34th Annual Jr. Irish

Memorial Day Invitational 2012 Soccer Tournament

Printable Invite Schedule Forms and Rules Results Archive Maps Volunteer Schedule Hotels (Anthony Travel) Apply On-line NOW!

 

Dear Coach or Manager,

I would like to invite your team to apply to play in the Junior Irish Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, Saturday May 26^th and Sunday, May 27^th, 2012. 

 

This USSF approved tournament has become extremely competitive with some of the strongest club teams from across the Midwest participating. A list of some of the recent participants is shown below. A number of characteristics have made this tournament among the most popular and competitive in Region II.

 

One of the changes this year is going from a 3-day tournament to a 2-day tournament.  All Academy aged teams (U9 & U10) will play 4 games and all U-11 and above teams will play a minimum of 3 games (weather permitting). The championship rounds will be played on Sunday afternoon and will not include any semi-final games.  All players U11 and older participating in the championship game will receive individual awards. All U9 and U10 players receive participation awards.

 

Lodging at special tournament prices will be available at local hotels, which are in close geographical proximity to the tournament-playing sites. There is a wide variety of Memorial Day activities in the South Bend area and a number of interesting sites, including the College Football Hall of Fame and the University of Notre Dame campus, in the immediate vicinity. In addition to the first class facility at the Jr. Irish Soccer Complex (located near the South Bend Regional airport), the 2012 MDI will be held at Newton Park in Lakeville, Indiana which houses four full sized fields with lights, bleachers and audio systems, along with five small sided fields, indoor restroom facilities and concession buildings. We guarantee that you will not play on better fields or see two better complexes than you will experience at our tournament.

 

To help accommodate all levels of play we ask that when completing your application you designate the division you wish to play in. The Green division is designated as the top division designed to accommodate travel teams considered in the top 25% of your state leagues. The White division is structured to provide top quality competition compatible for all other teams. We will do our best to create divisions and to place your team in the appropriate division based on your team's resume and the number of teams that participate at each age group. The number of teams at each age group will determine our ability to create divisions and to place your team in your desired division.  Please be aware that we will follow the Indiana Soccer guidelines for small-sided games. This may impact your U9, U10, U11 or 12 team. See the "Team Requirements" section of our tournament rules for clarification.

 

We hope that you will decide to spend part of your Memorial Day weekend in South Bend. We can promise you outstanding competition, first class facilities and the genuine hospitality from the Jr. Irish Soccer Club.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael A. Lacognato

Junior Irish Board of Directors/VP / Academy & MDI Tournament Director

Contact: MDI@jririshsoccer.org / 574-286-1945

 

Recent Participants:

 

Illinois:   Team Chicago, Rockford United, Libertyville, SASA Raiders, Palatine Celtic, Darien

Dynamo, Elmhurst Soccer Club, Windy City Pride

 

Indiana:   Jr. Irish, Elkhart Flames, Northwest United, Fishers, Ft. Wayne Fever, Ft. Wayne Citadel, Indiana Invaders, Warsaw, Millennium Vardar, Michiana Echo

 

Michigan:   Kalamazoo Soccer Club, LYSC, GSSC, SCSC, Rochester Select SC, WAZA, TKO, Georgetown Rangers

 

Missouri:   Busch Soccer Club, Florissant, Coca-Cola, Lou Fusz

 

Ohio:   Centerville United, Lakota, Perrysburg, Fairfield, Pickerington, Toledo Celtics, Greater Toledo FC, Kolping, GNA Soccer Club

 

Wisconsin:   Brookfield, TOSA, Madison 56ers, Bavarian, Green Bay

 

Nebraska:   River City

 

Minnesota:   Team Mizuno, Tonka United

 

Kansas:   Pele Soccer Club

 

Pennsylvania:   Lake Erie United, Penns Forest, Foothills Soccer Club

 

Others:   Erin Mills (Canada), London Marconi (Canada), Chargers Golden Eagles (Colorado)

 

Jr. Irish Memorial Day Invitational Soccer Tournament 2012

Saturday, May 26^th and Sunday, May 27^th

 

 

Format:

The following single year age group divisions of tournament play are scheduled:

Boys under 9 through under 19

Girls under 9 through under 19

Each team will play a minimum of three (3) games (weather permitting), with bracket play on

Saturday, May 26th and Sunday, May 27th. Championship games will be played on Sunday afternoon, May 27^th. Whenever possible, the three games will be bracket games. In age groups where the total number of teams makes three bracket games impossible, teams will play crossover games, which will be counted in determining which teams will advance to the Championship round.

