Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament 2014
Thanksgiving Day 2014 is on Thursday, November 27th and is a national holiday typically celebrated with enormous gastronomical fanfare. This famous turkey day is now also a family holiday spent on soccer fields across America. Here is a look at one of the youth soccer tournaments that paved the way to change the way soccer loving Americans celebrate this holiday weekend.
Even thirty years ago, a youth soccer tournament in San Diego was changing the way the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend was enjoyed.
With the help of the Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament, a new tradition has evolved from Thanksgiving’s gluttony – It is a tradition of competing in a soccer tournament over the holiday weekend. Soon, millions of American families will be leaving the bountiful table to step on the soccer pitch the following day and enjoy being a part of the most played youth sport in America.
Always a leader changing the landscape in the youth soccer world, Derek Armstrong’s Nomads Soccer Club pioneered introducing soccer to Thanksgiving weekend. Well known in Southern California as the Director of Coaching of the Nomads since 1980 and an active coach of the Nomads US Development Academy teams, few people remember that Armstrong coached the 1987 U.S. U-20 World Cup Team and was also the founding director of US Club Soccer.
“Youth soccer players who participate in our tournament know they are going to be playing against some of the best teams out there in their age group. We make sure we support them in their quest for great competition,” said Armstrong.
“Many families have spent their Thanksgiving Holiday with the Nomads,” said Armstrong. “I stood consoling a mom last year who was weeping heavily because she had spent the last 12 Thanksgivings with the Nomads and her son was now moving on to College. She was saddened and didn’t know what she was going to do next year. We laughed together and offered her a job as a volunteer staff member! That’s the kind of feeling we hope to instill in our player and their families.”
While San Diego is America’s finest city and known for its record high number of sunny days, inclement weather is always a possibility at the end of November. After three decades of Nomads Thanksgiving Tournaments, Armstrong and his club are experts. “Our goal is to make sure the players experience is a good one on and off the field. We are known to keep the games playing on no matter what Mother Nature throws at us,” said Armstrong.
The Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament has already accepted a record number of teams. More than 410 teams have registered to compete and more applications are expected for this year’s highly competitive youth soccer tournament. According to Armstrong, the tournament has become larger and the competition tougher through the years. With teams coming from international locations as well as all across the Western States, the 2014 Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament promises to be one of the best yet.
“Since the inception of the USSDA the better teams are not playing in tournaments at that level, which gives the Pre-Academy and development players a better opportunity to get further in their divisions,” said Armstrong. “We also have several teams coming to compete from Canada.
The U8 through U19 Boys and Girls Tournament will take place on 65 fields across the San Diego County; from Otay Ranch HS in Otay, Southwestern College in Bonita, Lincoln HS, all Poway fields, all Del Mar fields, all UCSD Fields, and Balboa Stadium and many San Diego Unified schools.
The Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament reflects the club’s philosophy of giving back. “The funds raised at this event provide us with the ability to fully fund our US Development Academy teams, including coaching and travel expenses for many of our players,” said Mary Kaliff, Director of Club Operations.
“100% of all funds raised through the Thanksgiving Tournament go back into our programs,” said Armstrong.
This tournament also tries to provide insight into the world of youth soccer for the players. “We always try and put the U9’s games with the U17’s so that they can get a flavor for what is to come, it excites the young players to play on the big boy fields under the lights with a lot of spectators. Its a really fun atmosphere,” said Armstrong who has devoted his life to developing soccer players.
What is different about this youth tournament? Nomads offer very cool Goalie Wars. “Our Goalie Wars drew 125 goalkeepers last year,” said Kaliff. “This year, we hope to do even better.” The Nomads Goalie Wars will be held on Saturday night November 29th. “It is important to know that goalies do not need to be playing in our tournament to participate, they just need to have a Cal South or other US Soccer affiliate player card,” said Armstrong.
The tournament even offers a Thanksgiving dinner for all those who wish to attend. It is an affordable 3-Course Prix Fixe: $40 Adults, $20 Children.
Some of the best youth soccer clubs have teams competing in this tournament including Colorado Rapids, Slammers FC, Real So Cal, LA Galaxy Bakersfield, Legends FC, Golden State Academy, TVSA, West Coast FC, Earthquakes, DMCV Sharks, FRAM, IE Surf, Alaska YS, Albion SC, Barcelona AZ and Pateadores IER.
Fun Fact: How successful is this youth soccer club? Just look at the impressive list of players developed at this club. Among the professionals who trained at the Nomads Soccer Club are Eric Avila, Michael Farfan, Gabriel Farfan, Connor Chin, Joe Corona, Steve Cherundolo, Eric Chaisongkram, Shannon McMillan, Paul Caliguiri, Frankie Hejduk, Marcello Balboa, Eric Wynalda, Paul Wright, Kevin Legg, Jerome Watson, Nate Hetherington, Jeff Duback, Sean Bowers, and Hector Aguilar.
