Soccer Tournaments Rock! (Photo: WoodleyWonderWorks)

Participating in a tournament can be a fantastically productive event while also serving as a team building experience and one that results in lots of fun for your players. Based on our experience, we wanted to provide you with a list of things you might not consider as you prepare your team for the tournament.

Week before:

• Player passes are complete and ready (especially for pre-season tournaments)
• If you have guest players, secure their cards for registration
• Remind parents to check the cleats of your players to ensure a proper fit. Players at this age are prone to growth spurts and can make for an uncomfortable experience
• Soccer uniforms are in hand and ready to be worn
• Get directions out to the families
• Remind your parents to keep the event in perspective. Tell them to cheer like crazy for their kids without providing the dreaded “Kick it” or “Run” mantra from the sidelines.
• Mistakes will be made – the referees will be knocking the rust off just like your players. Please don’t yell at the referees.

Night before:

• No sleepovers. While a lot of fun that night, it leads to a sluggish and unproductive performance for game day.
• Check to make sure your balls are inflated, passes are in your possession
• Every player should double check they have everything they need: uniform, cleats, socks, flip-flops or sandals for between games, water bottle in the fridge, etc.
• Remind the parents that you should arrive approximately 30-45 minutes before game time
• Last check to make sure everyone has directions

Game Day:

• Due to the heat, players should not eat or drink acidic liquids or dairy products (orange juice, milk, eggs) as they’ll risk stomach aches. Dry foods like breakfast bars, pop tarts seem to make the most sense
• Get a nice glass of water when they wake up
• Get a shower to knock the cobwebs out of the brain
• Sun block should be applied to all players and family members
• Each player should bring ample re-hydration supplies with them (water, Gatorade, etc.).
• Consider a second pair of socks – normally with such hot and humid weather during the summer, a fresh second pair of socks will ensure a comfortable experience for the second match
• Players should take off their cleats, shin guards and socks between games to let their legs and feet air out
• Be sensible about your mid-game eating.
• Re-apply sun block

Most importantly, make it a memorable experience with your team and have tons of fun!

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

Awesome Soccer Trophies

As you might imagine, we are asked a lot about soccer trophies. We don’t actually sell trophies directly, but we have a relationship and can recommend from personal experience, Dinn Trophy. I’ve used them to create the trophies for our soccer tournament and it worked out great – fast turnaround and free shipping. At the end of the day, I thought it was downright cheap and felt really good about the value I received (and I do this for a living, so I’m pretty skeptical).

To Trophy or Not To Trophy?

Soccer trophies can spark a hot debate. Some communities see them as “bad” while others see them as “good”. People in our offices have various opinions on soccer trophies. It is something we debate from time to time. There are some people that love the idea of participant trophies at younger ages. Others are just as passionate about the potential for “rewarding non-excellence.”

On awarding Championship trophies, people are just as fired up. People believe it puts the focus on winning over player development. They argue, “If the focus is on player development, isn’t it communicating another message to give trophies?” Still, others in the office believe a Championship is the result of hard work and should be recognized and rewarded.

And, the final piece of the debate rests on individual trophies. When should awards like “Most Valuable” and “Most Improved” come into play? Is this a competitive or a recreational trophy? Ultimately, the “right” answer rests in your own community standards and expectations. And, hopefully, it reflects the values you are cultivating as a club and organization. Usually communities will ask the following questions while considering the whether soccer trophies are right for them:

• What age?
• Participant only?
• Championship only?
• Trophy only or do medals, plaques or ribbons fit the bill?
• Individual Trophies? Most Valuable Player, Most Improved
• Cost Factor: How much to spend?

How does your community handle soccer trophies, awards and ribbons? How does that reflect your values as a soccer community?

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.