Category Archives: News

QR Codes come to soccer tournaments

August 26, 2011Newsgerard

TourneyCentral implemented an integration of QR Codes for youth soccer tournaments that lead directly to the web application version of the scores, sponsor DEALS and tournament news. The web app is cross-platform and can be used on any smart phone that has a web browser such as Android, iPhone, HTC and other full-screen smart phone. TourneyCentral is the first and only soccer tournament software provider to integrate QR codes for youth soccer tournaments.

“QR codes are basically speed-dial for smart phones,” says Gerard McLean, President of TourneyCentral. “Soccer fans just need to point and click on the code with a web-enabled smart phone to load the mobile site. Once loaded, they can look up scores, DEALS and the latest tournament news.”

The first soccer tournament to be outfitted with a QR code is the CUSA Cup in Centerville, Ohio over Labor Day weekend, September 3-5, 2011. The website is at http://www.cusacup.com The QR code is displayed on the sidebar of every page on the website. The CUSA Cup tournament is also printing the QR code on the cover of their program as well as displaying at on the scoring boards at each of their four sites.

“We’re excited about leading the technology for soccer tournaments,” says Dan Monahan, tournament director for the CUSA Cup, “… especially the tools that allow our families to be more mobile and access the tournament information quickly where they are. Being mobile helps us deliver a larger audience of ready customers to the advertisers and sponsors who support our soccer tournament.”

In addition to the QR codes to support the mobile strategy, the CUSA Cup has also established a twitter account and Facebook page. Both can be found on their website immediately above the QR code on the left sidebar. TourneyCentral has supported social media for the past year and actively advises soccer tournament directors on how to integrate the platforms for their soccer tournament.

All soccer tournaments in the TourneyCentral family will be outfited with their own QR code within the next month.

TourneyCentral mobile web app screen shots

Screen shots from the TourneyCentral mobile web app

ABOUT TOURNEYCENTRAL
TourneyCentral is the only fully integrated, event-focused online solution for youth soccer tournaments. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, advertising tools provide tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

TourneyCentral is owned by Rivershark Inc., based in Ohio. Companion and marketing partner properties consist of The Touchline, a blog and iTunes podcast for tournament directors, MyTournamentSpace, a photo-sharing site linked directly into the tournament game schedule and www.ticoscore.com, a single-source database and ranking system for soccer tournaments.

TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Kansas City, MO in January 2011.

Contact for more information
Gerard McLean
gmclean [at] rivershark.com
937-836-6255

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Tweet Inspires Local Student to Design Ace of Cakes Soccer Cake

January 14, 2011NewsAce of Cakes, baking, cake, Charm City Cakes, crab, culinary, Duff Goldman, foodnetwork, nscaa2011, Soccer, tournament softwaregerard

“Can anyone draw a Maryland blue crab attacking a soccer ball like a monster truck?” That tweet from TourneyCentral.com President Gerard McLean moved 16-year-old Nicole Manzo, a junior at Fairmont High School, to try her hand at designing a cake. McLean forwarded the design to Charm City Cakes, the star of the popular television show, “Ace of Cakes,” on the Food Network.

TourneyCentral.com is using the resulting masterpiece cake to promote their complete end-to-end soccer tournament management system at the upcoming National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention in Baltimore, Maryland on January 13-15, 2011. The annual event is a showplace of soccer education, awards and exhibits for soccer coaches and youth tournament organizers nationwide.

The request actually got to Nicole secondhand through her mother Karen Manzo, who is a business associate of McLean’s. According to Karen, Nicole is an “Awesome artist,” whose first job was as a face painter at the Italian Fest. She continues to volunteer for that event and others as time permits. In addition to artistic pursuits, Nicole is a dedicated business student who is, “determined to own her own business some day.” On the extra-curricular front, the younger Manzo is a three-sport athlete spending time competing in field hockey, swimming and track.

