NCSAA Great Lakes Classic

Friday, September 12, 2014 - Saturday, September 13, 2014

2014 NCSAA Great Lakes Classic  

Great Lakes Classic Girls' Varsity Soccer
Boys' Varsity Soccer
Girls' Varsity Volleyball

September 12-13, 2014

Family First Sports Park (Erie, PA)

Register Online

Final Registration Deadline - Friday, August 29, 2014

Date:  September 12-13, 2014

Registration Deadline:

The 2014 NCSAA Great Lakes Classic is open to girls' varsity soccer, boys' varsity soccer, and girls' varsity volleyball teams.  Teams from any region of the country are welcome to attend.

This tournament will be limited to a maximum of 8 girls' varsity soccer, 16 boys' varsity soccer, and 16 girls' varsity volleyball teams.  Register soon in order to be sure to claim a spot!

The final registration deadline is August 29, 2014. At that time we will close registration to begin making the brackets and schedule for the tournament.

Tournament Format:

  • This tournament will be limited to a maximum of 8 girls' varsity soccer, 16 boys' varsity soccer, and 16 girls' varsity volleyball teams -- and will include a maximum of two girls' soccer, three boys' soccer, and three girls' volleyball divisions.  Divisional breakdown will be based on a combination of school size and competitive level.
  • Homeschool teams are welcome to participate, as long as their players meet our eligibility requirements.  (1 - All players must be regular members of your team during the season.  2 - High school graduates are not permitted to participate with your team.  3 - All team members must be homeschooled or not a member of any other school soccer or volleyball team.)  If you are a homeschool team that is interested in participating, please be sure that your players meet these requirements.  Feel free to call for clarification, if necessary.

Tournament Features and Information:

Tournament Description:

  • The NCSAA Great Lakes Classic offers an exciting tournament experience -- in a Christ-centered environment -- for your soccer and volleyball teams.  Highly-organized and hosted at excellent facilities, this unique early-season tournament provides various competitive and team-building benefits to teams of all sizes and levels.

Tournament Format:

  • This tournament is open to Christian and private schools from any region of the country. The tournament will be limited to a maximum of 8 girls' varsity soccer teams, 16 boys' varsity soccer teams, and 16 girls' varsity volleyball teams, which will compete in as many as two girls' soccer, three boys' soccer, and three girls' volleyball divisions.
  • Boys and girls in grades 7-12 are eligible to compete.
  • If your team plays against another team that is restricted from competing against teams that include players below the ninth grade, your 8th-grade (and below) players will not be permitted to compete in that game/match.  This is a rare occurrence in our tournaments, but please be aware of this possibility in advance.
  • Girls will be permitted to participate with your boys' soccer team if your school does not have a girls' soccer team in attendance.
  • Each soccer team will typically play three games during the tournament.  Each volleyball team will typically compete in pool play, and then play at least two full matches.  If you have any concern regarding the number of games or matches your team might play, please give us a call.

Closing Ceremony and Awards:

  • All participating teams will be recognized during each division's closing ceremony, which will also include a special time of recognition and prayer for the coaches of all teams. 
  • Awards will be presented to the 1st and 2nd place teams in each division.
  • The NCSAA Coaches' Award will also be awarded to players throughout the tournament.  These awards will be given by the coaches of the participating teams, as a way to recognize and encourage athletes who demonstrate noteworthy effort, leadership, encouragement, determination, humility, courage, grace, and other qualities of Biblical discipline in their play.  This program allows us to encourage coaches to be intentional in "building into the lives" of the players who are competing this weekend.

Christ-Centered Environment and Team-Building Opportunities:

  • The opportunity to go away to a tournament provides a great time for teammates to grow closer, and we structure our tournaments to encourage growth amongst your team.  We are intentional about providing a consistent spiritual challenge for your athletes throughout the event -- from the devotional challenge at Friday morning's Opening Program (and sometimes also at breakfast on Saturday), to the unique devotional booklet provided to your athletes for their use throughout the event, to the spirit of mutual encouragement and healthy competition typically displayed at this event, to the awarding of NCSAA Coaches' Awards to recognize athletes whose play is marked by qualities of Biblical discipline, to the unified time of team prayer at the Closing Ceremony.  This NCSAA event is distinctive in its goal of being more than just an athletic event; we desire that your players deepen their relationships with God and their teammates during their time here!
  • Various Christian colleges and universities sponsor this tournament, and various colleges may have representatives present at the tournament to interact with the student-athletes.  We will also make available an informational kiosk where students and families can pick up brochures and other items from the various Christian colleges.  When your team is at the tournament, you can encourage your athletes to interact with the colleges that attend, visit the kiosk, and do some research into the schools.  Teams that attend our tournaments have remarked that these oppotunities has been very valuable, as the event doubles as an opportunity to expose your athletes to the value of and options for Christian education beyond high school.

Beneficial Exposure for Your Athletes:

  • Each team's top athletes will be recognized in the "Players to Watch" section of the packet given to all college coaches who attend the event (as well as many college coaches that request these materials after the tournament). This opportunity presents your players with a great chance to be seen by college coaches, scouts, and recruiters.

Location:

Family First Sports Park
8155 Oliver Road
Erie, PA  16509

Family First Sports Park houses sixteen (16) outdoor soccer fields and (4) regulation high school hardwood volleyball courts at its facility in Erie, PA.  The 80-acre property also includes two indoor soccer fields, numerous indoor and outdoor basketball courts, and other attractions.

