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The big stuff is largely under control.
What Ray White concerns himself with during the days leading up to the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships are the little things.
“At this point it’s really getting right down to making sure there are enough people in the right spots doing the right things,” said White, president of Scarborough-based Soccer Maine, the host state soccer association for the regional tournament that begins Thursday with opening ceremonies at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland and continues through July 1.
“Everything from field marshals to parking attendants to having enough kids to pick up trash at all the facilities, there are a lot of little things to take care of.”
White expects to have approximately 400 volunteers involved in projects large and small during the weeklong event.
Between 12,000 and 13,000 people are expected to attend the opening ceremonies, including up to 5,000 soccer players from Maine to Virginia who will be competing for regional titles during five days of matches that begin Friday at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Falmouth Park and Falmouth High School fields.
Round robin competition runs through Sunday at all three venues, while semifinals will be held Monday and the championship matches Tuesday, July 1, at Bowdoin College.
Regional winners in each age group advance to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships to be held July 22-27 at Little Rock, Ark.
This marks the second year Soccer Maine and Greater Portland has hosted the event. The 2007 tournament pumped an estimated $9 million into the southern Maine economy, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland estimates an economic impact of as much as $10 million this year.
“We felt like last year was pretty successful for the first time the tournament was here,” said White. “We had our hiccups, but the feedback we got from Adidas and the other national sponsors and from the regional people was very positive, that it was the best tournament on record.”
Teams ranging from Under-12 to Under-19 will compete in the regionals, with small-sided play (eight-on-eight competition) for the Under-12 boys and girls divisions.
Ten boys teams and nine girls teams will represent Maine, including two Under-12 teams from the Hampden-based Blackbear United Football Club.
Both Blackbear United FC teams will begin pool play Friday.
The U12 boys team will play Northeast United #2 of Connecticut in a 9:15 a.m. start at the Falmouth #16 field and the U12 girls team will meet Capital SC of Vermont at noon at Falmouth #17.
Each Blackbear United FC team is guaranteed three games in pool play.
This marks the first time in Blackbear United history the club has sent two teams to the Region I event, though the club has advanced one team to the regionals in each of the previous four years.
Last year, for example, a Blackbear United U19 girls team earned a semifinal berth and was believed to be the first Maine girls squad to advance out of pool play.
Most of the Maine teams in this year’s event are based in the southern part of the state, including seven representing Coastal SC of Brunswick and three each from Maine Coast United of Falmouth, Maine Metro of Westbrook and Odyssey Sport SC of Scarborough.
In addition to Soccer Maine, other state associations to be represented at the Region I tournament are Connecticut, Delaware, Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York West, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.
Next year the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships move to Barboursville and Huntington, W.Va., for a two-year stay.
eclark@bangordailynews.net
990-8045
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT
Soccer Maine is seeking volunteers to help with the Region 1 tournament from June 25-July 1. The hosting organization will need help at the various locations, Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland, Falmouth High School and Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Those interested may contact volunteer coordinator, Sarah Johnson at sarahj5@mac.com or call 266-2068.
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