 

The U9 and U10 teams will play 4 games (weather permitting), with no Championship round, and each player will receive participation awards.

 

All preliminary round games will be the following times:

2x25 (50 min) for U9 and U10

2x30 (60 min) for U11 and U12

2x35 (70 min) for U13 through U19

All championship games will be the following times:

2x30 (60 min) for U11 through U12

2x35 (70 min) for U13 through U14

2x45 (80 min) for U15 through U19

Awards:

All U11 aged teams and up reaching the Championship round will receive individual awards

All U9 and U10 players will receive individual awards

 

Tournament Fees:

$500 per team for U9 and U10; $525 for U11 through U19

Registration Deadline: April 7th, 2012

 

Team Requirements:

State approved Team rosters, tournament rosters (with player names and numbers) USSF travel permits, USSF youth player passes, release of liability forms, and medical release forms must be sent via e-mail with the on-line registration or your team will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.

 

Guest Players:

All U9 - U11 and U16 teams are limited to a maximum of five (5) guest players; U12 - U15 are allowed up to three (3) guest players and U17 - U19 are allowed up to seven (7) guest players.

 

Roster Size/Field Players:   We comply with the Indiana Soccer small-sided games guidelines.

• U9/U10 teams play 6v6 (5 field players + 1GK) with a maximum roster size of 12 players.
• U11 and U12 teams play 8v8 (7 field players + 1GK) with a maximum roster size of 14 players. U12 teams will have the option of registering to play 11v11.
• U13 through U15 teams play the traditional 11v11 with a maximum roster size of 18 players.
• U16 through U19 teams play the traditional 11v11 with a maximum tournament roster size of 22 players; however, teams that register more than 18 players will be required, via electronic registration, to designate the 18 players who will play at each game (substitutions can only be made in the event of player injury).

We will accept your official state roster if it exceeds the maximum roster size of 12 or 14 players (U9 through U12 teams). Your tournament roster may exceed the maximum roster size of 12 or 14 players (U9 through U12 teams only), but may not exceed your official state roster size.

 

Age Group Brackets:

In order to provide the most competitive play for all teams attending, our age groups are bracketed according to performance level (Green and White). Please be sure to indicate your preferred division on your application.

• The Green division is designated as the top division designed to accommodate travel teams considered in the top 25% of your state leagues.
• The White division is structured to provide top quality competition compatible for all other teams.

We will do our best to create divisions and to place your team in your requested division based on your team's resume and the number of teams that participate at each age group.

 

Field Sites:

Tournament games will be played at the Jr. Irish Soccer Complex and at Newton Park in Lakeville, Indiana (just south of South Bend). Information about Jr. Irish fields may be found at: www.jririshsoccer.org, and information about Newton Park fields may be found at www.newtonpark.org.  

 

As a tournament participant you will be pleased with the easy access to both field locations as well as the outstanding field quality at both sites. The owner of Hoosier Racing Tire has donated the money (well in excess of $1.5 million) to build the new Lakeville Newton Park complex with the sole intent of providing an unequalled family focused athletic complex. We think you will agree that he has accomplished his mission when you visit this facility.

 

Lodging:   For your convenience you should book your room through Anthony Travel.  Anthony Travel may be contacted at:

http://www.anthonytravel.com/event/jrirish-memorial-day/

  

Leigh Ponder

Event Coordinator

Anthony Travel, Inc.

LaFortune Student Center

P.O. Box 1086

Notre Dame, IN 46556-1086

1-800-736-6377

 

Please indicate your association with the tournament when contacting Anthony Travel. Teams may want to make arrangements as soon as possible.

 

Acceptance:

All teams will be notified about their acceptance to the 2011 Memorial Day Invitational on or after April 27, 2012.

 

Refund:

Once a team is accepted, the registration fee is non-refundable.

 

Apply online

 

E-mail contact: MDI@jririshsoccer.org

 

Applications due by March 31, 2012

 

Mailing:

Jr. Irish Soccer Club

Attn: Memorial Day Invitational 2012

P.O. Box 1456

Granger, IN 46530-1456