When it comes to club soccer, participating in a tournament is one of the best experiences a team can have. A chance to play against teams you don't normally face is exciting for teams of all age groups and levels. Running a soccer tournament takes a lot of planning, though, and if the tournament director is organized, the result can be memorable for everyone involved.
Instructions
The logistics
1. Decide who to invite and what level of competition to play. In many cases, the tournament is already hosted by a soccer club, academy or league, so there are already some obvious choices. Tournaments can range from recreational teams to select, club, travel or regional teams, but there must be some parity in the competition. If the director wants to open the tournament to everyone, the age groups can be split into two divisions. The director then must contact club and league officials throughout the region to have them put out word to their teams.
2. Secure field space and officials. Reserving permits is relatively easy as long as it's done in advance. Get in touch with the parks department of the county that is hosting the tournament. Field permit rates and reservation information can be found on county websites. Find officials by contacting the referees association for the state hosting the tournament.
3. Determine the cost of the tournament and each team's entry fee. The cost includes field permits, referee fees, other staff fees, field equipment, tournament merchandise like T-shirts and patches, trophies and concessions. Divide the total cost by the number of teams to determine the cost per team.
4. Determine the format. Most soccer tournaments consist of two round-robin divisions per age group and the top team from each round-robin advances to the final match. This way, each team is guaranteed at least three matches. If there is not enough response to have eight teams per age group, the director could create a four-team round-robin in which the top two teams play for the final.
5. Make sure a communication device is in place in case of inclement weather. Twitter, a telephone hot line and a frequently updated website should be used.
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