ABOUT TOURNEYCENTRAL
TourneyCentral is the only fully integrated, event-focused online solution for youth soccer tournaments. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, advertising tools provide tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Baltimore in January 2011. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

TourneyCentral announces major updates in 2011

December 1, 2010Newsgotsoccer, soccer software, soccer tournament software, Soccer tournaments, soccer tournaments 2011, tournament softwaregerard

TourneyCentral, the only fully integrated online solution for youth soccer tournaments, announced today it has included several new features in the 2011 release of the popular soccer tournament software. The features will provide additional capability via sophisticated integration with new media, including social media. Soccer players, coaches and fans will be now be able to combine their tournament experiences with their personal Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts. TourneyCentral is the only event-focused youth soccer tournament software that provides a complete end-to-end integration solution.

“Our customers continue to ask for leading edge features as the soccer tournament market develops and grows and we continue to respond,” says Gerard McLean, President of TourneyCentral. “At the same time, our competitors have become more aggressive in their attempts to mislead the market regarding our capabilities and strengths. As the established leader in soccer tournament software, it’s time to make another giant step ahead of the market by providing these unique and unparalleled new features.”

In addition to participants, TourneyCentral has also integrated its online DEALS section with advertisers’ social media spaces like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Fans can now connect with advertisers in multiple ways, providing a stronger and more robust experience for important sponsors of the software.

“All our advertising for our tournament has moved online,” claims Dan Monahan, tournament director for the Mead Cup. “The tools that TourneyCentral provides for us in their online DEALS area are far more comprehensive than anything we can print in a program. We can sell more quickly, distribute to a wider audience and drive significantly more traffic to our advertisers.”

“We’ve listened carefully to what the core soccer market wants, and this newest release is our response,” says McLean. “We’re making the tournament experience even memorable for our participants by integrating today’s vibrant new media environment even more tightly with TourneyCentral.”

The only solution of its kind that does not rely on external partners to provide functionality, TourneyCentral offers a stable, secure environment for advertisers as well as fans, coaches and players.

ABOUT TOURNEYCENTRAL
TourneyCentral is the only fully integrated, event-focused online solution for youth soccer tournaments. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, advertising tools provide tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Baltimore in January 2011. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

TourneyCentral.com is owned by Rivershark Inc., based in Ohio. Companion and marketing partner properties consist of The Soccer Tournament Review, a blog and iTunes podcast for tournament directors, MyTournamentSpace, a photo-sharing site linked directly into the tournament game schedule and www.ticoscore.com, a single-source database and ranking system for soccer tournaments.

TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Baltimore in January 2010.

Contact for more information
Gerard McLean
gmclean [at] rivershark.com
937-836-6255

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TourneyCentral sends scores and news to Twitter

May 23, 2009Newssoccer tournament softwaregerard

TourneyCentral, an online service available to Soccer Tournament Directors, announced that the users of its service now receive the added benefit of having their scores, schedules, announcements and information automatically “tweeted” out to followers on Twitter at @tourneycentral. Twitter is a micro-blogging application and is currently the hottest social media tool on the market. The development is an added feature because it centralizes soccer event updates for parents and fans, who can turn on the notification if they are at a TourneyCentral tournament and turn it off afterward.

“Many people are at soccer matches tweeting updates to their contacts using their iPhone, Blackberry and cell phones,” says TourneyCentral President Gerard McLean, “It just makes sense that we would automate the process from a single point of contact.” He adds, “This feature of our TourneyCentral product allows tournament directors to maximize the benefits of a very effective social networking medium by pushing out their message on Twitter.”

The tweet uses the #tag of the event (i.e. #WSC is Warrior Classic, #WLI is Westlake Invitational, etc.) and shows which divisions that were updated. In addition to scores and news, the spirit center for each event will be resurrected using Twitter. The calendar of soccer tournament events is available here.

ABOUT TOURNEYCENTRAL
TourneyCentral.com provides comprehensive, event-focused, web-based solutions for youth soccer tournaments and is wholly owned by Rivershark, Inc. an Ohio Corporation. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, the advertising tools provide the tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

Companion and marketing partner properties consist of: The Soccer Tournament Review, a blog and iTunes podcast for tournament directors, MyTournamentSpace, a photo-sharing site linked directly into the tournament game schedule and www.ticoscore.com, a single-source database and ranking system for soccer tournaments.

TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Philadelphia in January 2010.

