Summer Tournament Planning 2014

It’s that time again…  

Summer is quickly approaching and it’s time to plan all those fun summer tournaments!  Most teams have already planned their summer schedule, but in case you need to make some additions…or subtractions…read on!

A good way to start your search is by looking at the Cal South (or whatever is appropriate for your region) website for sanctioned tournaments.  If you’re with an experienced coach and on a top team, your coach will have his/her own opinions about tournaments, but new coaches may want your input.  If you are a newer/lower level team look for some smaller tourneys or those that have multiple levels of play.  

Here’s a list from personal experience and word of mouth.  As usual, please remember that these are all my own opinions- do your own research and ask around for other people’s input.

Click the images for more information and registration.

My (Former?) Favorite Tourney- Blues Cup- CANCELLED
Blues Cup | Labor Day | San Juan Capistrano Oceanside | in the past has been organized, well run, has awesome pins and medals, great fields, top competition, and multiple brackets.  This year there have been some major changes in the location, leadership and look of the tourney so I’m not really sure how it’s all going to play out.  It’s scheduled to be held at the new fields in Oceanside which sounds really amazing…if they are completed in time.  We are scheduled to attend so I will definitely be writing an updated review.  We attended with our U12 team two summers ago- click here for my 2012 full review.  Update 6/2- Pretty shocking but this whole tourney was cancelled due to the non-completion of the Oceanside fields.  This is a huge tournament which will definitely leave a gap in summer competition…and the Blues’ pocket.

 The Ultimate Tourney- Surf Cup

Surf Cup |August 2,3,4 for girls | San Diego | is the most prestigious and selective (and expensive) So Cal summer tournament.  A very limited number of teams per age level are accepted to this tournament and teams travel from all over the country to attend.  Winners of the Surf Thanksgiving Tournament (review here), the top finishers of State or National cup, and now the winners of the EGSL Spring League receive automatic bids, but the rest of the teams apply and cross their fingers.  I’m excited that LSG’s team will be playing this year!

 

 Other High Level Summer Tourneys

Slammers Futbol Classic | July 19/20 | Orange County | has great competition and is well organized with multiple tiers.  This is the “coming out party” for many of the top teams.

 

 

 Albion Cup | July 18-21 | San Diego | is very popular and from all accounts well organized with great competition.  San Diego is also a great place to visit!

 

 

West Coast Futbol Classic | August 16/17 | Orange County | also has great competition and is well organized with multiple brackets.

 

Eagles Summer Classic | July 26/27 | Camarillo | is one of my favorites!  Camarillo is a fun place to stay and I really like that almost all the teams play at the Pleasant Valley complex.  The Eagles also always have great teams to provide a very competitive tourney.

 

Carlsbad Cup |August 2, 3, 4 youngers | San Diego

I haven’t been to this one, but it’s a great choice with good competition in a beautiful area for teams who don’t get into Surf Cup.  There are also multiple flights for those “up and coming” teams.  It isn’t on our schedule for this year, but I definitely have it in mind for the future.

 

Other Tourneys of Note

 

LA Premier FC SoCal Showcase | June 28-30 | Pasadena Area | Looks like they’ve made a great date change on this tournament.  It used to be at the end of July which can have some very hot weather out in the Pasadena area.  The June date should make for a much more enjoyable experience.  As always, they have the best tournament website.

 

Wolfpack Invitational | July 12/13| This looks like a great summer warm up tournament- especially if your club has a June break.  It’s very reasonably priced with great fields in Orange County including the tournament headquarters at UC Irvine.  We are scheduled to attend this one so I will let you know!

 

 Dave Shelton Memorial Tournament | July 19/20 | North County San Diego- Ryan Park

This one has also changed to an earlier weekend so it should help with the weather.  In 2012 it was REALLY hot in August!!  (But we won!!)  The people running this tournament were very nice and it’s a sweet tribute to Dave Shelton who devoted many years of his life to youth soccer in Escondido. Click here for my review from 2012

 

 Cypress Cup | August 2/3 | Cypress Area

Smaller tournament with some strong teams.  We won…and met an awesome coach and fun parents.  You never know the connections you might make when you go to a tournament.

Click here for my review from 2012 

 

Toyota of Orange Classic | August 16/17 | is a smaller tourney, but has a great location near all the theme parks if you are looking to travel.  We are scheduled to attend this one so I will let you know how it goes.

 

 

 

OC Kickoff Classic | August 16/17 | Orange County

Another we haven’t been to in a while, but I remember good fields and scheduling.  I believe they also have several levels of play which helps if you are a new team.

 

 Ventura County Fusion Invitational | August 16/17 | Ventura

Ventura is another beautiful place to stay and play.  We played in the Spring Fusion Cup several years ago and had a great time.  They have a very reasonable deal with the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura which is right on the beach.  Some of the fields were beautiful and some were in very poor shape on our previous visit, but we are going to the Spring Cup next weekend and I’ll give you an update.

NHB Cup | August 23/24 Girls| Labor Day Weekend Boys | Orange County

BSG’s team played in this tourney last summer… and won!  It was a great tourney as a manager because it was well organized, easy to check in and very accommodating.  The girls loved it because all champions and finalists received trophies- that doesn’t happen in many tourneys.  Here’s my full review from 2013.. NHB Cup.

 

Santa Barbara Summer Cup | August 23/24 | Santa Barbara  

We’ve played at a Santa Barbara Spring Cup (which was rained out!) but never in the summer.  Santa Barbara is an absolutely gorgeous place to visit, but it can also be very expensive.  The fields at UCSB are beautiful and it sounds like a great tourney…if you can find a reasonable place to stay.  I’d love to do this one in the future.

United Cup | Labor Day Weekend | San Juan Capistrano | has a new weekend and uses the fields that were previously used by Blues Cup.  Hmm….. interesting.  We were supposed to attend this one last year, but it was the same weekend as the CRL play in.  Our sister team attended, and won!  They said they had a great time.

 

 

What are some of your favorite tournaments??  Any other ones I should include?