|
|
Post by spectator on Feb 17, 2014 15:47:35 GMT -5
1. Preseason gut check on fitness and ability of team after long break and being cooped up with snow days twice in the past month and a half 2. Playing teams we've never seen or heard of. Even more fun when our under-ranked team surprised a few of them  3. Playing higher level teams to see if our players would rise up to that level (they did!) 4. Great team bonding - players room together, eat together, hang out together - ultimately play better together! 5. Great parent bonding - chaperones and parents hang out, get to know one another better, share a few beers and laughs. 6. Learning about different state soccer association rules - example - Florida - rostered players aren't guaranteed playing time (noted when one FL team never subbed during the entire game); Alabama - players with casts can bubble wrap it and play (not recommended as that bubble wrap just encases something very hard to hit with) 7. It's not Concorde Cup. SO very grateful we went out of town this weekend instead of signing up for that one. Other teams in our club sat home - we drove a ways but got to play. Only downside -long drive, tired parents who had to work today! How was your weekend? Did your teams play? |
|
|
|
Post by jash on Feb 17, 2014 22:47:48 GMT -5
We went to RYSA and played Sunday at least. Kudos to them for making it work as well as could be expected.
But great post about out of state tournaments! I totally agree, it's worth the time and expense once a season.
|
|
|
|
Post by soccergator on Feb 18, 2014 9:55:38 GMT -5
we try to do one at least once in the fall and once in the spring.
my youngest is a u10, and its honestly already getting boring playing the same teams. when we play in a local tournament, its basically already the exact same bracket as the year before. for me, we love all tourneys. out of state tourneys are great experiences. they are what playing competitive soccer is about, traveling, seeing new places, bonding with the family, arguing with your children etc.
its one of the great things i think about atlanta, not only do we have very competitive soccer here locally, but we are 5 hours from great tourneys in tenn, south carolina, north carolina, bama, and florida. i will say i'm not a fan of having to hop on a plane to go to a soccer tourney though. too expensive, unless your not footing the bill like DA.
|
|
|
|
Post by spectator on Feb 18, 2014 11:20:15 GMT -5
we try to do one at least once in the fall and once in the spring. my youngest is a u10, and its honestly already getting boring playing the same teams. when we play in a local tournament, its basically already the exact same bracket as the year before. for me, we love all tourneys. out of state tourneys are great experiences. they are what playing competitive soccer is about, traveling, seeing new places, bonding with the family, arguing with your children etc. its one of the great things i think about atlanta, not only do we have very competitive soccer here locally, but we are 5 hours from great tourneys in tenn, south carolina, north carolina, bama, and florida. i will say i'm not a fan of having to hop on a plane to go to a soccer tourney though. too expensive, unless your not footing the bill like DA. Based on your user name, you should look into the Gator Showcase next year. We've done tournaments in Birmingham and they are always class act! Great fields, different teams and an easy drive. Vulcan Cup attracts a ton of Atlanta teams but the tournament is great about not putting same states against themselves to ensure getting to play new teams. When my daughter was still in Academy, we went to Asheville for an August tournament - Riverside Classic. That was awesome - beautiful location and great fields. Plus it's about 10 degrees cooler there than in Atlanta so it was a much more pleasant sideline experience for us! CESA in Greenville also puts on a great tournament. You're right - our location is great for a do-able driveable trek to another state for a weekend tournament. |
|
|
|
Post by reinalocura on Feb 18, 2014 16:49:50 GMT -5
This is silly, but really it's all about the EXCITEMENT in the kids. Even if you are not the top of the heap in the ATL - as a kid, getting to travel somewhere with all your soccer friends and stay in a hotel and do something you don't normally do - that's great fun, no matter how old you are! The whole adventure aspect is not lost on the kids. They really enjoy it. In the big picture, it is all about developing the friendships and experiences that will stay with the players - and along the way they learn to love the game too.
|
|
|
|
Post by spectator on Feb 19, 2014 16:45:31 GMT -5
This is silly, but really it's all about the EXCITEMENT in the kids. Even if you are not the top of the heap in the ATL - as a kid, getting to travel somewhere with all your soccer friends and stay in a hotel and do something you don't normally do - that's great fun, no matter how old you are! The whole adventure aspect is not lost on the kids. They really enjoy it. In the big picture, it is all about developing the friendships and experiences that will stay with the players - and along the way they learn to love the game too. Not silly at all. The girls love being together in a hotel - it's one big (heavily chaperoned LOL) slumber party and the memories they're making together are priceless. And we have a blast too, I really love my little soccer 'family' - great girls - great parents - and we all have a great time. The 'excitement' part was as much the moms planning who was bringing the wine as much as anything the girls did! For me - the best part was that very long drive with just me and my daughter - a great chance to talk about anything and everything - and sing (badly) at the top of our lungs to any song we liked. I'm sure we were as entertaining to watch as we passed other cars as we were having ourselves! |
|
|
|
Post by 9fan9 on Feb 21, 2014 17:31:48 GMT -5
I agree completely but you have to convince your coach and club to sign you up.
|
|