Contact for more information
Gerard McLean
gmclean [at] rivershark.com
937-836-6255

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Top Drawer Soccer interviews TourneyCentral

March 28, 2009Newsgerard

Gerard McLean with TourneyCentral was interviewed by Top Drawer Soccer this week. The interview appears in their new technology section on their web site.

“We’re excited to be recognized as a leader in the soccer tournament industry,” McLean said. He added that TourneyCentral, while great software, is much more about helping soccer tournaments manage their operations and marketing than it is about web sites and email.

“Software is just one tool we use,” McLean says. “Other tools we rely on is our expert advise from our staff, who are all soccer veterans. It helps to listen to the soccer world around you and craft tools to deal with upcoming trends.”

TourneyCentral will be attending the NSCAA Conference in Philadelphia in January 2010.

Contact for more information
Gerard McLean
gmclean [at] rivershark.com
937-836-6255

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TourneyCentral to offer three levels of soccer tournament software

December 22, 2008Newsgerard

TourneyCentral, a Rivershark, Inc. brand, announced today the addition of three levels of service for their award-winning soccer tournament product. Each package will contain increasing levels of features and support, depending on the size and volume of the soccer tournament.

Gerard McLean, President and CEO of Rivershark, explains. “We realize tournament size and complexity varies among youth soccer tournaments. What one tournament needs is not necessarily the needs of another.”

Previously, all tournaments were given one basic package that contained all the modules, from team applications through sceheduling and scoring, including referee scheduling and a full-featured hotel management system.

McLean adds, “Larger tournaments typically require a full host of featurs and services, whereas smaller ones may just be interested in the basics such as online applications, scheduling and scoring.”

The basics like a web site, online team applications and online scheduling and scoring will be available for the basic (Select) level and for each of the other two. The middle package (Premier) will contain the software modules most associated with a TourneyCentral soccer tournament, including hotel room requests for team, volunteer and referee scheduling as well as live support. And lastly, the high-end (Elite) package will contain a full-service concierge-like service for the tournaments that require additional service.

A grid that outlines the packages and services is available at TourneyCentral.com. The TourneyCentral product will remain a hosted, web-based service.

About TourneyCentral
TourneyCentral.com provides comprehensive, event-focused, web-based solutions for youth soccer tournaments and is wholly owned by Rivershark, Inc. an Ohio Corporation. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, the advertising tools provide the tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

TourneyCentral will be exhibiting at the NSCAA Conference in St. Louis this January, booth number 1175.

Contact for more information
Gerard McLean
gmclean [at] rivershark.com
937-836-6255

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Rockers exit season with a hat-trick

June 15, 2008Newsfort wayne, rivershark, rockers, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

Rivershark Rockers upset Chatham, Illinois team to win the Fort Wayne Invitational

Kaylin Hunsaker, Melissa McLean, Molly Holliman

With final game score of 4-1, the Rivershark Rockers finished their 2008 season with a medal hat-trick, placing in the adidas Warrior Socer Classic, the West Carrollton Soccer Blast and the Fort Wayne Invitational in the last three weekends of soccer tournament play. The Rockers upset the Five Star SC team from Chatham, Ill. to claim the first-place medal at the Invitational.

“It’s always nice to finsh strong,” said John McVey, head coach for the Rivershark Rockers. “The girls looks forward to the Fort Wayne Invitational every year as their last tournament together before starting their high school or college seasons.”

The Rockers are sponsored by Englewood-based Rivershark, Inc., the parent company of TourneyCentral.com and are part of the Southstars Soccer Club. TourneyCentral hosts the Fort Wayne invtiational and 24 other local Miami Valley soccer tournaments.

For all the scores of the Rivershark Rockers and the other 108 teams competing at the Fort Wayne Invitational, visit the Web site at www.fwinvitational.com.

PHOTO: Kaylin Hunsaker, Melissa McLean, Molly Holliman

About TourneyCentral
TourneyCentral.com provides comprehensive, event-focused, web-based solutions for youth soccer tournaments and is wholly owned by Rivershark, Inc. an Ohio Corporation. Since 1999, TourneyCentral has been producing web sites that provide youth soccer tournaments with end-to-end integrated experience management for guest teams, from marketing through scoring. In addition, the advertising tools provide the tournaments with an increased opportunity for advertising and sponsorship revenue as a result of significantly increased traffic to the web site. For more information, visit www.tourneycentral.com.

