TAKOMA SOCCER 2020 SOCCERFEST FAQ

  1. WHERE WILL THE 2020 SOCCERFEST TAKE PLACE?
    The Soccerfest will be held this year at LEE JORDAN FIELD adjacent to Takoma Park Middle School at 7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, MD, just a couple blocks north of MD Route 410 (Philadelphia Avenue).

  2. WHEN WILL MY TEAM/PLAYERS PLAY?
    Check the "TeamsByDivision" document to see where your team will play, then consult the following schedule summary.  Unless noted in the remarks, teams generally alternate half-hours playing and resting.

    >>>Detailed match schedule to be determined<<<

  3. WHERE CAN I PARK NEAR THE SOCCERFEST?
    There are six parking lots close to the field.  One is the Takoma Park Middle School parking lot on Piney Branch Avenue at Grant Avenue.  One is in front of Takoma Park Elementary School, 7511 Holly Ave.  One is at the end of Darwin Ave -- from the Takoma Park Middle School, turn left on Grant Ave, go one block, turn left on Darwin, go one short block, and you are in the parking lot.  One is behind the Takoma Park community center, 7500 Maple Ave.  One is in front of the community center.  One is in front of Piney Branch Elementary School, 7510 Maple Ave.  Please do not park along the residential, dead-end section of Grant Avenue, and obey all parking restrictions.

  4. ARE THERE BATHROOM FACILITIES AT THE SOCCERFEST?
    There is a single port-o-john at the field near the equipment shed next to Piney Branch Road, so you may wish to plan ahead!!  Please keep the facilities as clean as possible as a courtesy to others attending the Soccerfest!!

  5. I VOLUNTEERED TO HELP.  WHEN WILL I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY DUTIES?
    First of all, thanks for volunteering!  You will receive additional information via e-mail or phone call concerning assigned duties from one of the Soccerfest lead officials.  Coaches, if you have not identified the name of at least one volunteer per team entry, please provide me this information ASAP, including contact phone number, e-mail address, and preferred volunteer duties & times.  See the bottom of the Soccerfest entry form for possible volunteer duties.  WE NEED TENT OFFICIALS AND CLEAN-UP FOLKS!!!  If your team has not submitted any volunteer names, expect to contribute time yourself to refereeing, at the officials tent, or cleanup.  We'll sign you up for a duty at check-in.

  6. CAN I REVISE MY TEAM ROSTER?
    Yes, you may submit a revised roster that adds, removes, or changes players but only by dropping it off at my house (9209 Whitney Street in Silver Spring; directions) by 9:00 AM, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020.  Your entry form is the record of your team's roster on tournament day.  Teams may absolutely not add or swap players during the tournament, even in cases of player injury.  Violators are subject to penalty (e.g., forfeiture, disqualification) at the discretion of the Tournament Director or his delegates.

  7. HOW DO I PAY THE BALANCE OF THE TEAM REGISTRATION FEE?
    If you're not fully paid up, please (PLEASE!!!) drop a payment off at my house by 9:00 AM, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020.  Officials will not handle payment (cash or checks) on tournament day.

  8. WHAT ABOUT WEATHER?
    As we approach tournament day, I will record a weather message on my home phone answering machine (301-495-9438).  In event of a postponement, the rain date is Monday, May 25, 2020 (Memorial Day).

  9. HOW AND WHERE DO I CHECK IN ON TOURNAMENT DAY?
    Coaches (only) please go to the Officials Tent when arriving at the tournament site.  Please do this at least 30 minutes before your first game.  You don't want to have forfeit that first game because of a long line at check-in.  You will get several handouts, including final version of the coaches' handout, match results forms, and score sheet for your division(s).

  10. WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL SOCCERFEST RULES?
    Rules of the Game, including a field diagram and some rules clarifications, are here.  If you have questions on rules in advance of the tournament, e-mail me.

  11. WHAT EQUIPMENT MUST PLAYERS HAVE?
    Players *must* wear shin guards or they will be excluded from play.  Soccer cleats are recommended.  All players should bring water to the field.  There will be a couple big jugs at the field to refill water bottles.  We'll do what we can to keep these full.  Every team should have one ball suitable to be a game ball.

  12. ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO HELP STAGE THE SOCCERFEST?
    If you have an extra collapsible table or fold-up chair or two, and wouldn't mind lending them for the day to the Tournament Officials, please bring these along to the Officials Tent.  We'll put a label on them to be sure to get them back to the right person.  Please e-mail me if you'd like to do this.

  13. HOW CAN I HELP PROMOTE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP?
    Please treat the Referees and other tournament officials with respect, and have your players and parents do the same.  Referees' decisions are final.  Neither the Referee Coordinator nor Tournament Director will overturn referees' decisions.

Bob Antonisse
Takoma Soccer Soccerfest Tournament Director
301-495-9438

Directions to 9209 Whitney Street from Philadelphia Avenue (MD Route 410) and Piney Branch Road (MD Route 320) in Takoma Park:

  1. Go north on Piney Branch Road.
  2. At the sixth (or so) light, where Dominos Pizza is on the left side, turn left on Flower Avenue.
  3. Go straight at the next light (Wayne Avenue).
  4. Turn right at the next street (E. Schuyler Road).
  5. Proceed straight at two stop signs (first Sudbury, then Walden).
  6. Turn left at next block (Whitney).
  7. My house, 9209 Whitney Street, is the fifth one up, including the corner house, on the right side.  It's a white house with a big picture window to the right of the front door.