Not kids play: Youth sports eyed to boost Maryland tourism

by Ryan Sharrow Staff

Every Memorial Day weekend, nearly 9,000 young athletes hit the soccer fields in Howard and Montgomery counties primed for competition. They travel from locations in Maryland and neighboring states for the Columbia Invitational Memorial Day tournament — with coaches, parents, grandparents, friends and siblings generating significant business for local restaurants, shops and hotels........................

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Mason Dixon Cup hosts 63 youth teams

By CONNER GILBERT

In the world of youth sports, athletes and their families frequently deal with disorganized or poorly run events.

But as 63 youth soccer teams converged on the Hagerstown Soccer Club on Saturday for the Mason Dixon Cup, tournament organizer Mike Libber can proudly say that his event is different...................

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Columbia Invitational tournament gets bigger and better every year

By Stan Ber

Just when I think that the Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament may have peaked in terms of the number of teams that come here to play, I discover that there is apparently some room to grow. The 31st version of the tournament concluded May 28 and the 370 teams that came to play represented the largest turnout in the tournament's long history. Those teams came from 22 states and Canada and brought in nearly 20,000 people and an estimated $1.5 million for local merchants, according to figures provided to me by first-year tournament director, 31-year-old Mike Libber.............................................

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By John Plevyak

In the summer of 1978, I was approached by the Catonsville Recreation Council with a request to help start its inaugural in-house soccer program. Areas like Columbia, Fallston and Edmondson Heights were gaining strength in developing youth programs to catch up with the traditional local programs like Highlandtown, Locust Point and Dundalk....................................

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Should Your Club Hire a Soccer Tournament Management Company?

Have you ever thought of hiring a professional soccer tournament management company? Perhaps you want to put on a tournament but you don’t know where to start? Your head is full of unanswered questions about fields, sponsors, publicity, scheduling, referees, trophies, hotels, t-shirts, portable bathrooms and weather forecasts. Meanwhile, you have a day job and a family and a lawn that won’t mow itself.......................................

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HOWARD HOSTS HOLIDAY

SOCCER BASH

COUNTY BUSINESSES BENEFIT AS ANNUAL TOURNAMENT DRAWS MORE THAN 6,000 YOUNG PLAYERS

By Allison Connolly

For many, Memorial Day weekend means backyard barbecues with family and friends.

But at the Soccer Association of Columbia-Howard County complex at Covenant Park in Ellicott City, it's nonstop soccer............

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Dodgeball Comes to the 'Burbs

Adults are joining leagues

By STEPHANIE MLOT and CHRIS PYBURN

Looking to recapture part of your childhood?

Then head over to Frederick, Md., and join the latest dodgeball league.

Dodgeball has been making a huge comeback across the nation following the 2004 movie "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story."   On most weekends, you will find dodgeball games taking place on The National Mall in Washington, D.C.    So Frederick decided to join the fun with a new co-ed dodgeball program. The league is for locals 21 and older to participate in recreational sports....... 

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