Visit us at the 2009 NSCAA in St. Louis, MO.

Rivershark Rockers win 2008 Soccer Blast

June 6, 2008Newsrivershark, rockers, Soccer, Soccer tournaments, soccer-blastgerard

The Rivershark Rockers won the Girls U19 division at the 2008 West Carrollton Soccer Blast, held this weekend in West Carrollton and Miamisburg.

Rivershark Rockers

The Rivershark Rockers won the Girls U19 division at the 2008 West Carrollton Soccer Blast, held this weekend in West Carrollton and Miamisburg. The girls played a five-team round robin division and finished first following a game on Sunday afternoon. Also competing in the division were clubs from the Miami Valley area, including the Warrior Soccer Club and Club X.

The Rockers count three Northmont-area players on their roster; Melissa McLean, Molly Holliman and Laci Stowe. McLean is a senior during the 2008 season whereas Holliman and Stowe gradutated in 2008. All played varisty for the Northmont Women’s team.

The Rockers are sponsored by Englewood-based Rivershark, Inc., the parent company of TourneyCentral.com and part of the Southstars Soccer Club. TourneyCentral hosts the Soccer Blast and 23 other local soccer tournaments.

For all the scores of the Rivershark Rockers and the other 83 teams competing at the 10th annual Soccer Blast, visit the Web site at www.soccer-blast.com.

Visit us at the 2009 NSCAA in St. Louis, MO.

Rivershark Rockers GU19 Gold Finalist at the Warrior Classic

May 25, 2008NewsSoccer tournamentsgerard

Rivershark Rockers win GU19 Gold finalist medals at the 22nd annual adidas Warrior Classic.

Rivershark Rockers

The Rivershark Rockers were awarded finalist medals today at the 22nd annual adidas Warrior Soccer Classic in the Girls U19 Gold division. The final game was against the Ambassador SC from Columbus, Oh. The final score was 5-0.

“This is an awesome tournament and for our girls to advance to a final game, that means something,” said John McVey, head coach of the Rockers. “The loss in the final was disappointing, but the Ambassadors are a good team.”

The Rivershark Rockers were formed as a tournament team to give the high-school aged girls exposure to college coaches. Their first soccer tournament was in Rome, Georgia in November. Since then, they have competed locally at the MASC and PRF tournaments in Cincinnati. They plan on competing in the West Carrolton Soccer Blast and in the Fort Wayne Invitational during June.

The Rockers are sponsored by Englewood-based Rivershark, Inc., the parent company of TourneyCentral.com, the technology company that hosts the Warrior Classic and 23 other local soccer tournaments.

For all the scores of the Rivershark Rockers and the other 524 teams competing at the 22nd annual Warrior Classic, visit the Web site at www.warriorclassic.com.

Visit us at the 2009 NSCAA in St. Louis, MO.

Market Day debuts soccer fundraising at the Warrior Classic

May 5, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

20080427marketday DAYTON – Market Day is known best for fundraising in schools, but this year, it is branching out into soccer tournaments and clubs. The Warrior Soccer Classic is the first soccer tournament to feature the soccer-specific fund-raiser.

“We met at the US Youth Soccer Convention in Pittsburgh,” says Carol Maas, co-director for the Classic. “It was an instant marriage of common interest and goals.” Mass added that Market Day was a good match for the 24,000 plus participants of the annual soccer tournament.

According to Kristine Holtz, 40, president and CEO for Market Day, the fundraising organization was founded in the early 1970s by Trudy Temple in response to her daughter’s request for a cake for the school bake sale. Instead, Temple brought cases of fresh produce and soon found herself being asked to do the same for more schools.

“The soccer tournament fund-raising concept is just an extension of what Market Day already does well,” Holtz added. “We’re excited to partner with the Classic to introduce the concept to soccer.”

The Warrior Soccer Classic is held every year over Memorial Day Weekend in Dayton, Oh. at Thomas Cloud Park, Oakwood Old River, Ankeney Complex and the Vandalia Soccer Fields. The Classic is hosting over 525 teams in forty-three divisions; boys, girls and amateur men and women, under 8-19. Nine hundred nine games will be played over the three-day weekend.

