2008 NCSAA Girls' Varsity Soccer

Great Lakes Classic

To Benefit the Work of Compassion International

www.compassion.com

September 11-13, 2008

Family First Sports Park (Erie, PA)

Early Registration Deadline: May 31, 2008

Final Registration Deadline: August 18, 2008

Register Online!

Submit an Online Interest/Inquiry Form - No Commitment!

Date:  September 11-13, 2008              

Registration Deadlines:

This tournament will be limited to a maximum of 24 girls' varsity soccer teams.  Register soon in order to be sure to claim a spot!

The early registration deadline is May 31, 2008.  Teams that register and pay by this deadline will receive a $25 reduction on their registration fee.  Please make an effort to register by the early registration deadline, so that your team will be given priority, in the event that we need to limit the number of teams that may participate in the tournament.

The final registration deadline is August 18, 2008.  At this 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 24 girls' varsity soccer teams -- and will be played in two or three divisions.  Divisional breakdown will be based on a combination of school size and competitive level.

Tournament Information:

● The NCSAA Great Lakes Classic is a well-organized soccer tournament, hosted at excellent facilities, that provides a high-value competitive and team-building experience (in a Christ-centered environment) for your girls' varsity soccer team.

● This tournament is open to Christian and private schools from any region of the country.  The tournament will be limited to a maximum of 24 teams.

● Girls in grades 8-12 are eligible to compete.  You may obtain a waiver (verbal approval) for 7th grade athletes to participate, if necessary, by contacting NCSAA in advance of the tournament.  If you team plays against another team that is restricted from competing against teams that include players below the ninth grade, your 8th-grade players will not be permitted to compete in that game.  This is a rare occurrence in our tournaments, but please be aware of this possibility in advance.

● The tournament format will include two or three divisions.  Divisional breakdown will be based on a combination of school size and competitive level..

● All teams will play a minimum of three games, with a possibility of a fourth game (and a very remote chance of playing a fifth game) -- depending on the number of teams in your team's division).  If you have any concern regarding the number of games your team might play, please give us a call.

● Championship banners will be presented to the 1st place team in each division.  All participating teams will be recognized during each division's closing ceremony, which will also include a special recognition of the coaches of all teams.

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

● NCSAA continues its commitment to an exciting tradition at our tournaments.  For each team that attends this tournament, we will donate $25 (up to a total of $800) to support the work of Compassion International, a Christian child development organization that assists 760,000 children living in poverty in 24 nations.  We’re very excited about the opportunity to use this money to accomplish a lasting and life-changing purpose in the lives of children worldwide, and we appreciate your support of this program -- simply by registering to be a part of our event.

● Homeschool Teams: Homeschool teams are welcome to participate, but there are some eligibility requirements (high school status, homeschool status, team member status)...and homeschool teams are required to participate in a different division than any state association teams that attend.  If you are a homeschool team that is interested in participating, please call before you register -- to be sure your players meet these requirements.

Location:

Family First Sports Park

8155 Oliver Road

Erie, PA  16509

Family First Sports Park houses sixteen (16) outdoor soccer fields at their facility in Erie, PA.  Their 80-acre property also includes 4 indoor soccer fields, numerous indoor and outdoor basketball courts, a Fun Center (miniature golf, go-kart racing, bumper boats, batting cages, and EuroBungy), Golf Dome, and a variety of other attractions -- so you'll have plenty to do while you're at the tournament!

Check out details about the Park via the links below:

Family First Sports Park - Facility Tour

Housing and Conference Center

Family First Fun Center

Directions to the Park...and Area Attractions

Registration Fee: $250 for NCSAA member schools     Become An NCSAA Member School!

                                  $325 for non-member schools

                                 Save $25 if you register and pay before the early registration deadline (May 31, 2008)!

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

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

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 registration fees, as well as the applicable portion of  the lodging/housing fees for the tournament (as indicated below).  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!

Lodging and Meals Fees:

All teams are required to use one of the following options for their lodging and meals during the tournament (with the exception of local teams that will commute to the park from home each day).

These "per-person" fees will cover each individual's lodging and meals at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center (or lodging at a local hotel, in the event that the Housing Center fills).  NCSAA requires that teams make their lodging arrangements through FFSP; this agreement with the Park allows us to make the cost of facilities affordable for us -- and, thus, to keep the registration cost for all teams at an affordable level.

All teams must contact Family First Sports Park (814-866-5425, ext. 214 or 215) to make their lodging and meals arrangements.

Any team that chooses to make its own lodging and meals arrangements elsewhere will still be required to pay the per-person fees listed below.

Housing and Conference Center Option:  $100 per person

* This fee covers each person's lodging (at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center) for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights -- as well as meals for Thursday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Friday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and Saturday (breakfast only).

* This fee also provides each person with a 3-day pass to the Fun Center attractions.

* If you need to add on Saturday night lodging, you can do that for an extra $15 per person.

* Each team staying in the Housing Center is required to have its coaches 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.

* Once the Housing Center is full, Family First Sports Park staff will accommodate the remaining teams into high-quality hotels, at a higher price.  (See details under "Local Hotel Option" below, for details about hotel packages.)

* 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.

Local Hotel Option:  $150 per person

* This fee covers each person's lodging (at a high-quality local hotel) for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights -- as well as meals for Thursday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Friday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and Saturday (breakfast only).  Meals are provided at the Family First Sports Park Housing and Conference Center.

* This fee also provides each person with a 3-day pass to the Fun Center attractions.

* If you need to add on Saturday night lodging, you can do that for an extra $30 per person.

* This hotel pricing is based on the assumption that you will place four (4) people in each room.  If you desire any rooms with fewer people to a room, the cost will be higher.  You will need to discuss any such special arrangements with the Family First Sports Park staff when calling to make reservations.

* Erie hotels tend to fill quickly, so please be sure to call soon if you want to reserve hotel rooms for your teams.

* If you want to stay at a hotel (or if the Housing Center becomes full to capacity), you must contact Family First, and they will make the reservations for you.  You will then make payment to Family First Sports Park -- not to the hotel or to NCSAA.

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 - old exit 6).  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 - old exit 6).  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 - old exit 6).  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).