Check out details about the Park via the links below:

Team Registration Fee (per team, per event):

$350 for NCSAA full member schools
$425 for non-member schools

Become A Member!

Your registration fee is non-refundable, except in the event of the cancellation of the tournament.

Ask about our Team Sponsorship Program, if you'd like more information about how your team can reduce your costs of attending, via the use of this program.  We'd be happy to send you some information on this new money-saving resource!

All teams are expected to pay their full registration fees by the registration deadline date.  Any exceptions to this rule must be discussed with and approved by NCSAA.  If you have any questions regarding this procedure (or if you are already late with your payment), please contact us ASAP.

Individual Athlete Fee:

$25 per athlete (NCSAA full member schools), $30 per athlete (non-member schools)

In an effort to keep the costs of the tournament as low as possible, we also provide the following way for teams to reduce their athlete fees:

* Any team that is a part of an NCSAA Partner League will have their athlete fees reduced by the percentage of full membership represented in the league.  (For example, if 100% of the teams in your Partner League are NCSAA full member schools, you will receive a 100% reduction on your athlete fees.  If 25% of the schools in your Partner League are full member schools, you will receive a 25% reduction on your athlete fees.  Etc...)  Click here for more information about becoming an NCSAA Partner League.  (In order to qualify for the league discounts, a Partner League must have at least six total schools, and at least two of those schools must be full members.)

The individual athlete fee covers and provides access to:

  • Tournament Costs -- Provision of all tournament activities and services to the athlete.  Our costs in putting on this tournament exceed the total amount of entry fees collected, so the athlete fees help to pay the costs of this event.
  • Free Admission -- We encourage parents and families to come out to see their teams play, and the athlete fees allow us to offer free admission (for all three days of the tournament).  We are happy to be able to make attendance of the tournament games affordable for your families!
  • Team Discount Card (when available) -- Every athlete that attends the tournament will receive a discount card, which can be used to receive discounts from a variety of local restaurants and businesses.  We hope this will help your team to save money on some of your expenses during the tournament.  Please ask us for discount cards (available at no cost) for your coaches and families, as well, if that is a help to you!  NOTE: A discount card is not produced for every tournament, but when we are able to arrange for some local discounts, we will make a card available.  If you're wondering whether a card will be available for this tournament, please call to inquire.

Individual athlete fees are due upon your arrival at the tournament. (Most schools have their athletes contribute to cover this fee.)  If you have any questions regarding these fees, please contact us ASAP.

Ask about our Team Sponsorship Program, if you'd like more information about how your team can reduce your costs of attending, via the use of this program.  We'd be happy to send you some information on this new money-saving resource!

Withdrawals:

We understand that occasionally there may be reason for a team to withdraw from a tournament, after having already registered. If any team must withdraw after already registering for the tournament, that team still will be expected to honor its commitment to pay the full team registration fees. NCSAA must budget based on the number of registered teams, and all fees for all registered spots are critical in order to plan for and conduct a successful tournament. Thanks for your understanding of this!

In addition, any team that withdraws from a tournament one week (or less) before the start of a tournament will be required to pay an additional $200 late withdrawal fee (per team), in order to allow us to recoup extra expenses that will we incur in such a circumstance.  If you do have to withdraw after having registered, please do so as early as possible -- to avoid this extra fee.

Lodging and Meals:

Listed below are some options for your team lodging and meals, for those of you who will be coming from out of town:

Housing and Conference Center Option:  $70 per person (2 nights), $50 per night (1 night)

This is a very reduced rate that Family First Sports Park offers to NCSAA.

Please contact Nate Hartman at NCSAA (724-846-2764) in order to make your lodging and meals arrangements.  Space is limited, so please call as soon as possible!

  • The two-night lodging option covers lodging for Thursday and Friday nights, as well as meals for Friday (breakfast / lunch / dinner) and Saturday (breakfast and lunch).
  • The one-night lodging option covers lodging for Friday night, as well as meals for Saturday (breakfast and lunch).
  • Each team staying in the Housing Center is required to have its coaches or adult chaperones staying on-site, as well.
  • Space is the Housing Center is limited, so be sure to call soon if you want to reserve rooms for your teams to stay on-site.
  • You will pay Family First Sports Park directly for your housing and meals. You will not pay NCSAA for these costs.
  • Visit the Family First Sports Park web site via this link for more information about the Housing and Conference Center.

Hotel Options: 

We've been able to negotiate a group rate at the local SpringHill Suites.  If you choose to stay at this hotel, please contact the hotel directly and ask for the group rate for the NCSAA tournament.  You will pay the hotel directly.

SpringHill Suites - $100 / night (while availability lasts)
     Phone: 814-864-5000
     Bedroom (2 double beds or 1 king bed) and living area with pull-out sofa
     Includes hot breakfast buffet, indoor pool, fitness room

Directions:

Family First Sports Park is located at 8155 Oliver Road, Erie, PA 16509.

From Pittsburgh and South:
Take I-79 North to Exit 178A (I-90 East, toward Buffalo). Follow to Exit 24 (Peach Street). Then turn right, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles). Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).

From Buffalo and East:
Take I-90 West to Exit 24 (Peach Street). Then turn left, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles). Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).

From Cleveland and West:
Take I-90 East to Exit 24 (Peach Street). Then turn right, and proceed to Oliver Road (at the next traffic light -- 0.4 miles). Turn right onto Oliver Road, and the Park will be on your left side (0.2 miles).




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