For more information on the Warrior Classic or Market Day, visit the tournament Web site at www.warriorclassic.com.

PHOTO: Maas demonstrates the Market Day product line available to teams during the Warrior Classic.

Visit the event web site….

MASC declares girls champions

April 15, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

FAIRFIELD – According to its Web site, the 2008 MidAmerican Soccer Classic (MASC) declared the following teams champions within their divisions for the girls weekend.

GU09Bronze, GPSA Breakers 99A; GU09Copper, GSSA Sycamore United; GU09Gold, Warren County Blue; GU09Silver, Classics hammer FC; GU10Bronze, Westside Premier 97-98; GU10Copper, WC Silver Attack Pack; GU10Gold, Michigan Burn 98 Sikorski; GU10Red, WV Chaos-Fox; GU10Silver, Pride S.C. Maroon; GU11Gold, Eagles SC, Lady Eagles ’96; GU11Bronze, Loveland Chargers Orange; GU11Copper, Worthington United Silver; GU11Red, FOSC Swarm White; GU11Silver, NK United Lady Cobras; GU12-8v8Bronze, 1996 WV Chaos Girls; GU12-8v8Silver, Westlake Rockers; GU12Bronze, Sycamore United Gold; Gu12 Copper, Stingers; GU12Gold, LUSC Premier; GU12Silver, NWC Alliance G95 Black; GU13Bronze, Cincinnati Futbol Academy Gold; GU13Copper, NK United Flames; GU13Gold, Greater Toledo Futbol Club; GU13Red Canton Celtic 95 White; GU13Silver, Cutters 95; GU14Bronze, NK United Crush; GU14Copper, Sycamore Arsenal; GU14Gold, Central Ky Lightening; GU14Silver, BSC Cobras; GU15Bronze, WC United Blue; Gu15Gold, WV Chaos Elite; GU15Silver, Ohio Galaxies FC 92 Elite Girls; GU16Bronze, CJ United Crossfire, GU16Gold, North London Flash U15 Girls, GU16Silver MTSC Thunder, GU17Bronze, Loveland Chargers U16; GU17Gold, Commonwealth Soccer Club, U17; GU17Silver, St Catharines Jets; GU19Gold, London Supernova; GU19Silver, CWSC United

For complete information on the MASC soccer tournament, including real-time scores, standings and photos, visit the Web site at www.masctournament.com.

Visit the event web site….

Soccer moms and dads arm themselves with cameras in hunt for precious memories

April 11, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

20080411masc FAIRFIELD – Armed with cameras trained at soccer players on the field of competition, Corinne Vespie and her crew of soccer moms and dads are on a mission to capture as many photos as possible of the teams at this year’s Mid American Soccer Classic (MASC).

“I’ve had over twenty responses from boys teams and over forty responses for girls teams to be photographed,” states Vespie excitedly. “I’m sure we’ll get more as the tournament progresses.” All the proceeds from the sale of the photos will be given to the Fairfield Optimist Soccer Club (FOSC) Girls U16 Thunder.

Joining Vespie in the fund-raising endeavor are other soccer moms and dads that she recruited; Lorinda Ottaway, Vickie Gump and Shawn Starkey. Vespie is a part-time professional photographer and hopes to turn this opportunity into a full-time profession.

“All of the photographers have girls who play for FOSC,” Vespie explains. The photos will be available through Picture Perfect Studio’s Web site, linked from the MASC tournament Web site.

For complete information about the 2008 MASC soccer tournament, including real-time scores, standing and photos taken by Vespie and her crew, visit www.masctournament.com.

PHOTO (Contributed by Corinne Vespie) A game photograph available for purchase of the MASC boys weekend.

Visit the event web site….

MASC declares boys champions

April 8, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

FAIRFIELD – According to its Web site, the 2008 MidAmerican Soccer Classic (MASC) declared the following teams champions within their divisions for the boys weekend.

