Why Jeff Cup?

[Guest]

I get that in the top several brackets teams could get competition or exposure that they can't find closer to home. But the 2007 girls tournament has fourteen brackets of 8 teams each. Some of the teams are not in the top 100 or even 200 teams in their region, much less nationally. Why Jeff Cup?

And some of these clubs seem to do a series of these long distance travel tournaments. Why?

Link: https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...es?group=30819

[Guest]

Fixed Link: https://www.gotsport.com/asp/directo...Group=Girls_15

[Guest]

I get that in the top several brackets teams could get competition or exposure that they can't find closer to home. But the 2007 girls tournament has fourteen brackets of 8 teams each. Some of the teams are not in the top 100 or even 200 teams in their region, much less nationally. Why Jeff Cup?

And some of these clubs seem to do a series of these long distance travel tournaments. Why?

Link: https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...es?group=30819

Because it's still good competition

[Guest]

Because it's still good competition

More matches, sure. Good competition, eh not so much.

It's never easy to get the brackets right. Last weekend's Jeff Cup games had a lot of lopsided matches. The NEFC tournament would have done at least as well.
https://events.gotsport.com/events/d...?EventID=83987

[Guest]

More matches, sure. Good competition, eh not so much.

It's never easy to get the brackets right. Last weekend's Jeff Cup games had a lot of lopsided matches. The NEFC tournament would have done at least as well.
https://events.gotsport.com/events/d...?EventID=83987

You clearly aren’t looking at the U14 brackets. Tell me how NEFC could field a tourney with those top four brackets, I’m fascinated.

[Guest]

I have never been to this tournament but hear nothing but good things overall in terms of organization and logistics etc. Some teams who aren't top in their state like to put a travel tournament on the calendar to do some team bonding and if the tournament happens to draw some of the top teams nationally and you love the game then you get the chance to watch some of the best in your age group then even better.

That said a lot of teams end up heading down there because their club has sold the fantasy of "needing to do events like this to get the best competition possible" but when you look at brackets and team histories you usually find that the MA regional team that is there is playing teams of around the same quality that they could be in a local tournament. Still good to see different teams but it's funny to see how people talk themselves into needing to drive 10hrs to find a good match for their 12yo

[Guest]

You clearly aren’t looking at the U14 brackets. Tell me how NEFC could field a tourney with those top four brackets, I’m fascinated.

If you go back to the OP it wasn't about the top four brackets, as noted that makes sense. It's more about the bottom 4-6 or so.

[Guest]

I have never been to this tournament but hear nothing but good things overall in terms of organization and logistics etc. Some teams who aren't top in their state like to put a travel tournament on the calendar to do some team bonding and if the tournament happens to draw some of the top teams nationally and you love the game then you get the chance to watch some of the best in your age group then even better.

That said a lot of teams end up heading down there because their club has sold the fantasy of "needing to do events like this to get the best competition possible" but when you look at brackets and team histories you usually find that the MA regional team that is there is playing teams of around the same quality that they could be in a local tournament. Still good to see different teams but it's funny to see how people talk themselves into needing to drive 10hrs to find a good match for their 12yo

Agree that a travel tournament can make sense even for teams that aren't in the top 100 in their region, for the reasons you state. I wouldn't choose a weekend in Richmond VA myself, though.

To pick up on one comment - It might do some good for many kids, and most parents, to go watch a top level team, in their age group and a year or two up, and see how the game is played. I've been surprised at how few parents appreciate how different it is, even after many years and dollars committed to club soccer.

In the end, as you say, it does seem mostly about the "we went to the big dance" fantasy. Which is OK up to a point, but it's not clear it's worth the time and dollar commitment to do it over a weekend, in Richmond.

[Guest]

I get that in the top several brackets teams could get competition or exposure that they can't find closer to home. But the 2007 girls tournament has fourteen brackets of 8 teams each. Some of the teams are not in the top 100 or even 200 teams in their region, much less nationally. Why Jeff Cup?

And some of these clubs seem to do a series of these long distance travel tournaments. Why?

Link: https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...es?group=30819

Maybe because they get tired of playing the same old local teams constantly over and over. That's it, plain and simple. If you look at the brackets, many of the teams from here are not even playing in the higher brackets at Jeff Cup. Who cares? It's different scenery, with different teams, and a different experience for kids that like soccer. Like change it up, and have some fun. If you think it is anything more than that, you are DELUSIONAL.

[Guest]

Maybe because they get tired of playing the same old local teams constantly over and over. That's it, plain and simple. If you look at the brackets, many of the teams from here are not even playing in the higher brackets at Jeff Cup. Who cares? It's different scenery, with different teams, and a different experience for kids that like soccer. Like change it up, and have some fun. If you think it is anything more than that, you are DELUSIONAL.

Bingo. The club landscape, especially for girls, in New England where you have two camps of clubs has made tourneys like oh …we get to play this team again..you get better by playing different teams and styles.

[Guest]

Maybe because they get tired of playing the same old local teams constantly over and over. That's it, plain and simple. If you look at the brackets, many of the teams from here are not even playing in the higher brackets at Jeff Cup. Who cares? It's different scenery, with different teams, and a different experience for kids that like soccer. Like change it up, and have some fun. If you think it is anything more than that, you are DELUSIONAL.

To add to the above, families that really don't want to go don't have to. Sure it might create some friction with the club but the vast majority will go because they want to. Families are very aware of the travel commitment when they sign a club contract but sign up anyway. The next year if they think it's stupid they either don't re-up with the club at all or opt out of events the next year

[Guest]

I get that in the top several brackets teams could get competition or exposure that they can't find closer to home. But the 2007 girls tournament has fourteen brackets of 8 teams each. Some of the teams are not in the top 100 or even 200 teams in their region, much less nationally. Why Jeff Cup?

And some of these clubs seem to do a series of these long distance travel tournaments. Why?

Link: https://system.gotsport.com/org_even...es?group=30819

I agree. If you're in the top brackets, that makes sense. But for the bottom ones, the top brackets in the local NE tournaments have equal or better competition.

[Guest]

Maybe Jeff wanted protection down there, ever think of that?

[Guest]

I agree. If you're in the top brackets, that makes sense. But for the bottom ones, the top brackets in the local NE tournaments have equal or better competition.

Local tournaments don't start for awhile. This one can be a good warmup event for many. I agree it's maybe not worth it for lower level teams but I'm not the one spending the $. If teams and families are happily participating who cares? If they decide it isn't worth it they don't go the next year.

[Guest]

Local tournaments don't start for awhile. This one can be a good warmup event for many. I agree it's maybe not worth it for lower level teams but I'm not the one spending the $. If teams and families are happily participating who cares? If they decide it isn't worth it they don't go the next year.

Not to nitpick but there have been local tournaments the past couple of weekends