Tournament Play

Soccer in the East Bay, and Beyond

By Greg Lejnieks

The Setting: Canberra, Australia, 1987.

The tournament: Pacific Basin Cup - Futsal.

The Competitors: Japan, Australia, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, the United States.

The scenario: I'm playing for the United States in the third place game against Canada. Of course, we're disappointed we are not playing in the championship game, but after traveling all the way to Australia and training so hard for the cup there was no way we were going to put it on cruise control. We had both our team and individual pride on the line.

The action: With 12 seconds to go against Canada we are tied three-to-three. The play is back and forth and we're exhausted. Having lost a hard fought two-to-one game against Mexico two nights earlier none of us are eager to go into overtime. Our coach takes a time out to tell us to push for a goal. I'm so tired I can feel cramps coming on, but I dig deep down as I say to myself I'm going to score. Overtime just isn't an option. We're so beat it would most likely be a losing proposition.

With 12 seconds left I push up the right side. The ball pops out of Canada's defense, and is suddenly right before me. It looks huge. The crowd disappears, everything goes silent. It's just me, the ball, a tangle of legs ahead of me, and the left side of the goal that the goalie has left open. I aim, shoot as hard as I can, and score. Suddenly, the rush of sound comes back. I'm so elated I take off in a full sprint towards our bench and slide full body length into a mob of overjoyed teammates. We've done it. Two years of training, thousands of miles, and one goal later and we have achieved our goal of placing in the top three of the tournament.

That's the excitement and thrill of tournament play: the build up, the pre-tournament training, and then the excitement of the chase for the championship. Perhaps more exciting, or maybe a better way to put it is more fulfilling, is the camaraderie developed among teammates and the personal lessons you learn both as a soccer player and a human being.

Tournament play is not only the opportunity to test the strengths and weaknesses of the team and each individual part, but it is also an opportunity to examine the self. Among many things it gives us the chance to examine how we deal with adversity; teamwork; our personal conduct within a team environment; winning and losing, and operating under extreme pressures both physical and mental. All important life lessons.

Of course, you don't have to play in an adult international tournament to experience the thrill of the tournament. And you don't even have to be U18. Adult recreational and competitive tournaments take place all over the world. Or for that matter right in our East Bay backyard. I suggest a little bit of both if your team is up for travel, which is another great reason to play in tournaments.

Recently, I traveled to Portland, Oregon for a men's over 30 tournament. Tournaments have also allowed me to see Brazil, Mexico, and Australia.

Youth tournaments are everywhere and all the time. If your really soccer crazy CYSA has tournaments for youth scheduled year round with the heaviest concentration during CYSA seasons. So, if your so inclined, and have a large credit line on your Shell card, you can take your boys and girls to a tournament somewhere in California almost every weekend.

By visiting the CYSA site you can pick up a listing of their tournaments. The listing will show the costs (be prepared there are costs involved such as food, travel, lodging, and tournament fees). The listings will also show the competitive levels of the tournament such as Class 1, Class 3, etc., the tournament director and contact numbers, and tournament fee.

The magazine Soccer America also comes out with an annual tournament guide that includes non-CYSA tournaments. You can order past issues by visiting their website.

I do not have any personal favorites to recommend. I would suggest that your youth team play in both local and regional tournaments so they can get a taste of how they stack up against teams from their area and can see how soccer is played in other areas of California.

If your youth team can raise enough fundraising money or has a sponsor or some combination I highly suggest that at least once they experience an international tournament. In my last article I briefly discussed the opportunity soccer gives us to explore other cultures. Exposure to different cultures gives the young person a moment to reflect on his/her place in the world while opening up the possibilities that lie outside their East Bay home.

I do not feel qualified to recommend any specific international youth tournaments, however, I recommend you call your district commissioner for a referral or simply ask around your league. Word of mouth and direct experience are usually the best forms of information. There is nothing worse then traveling halfway around the world for a poorly organized tournament.

So go at it and good luck. And remember, above all else, make sure you have plenty of water, oranges, and gatorade.