  Due to my lack of better planning, I am only mentioning tournaments that either my team has registered at this year or that one of my son’s teams is registered at this year.  In other words, I will be at each of these tournaments at SOME point (I hope gas prices finally go down for all the driving I will be doing next month.)  I am including basic info and contact information so that if it is a tournament of interest, you can reach out to the tournament with questions.  Also, most of the tournaments have been around for YEARS and while it may be too late to get your team into some of the tournaments, you can also use the information to prepare for next summer.  Please feel free to comment below with any experiences you have had at the tournaments, but please let’s keep it positive.  It is ok to comment on a bad experience, but let us try to keep it in a polite manner.

LONG ISLAND YOUTH SOCCER TOURNAMENTS AUGUST 2013

(A minimalist look at local Youth Soccer Tournaments)

Aug. 3^rd/4^th         LI Rough Riders BEACH BASH: 1 Day (Sat 8/3) - Jones Beach, NY; U8-U15, HS and Adult Divisions, REGISTRATION ENDS SOON!  (7/20^th date Sold Out), $295, 3 games (3 10-min periods, 5v.5) **THIS IS A BEACH SOCCER EVENT AND LIMITED ROSTER SIZE AND DIFFERENT RULES)**

Email: Tournaments@liroughriders.com- Although I have never been to a Beach Tournaments, I have heard GREAT things about them and you already know I believe the Rough Riders run some of the most competitive and well organized tournaments in the area.  I am looking forward to attending and seeing how Beach Soccer works on Long Island.

                                Auburndale Soccer Tournament: 1 Day but can be scheduled 8/3 or 8/4- Randall’s Island, NY; U8-U10 $300, U11-U15 $350, 3 games guaranteed, Registration EXTENDED to 7/21/13. 

Info: www.Auburndalesoccerclub.org –Although not technically taking place on Long Island, it is close enough and as I will be there at some point, I included it in our list.  I have never attended this tournament, but I have been to games at Randall’s Island and I enjoy the fields and the view of Manhattan.  It is a busy area and can be difficult to move through the maze of roads.  It will be an interesting experience, but one I look forward to attending.

Aug. 10^th/11^th    West Islip Fun In The Sun:  2 Day (8/10&8/11)- West Islip, NY; U9-U11 $395, U12-U15 $435, Guaranteed 4 50 minute games, Trophies 1^st & 2^nd place, Player gift all players, REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 7/31/13

Info: www.westislip.com or Email: Jklfire6@aol.com – I have never done the West Islip tournament before and I believe (may be wrong) it is one of the newer tournaments in August.  I do know they have been running the tournament for at least a few years.  The West Islip Fun In The Sun runs up against the larger and longer running East End Tournament, but I know that I am looking forward to attending a tournament that is closer to home.  I have never heard any negative comments about the tournament and am looking forward to a new experience.  I do know that this tournament was the first to respond to my request for information and as you all know I love when members of this Youth Soccer Community Support each other.  It is a large market and the more options we have, the better for the kids.  If we all support each other it only benefits the kids and Youth Soccer on Long Island.

                East End Tournament:  2 Day (8/10&8/11)- William Floyd School Fields, Mastic, NY; U9-U11 $400, U12-U17 $450, REGISTRATION ENDS SOON!

Info: www.eastendsoccertournament.com or email robzecha@eastendsoccertournament.com – This was the first major tournament I ever did with my team and I was a mess in regards to paperwork and planning the day and helping my parents to understand what to expect.  It was a HORRIBLY hot weekend and I basically ran in all directions as a coach new to Youth Soccer Tournaments.  The fields and tournament tents are placed in an immense plot of land and you must come prepared to walk.  They do a decent job of scheduling the games on fields that are close together, but every once in a while you do get that game scheduled on the field clear across the complex.  The first year, I was miserable and lost and swore I would never do the tournament again.  As a coach, I was overwhelmed and this is one reason it is so important to do your homework prior to tournament days.  The one thing I could not complain about was that the staff and volunteers working the tournament were helpful.  Last year my team and my older son’s team attended the tournament and it was a better experience because I was better prepared.  I can say that the staff is attentive (I had just been injured and they made sure there was a golf cart waiting for me to take me between fields and they offered that, it was not a request of mine.)  This is a long running and known tournament in Long Island Youth Soccer and the level of competition has always been high.  At the same time, there was appropriate competition in a lower bracket that was perfect for my lower division team and good competition for my son’s team in a higher bracket.  The awards ceremony was organized and I think we all had a good weekend.  For my team, it was a long drive, but the competition we faced made the drive worth it. And I lied above, I will enjoy having a short drive to West Islip, but I still have to travel to East End for 2 other teams.  This will be a long weekend, but the concessions and the promise of 2 tournaments full of soccer will make it worth it!

Aug. 17^th/18^th:   Long Island Rough Riders Kick-Off Classics:  1 Day (Sat. 8/17)Plainview Soccer Park, Plainview, NY; U7-U10: 8V8 $395, U12-U14 + HS: 11V11 $425, REGISTRATION ENDS SOON!

Info: www.liroughriders.com Email: tournaments@liroughriders.com – This is the 4^th year that the Rough Riders have held this Kick-Off Classic in August, but I have never attended.  Unfortunately, I will be out of state with my older son’s team this weekend and am sending Ace Reporter/Correspondent and Soccer mom stand-in “Grandpa” to attend the tournament with my little guy (first time ever I have missed a tourney- it will be rough).  Even though I have no experience with this tournament, I again have high expectations and will recommend a Rough Rider tournament 10 times over.  My experience is of a knowledgeable, professional, helpful, and organized staff.  Great concession and I like the Plainview fields.  The fields are decent grass fields and there is room for teams to warm up, specific team and separate parent areas, and everything are in a manageable walking area.   I look forward to getting my report back and hearing the experience from a third party.

Aug. 24^th/25^th:   35^th Annual East Meadow Soccer Tournament: (formerly Covanta Cup) 2 Days (8/24&8/25), Assorted Fields East meadow area, NY; U8-U11 &625, U12 and above $775.  This tournament registration ended this year and usually Sells Out.  I am including as I will be there with 2 teams this year and it is one of the most well-known Youth Soccer Tournaments on Long Island in August.  This tournament is known for having high competition and I recommend considering it for next year.

Info: www.eastmeadowsoccer.com

                This takes us through the month of August for Youth Soccer Tournaments on Long Island.  There are other tournaments, but these are the ones that I am most familiar with and I will be at every tournament listed above this year.  I love tournaments so I am excited for so much soccer and to have so many tournament experiences in such a short time to get an idea of how each one really compares.  If you are affiliated with another tournament during this time, please contact me at coachmommyli@yahoo.com and I would love to hear about your tournament and add the information in the next few days,  Also, I can put information on my Facebook (Facebook.com/coachmommylongisland) and Twitter (Twitter.com/coachmommyli) pages (make sure you like and follow!)  Please comment below check back in the next few days.  Time is running out for Labor Day tournaments and I will be looking at the HBC and Oceanside Labor Day Tournaments.  As always, please share your thought below and: Read It-Like It-Share It-Subscribe to It-Comment!