BU08Gold, WC United B99 Red; BU09Bronze, Canton Celtic 99 White; BU09Copper, Cesa FC; BU09Gold, Sycamore Arsenal – Black; BU09Silver, WASA Eagles Wings; BU10Bronze, U-10 Ohio Elite Soccer Academy Gold; BU10Copper, Hilliard FC Nitro; BU10Gold, KASC Elite 97; BU10Silver, Team Ohio FC Arsenal; BU11Gold, Warren County United United Blue B96; BU11Silver, Michigan Rush Swoosh; BU12-8v8, Michigan Rush Swoosh; BU12Bronze, CFC Fury; BU12Copper, LUSC Firehawks Black; BU12Gold, WC United Blue 95; BU12Silver, Magic White 96; BU13Bronze, Warrior 94; BU13Copper, WASA Global Red; BU13Gold, Team Ohio FC Sparta; BU13Silver, FOSC Storm; BU14Bronze, FOSC Force U-14 Boys; BU14Copper, Toledo Football Academy; BU14Gold, Toledo Football Academy U14 Premier; BU14Silver, Cincinnati United Premier White; BU15Bronze, MTSC Storm; BU15Copper, Toledo Football Academy; BU15Gold, Lakota Eagles; BU15Silver, Michigan Rush Nike; BU16Bronze, Toledo Football Academy U16 Premier; BU16Copper, SKY FC 92; BU16Gold, CESA FC U-16; BU16Silver, Livonia Meteors; BU17Bronze, Team Ohio FC Black; BU17Gold, FOSC Blitz; BU17Silver, CUP 91 White; BU19Gold, FOSC KRUE and BU19Silver, FOSC United.

The girls teams play this coming weekend at the same locations in Fairfield, Oh. For complete information on the MASC soccer tournament, including real-time scores, standings and photos, visit the Web site at www.masctournament.com.

Visit the event web site….

Referees make good call on banana bread

April 5, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

20080405masc FAIRFIELD – It is rare that a soccer referee gets everyone to agree on a call, but when it comes to Steve Frechling’s banana bread, the opinions are unanimous. This bread is good.

Frechling started baking banana bread about 11 years ago when he suddenly found a lot a time on his hands after his son finished playing travel hockey. He had a steady supply of bananas from his employer, time and a desire to try something new. A menu of banana breads that include such flavors as white chocolate, chocolate chip, peanut butter, walnut and plain banana was born. He started to bring the extra loaves to the referee tents and quickly found himself a fan following.

“This has grown into a small cottage industry,” Frechling says. “Referees seem to like it and now expect it at soccer tournament where I referee.”

In addition to refereeing league games and tournaments, Frechling also assigns referees for the MASC, PRF and helps out with other tournaments across southwestern Ohio. This weekend and next, he and his banana bread will be at the referee tents in ample supply at the MASC tournament, in Fairfield, Oh.

For complete information at this year’s MASC, please visit the Web site at www.masctournament.com

PHOTO: Harry Bourne and Dan Craycraft, both referees at the 2008 MASC soccer tournament, take a moment between games to chat and enjoy Frechling’s banana bread with coffee.

Visit the event web site….

MASC hosts soccer teams from seven states and Canada

April 4, 2008DDN News, Newsalltop, dayton daily news, daytondailynews.com, hyper local news, hyperlocal, Ohio, Soccer, Soccer tournamentsgerard

20080404masc FAIRFIELD – This weekend, the Mid-American Soccer Classic (MASC) will host 262 boys teams from seven states, including Canada. The teams are traveling from Indiana, Ohio (North and South), West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Six of the boys teams are from Canada, with twenty-one teams total from Canada. A total of 430 games over Saturday and Sunday will be played at Optimist Park, Joyce Park and Applecreek Fields in Fairfield. The girls play at the same venues next weekend, April 12-13.

Some teams had expressed some concern about the weather, but according to Mike Hessling, the tournament schedule coordinator, the fields are in playable condition and he expects the rain to hold. “We’ll just move things around if we need to,” Hessling chimed. “No big deal.”

The total number of teams for both weekends is 577 with a grand total of 950 games. “That’s also a lot of referees,” says John Kingham, one of the three referee assignors tasked with finding and scheduling referees. “We just take it in stride, the weather and all the activity. That’s just soccer.”

For all the game action as it unfolds throughout both weekends, visit the MASC Web site at www.masctournament.com.

PHOTO: Game action from the 2007 MASC girls weekend.

Visit the event web site….