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Volunteer Assignments
Jr. Irish Memorial Day Invitational Soccer Tournament 2008
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 24 through Monday May 27, 2008. 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. All teams will play a minimum of four games (weather permitting). The championship rounds may include semi-final and final games, with all players U11 and older participating in the championship game receiving individual awards. All U9 and U10 players receive participation trophies. All players receive a souvenir tournament book. 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 2008 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 Youth 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 the Memorial Day weekend in South Bend. We can promise you outstanding competition, first class facilities and the genuine hospitality of the Jr. Irish Soccer Club.
Sincerely,
Bob Wade
Tournament Director
Contact: bob.wade@bakerd.com
Recent Participants:
Illinois: Team Chicago, Rockford United, Libertyville, SASA Raiders, Palatine Celtic
Indiana: Jr. Irish, Elkhart Flames, Inferno, Northwest United, Fishers, Ft. Wayne Citadel, Ft. Wayne SC, Warsaw
Michigan: Kalamazoo Soccer Club, LYSC, GSSC, SCSC, Rochester Select SC, WAZA, TKO
Missouri: Busch Soccer Club, Florissant, Coca-Cola, Lou Fusz
Ohio: Lakota, Perrysburg, Fairfield, Pickerington, Toledo Celtics, Greater Toledo FC, Kolping
Wisconsin: Brookfield, TOSA, Madison 56ers, Bavarian, Green Bay
Nebraska: River City
Minnesota: Team Mizuno
Kansas: Pele Soccer Club
Pennsylvania: Lake Erie United, Penns Forest
Others: Erin Mills (Canada), Chargers Golden Eagles (Colorado)
Jr. Irish Memorial Day Soccer Tournament
Saturday, May 24 – Monday May 26, 2008
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 four (4) games (weather permitting), with bracket play on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 27. Championship games will be played on Monday, May 26. Whenever possible, four games will be bracket games. In age groups where the total number of teams makes four bracket games impossible, teams will play crossover games, which will be counted in determining which teams will advance to the semi-final round. The U9 and U10 teams will not play either a semi-final or final game, but will receive participation trophies.
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 semi-final and 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 and up teams reaching the semi-finals will receive individual awards
All U9 and U10 players will receive individual trophies
Tournament Fees: $470 per team for U9 and U10; $495 for U11 through U19
Registration Deadline: March 21, 2008
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 presented at check-in or your team will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
Guest Players: All teams are limited to a maximum of three (3) guest players.
Roster Size/Field Players: We comply with the Indiana Youth 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.
- U13 through U16 teams play the traditional 11v11 with a maximum roster size of 18 players.
- U17 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, at 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 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 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: A list of local hotels is included on the back of this page. For your convenience you may either book your room direct or through Anthony Travel. 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 2008 Memorial Day Invitational on or after April 15, 2008.
Refund: Once a team is accepted, the registration fee is non-refundable.
Game schedules, location of playing sites, tournament rules, etc will be posted on the web site no later than fifteen days before the tournament. Please check the web site first if any questions arise at www.jririshsoccer.org.
