May 22-25, 2009
Welcome / Policies and Procedures / Critical Dates / Payment Information

WELCOME   

• The Soccer Association of Columbia/HC invites you to apply for participation in the 34TH Annual Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament to be held May 22-25, 2009
• Columbia's travel teams are affiliated with WAGSL (Washington Area Girls Soccer League) and NCSL (National Capital Soccer League).
• Columbia is centrally located between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. For simply the best soccer competition, play in Columbia over Memorial Weekend and experience for yourself why Sports Illustrated, upon visiting our tournament, proclaimed that, "Here (Columbia), arguably is the heartland of U.S. Soccer."

CONTACT INFORMATION   

• Tournament Director: Michael Libber
• Contact Information: mlibber@elitetournaments.com 

ELIGIBILITY & GUEST PLAYER POLICY  

• The Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament is open to US Club Soccer teams and the following US Youth Soccer teams:

• Intra-club tournament team – a team put together for the purpose of playing in a tournament whose roster includes only players who are members of one club.
• Inter-club tournament team – a team put together for the purpose of playing in a tournament whose roster includes players who are members of more than one club.
• League team – a team which participates in regularly scheduled league play.
• Premier team – a team which participates in a premier league.
• Select team – the official all-star teams of USYS

• All teams must be registered and in good standing with their affiliated  State Association. Notification of travel forms, validated player passes with photos; official team rosters with uniform numbers and medical release forms will be required of all teams accepted into the tournament.
• Teams requesting to use guest players may have no more than 18 players (U12 thru U19), up to 4 guest players. U9- U12 (7v7 and 8v8) age groups maximum roster size is 14 whose number may include up to 3 guest players.

NUMBER OF GAMES, CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE, RULES, and AWARDS

• Your team is guaranteed a minimum of three (3) games. Playoff rounds will be played on Saturday and Sunday. All Finals will be played on Monday. Criteria for acceptance and seeding of teams will be based on the following:

• National/Regional Competition
• State Cup Competition
• League Record/Level of Competition
• Tournament Competition
• Geographic Location
• Team Sportsmanship at US Soccer Sanctioned Tournaments
  

 

• All teams must submit accurate information and complete the application in its entirety.
• Please note that if a club enters multiple applications for its teams, each team will be evaluated individually and a decision will be made on a per team basis and NOT on a club basis.
• All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by Tournament Rules. A complete set of Rules will be posted on the tournament website.
• Awards will be presented to all Champions and Finalists.

AGE GROUPS and LENGTH OF GAMES   

COLLEGES   

• The Tournament will be host to numerous college coaches. Annually, more than 275 coaches visit during the Tournament weekend. This high level of exposure has enabled us to strengthen the competitive levels of play in the U-15 thru U-19 program and attract highly skilled teams.
  
  
• PLAYER PROFILES   
• Player Profiles (U-15 thru U-19) will be made available to all college coaches in attendance at the Tournament. This information will be extracted from the team roster form provided on the website.  Therefore, it is important that ALL information requested on this form be submitted by the requested deadline date.

REFEREES   

• Every effort is made to provide the three-man system of officiating at every age level. Two other major tournaments are held in the Baltimore/Washington area over the Memorial Weekend thereby limiting our resources. If you are a certified referee or know referees in your area, we would welcome you/them to become a part of the Columbia Invitational. Additional information is available by e-mailing Assignor Hugh Blocker at hughblocker@aol.com  

APPLICATION DEADLINE   

• Applications must be SUBMITTED by APRIL 1st . Applications SUBMITTED AFTER April 1st will be placed on a waiting list. MAILED OR FAXED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  All applications along with credit card payment (Visa or MC only) must be completed on-line at the time of application. 
• The tournament fee for U12-U14 is $795.00 per team, U15-U19 is $825   and is required upon making application. The tournament fee for U9-U10 (7v7) is $600.00 per team and U11-U12 (8v8) is $625 per team . A team application will be considered incomplete and will not be considered if payment is not submitted at the time of making application. If your team is accepted, the fee is non-refundable. If your team is accepted and later withdraws, the entry fee is non-refundable and sanctions will be placed against your team for participation in future tournaments. Should your team not be accepted, your credit card will be credited for the entire amount of the entry fee.
• In order for the Tournament Committee to evaluate your application, it is important that you submit accurate information about your team and complete the application in its entirety. If necessary, league administrators will be contacted for verification of information. Teams will be notified of acceptance and non-acceptance BY APRIL 11, 2009. Verbal acceptance will not be granted.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS   

• All teams are required to use THS for all hotel arrangements. To make your hotel arrangements please Click Here
• Any team not using our hotel ooking agency will be subject to a $500 housing fee.

AIRLINE TRANSPORTATION    

• If you are arriving by air, the Baltimore-Washington International Airport is closest to Columbia - travel time is 20-25 minutes. Other airports in the Metropolitan area include Ronald Reagan Airport, D.C. (45 minutes) or Dulles International Airport, VA (60 minutes). Many of the hotels located at the BWI Airport offer complimentary transportation from the airport to their establishment. If you are driving, Columbia is located off I-95 between Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. Route 175 West from I-95 takes you to the center of Columbia.
  
  We look forward to welcoming you and your players in 2009 and hope that you will experience a weekend of good soccer and fun!
  
  Michael Libber, Director

NO PETS ALLOWED AT COVENANT PARK!!!

LIST OF IMPORTANT DATES