Another big soccer weekend

For the second-straight weekend, Kidsports Complex will be flooded with soccer balls, players, coaches, referees, volunteers and campers.

Last week it was the 2011 Montana Youth Soccer Association National Championship Series Regional Qualifying Tournament for premier teams in three divisions - U14, U16 and U18. That event had 30-plus teams.

This weekend, it’s the massive Three Blind Refs tournament for U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15 and U16 boys and girls teams. The field is at capacity with 115 teams.

"Last year we had 111 and 113 the year before," tournament director Rob Riley said.

"It's (115) the most we've ever had. We don't have enough fields for any more."

The two-day event will utilize eight small fields for U10, U11 and U12 at Kidsports and seven large field (five at Kidsports and two at Glacier) for U-14, U15 and U16.

Play starts 8 a.m. on Glacier's two fields today and 9 a.m. at Kidsports. Glacier's fields will take a break for graduation, then resume play at 2 p.m.

Sunday's action starts at 8 a.m. with championship games running from 12:30-5 p.m.

Riley has been tournament director for this event, which is sponsored by the Flathead Soccer Club, for 12 years.

"I believe this is the 18th years (of the tournament)," he said.

"It was started by the Flathead Force. It was a tournament for younger kids (U11-14) to play in. I think they had 25 teams."

But the tournament has mushroomed into one of the largest in the state.

"It's a good time," Riley said.

"Date-wise, it's convenient for a lot of people. We're getting more Canadian teams down. We have three from Calgary, some from Fernie, Creston, Cranbrook and Kimberley.

"We have the best fields in the state," he added.

"Some of the nicest fields around. People enjoy coming to the Flathead for the weekend. They know they can have an enjoyable time playing soccer and doing other stuff."

Despite a wet week and the last tournament being played in the rain, Riley said field conditions won't be an issue.

"Our fields drain real well, so the field are still in great shape," he said.

"The grass is really nice. City parks and rec did a nice job of mowing and getting everything in shape."

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, will be well represented. Spokane has three teams entered and there is one from Newport, Wash.

"Right now, it's probably as large as we can go," Riley said of the tournament team count.

"We actually had to turn some teams away this year. It was unfortunate, but we had no more field space or game time to put them in."

A total of 225 matches will be played over the course of two days. Each match has a one-hour, five-minute time limit. There is a 25 minute break between matches.

To make sure all the games come off without a hitch, more than 100 referees will work this tournament.

"It's a pretty strict schedule," Riley said.

"We needs lots of people to make that happen."

Riley normally takes a week's vacation leading up to Three Blind Refs to get the fields ready and tournament matters fulfilled.

"This year with the state tournament here last weekend, we had the fields lined and ready to go. It made it a little bit easier."