American Ref-Fuel will host a soccer tournament on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 for U-12 to U-19 teams; and Saturday, August 24 to Monday, August 26 for U-8 to U-11 teams.

Each United States team must be affiliated with the USSF and/or USYSA. Other teams must be registered with their Provincial or National Association. The tournament is designed for established club travel teams. It is not recommended for All-Star or League Select teams. Each team may have a maximum of 18 players.

Games will be played on Town of Hempstead and Nassau County fields. Tournament referees will be from the Long Island Soccer Referee Association. To aid them, the tournament makes use of a three-referee system in the U-16 to U-19 competition when possible. U-16 to U19 will be grouped together if needed.

Long Island soccer has consistently generated a high level of quality play. In an attempt to match each team with its peers, each division will be kept small. Each team will be guaranteed five games using a six team round robin format. In last year's tournament almost 400 teams competed. All games, with the exception of the U-9 to U-11 divisions, will consist of two, 30-minute halfs with a five minute halftime intermission. The U-9 to U-11 divisions shall play two, 25 minute halves with a five minute halftime intermission. Last year, almost every age group had several levels of play.

Individual trophies will be awarded within each division for first, second and third-place teams from U-9 to U-14. First and second-place trophies will go to U-15 and up. A large division cup will be awarded to the first-place team in each division. Last year, by using the round robin format, half of the participating teams were awarded trophies. All players and coaches will receive a tournament patch or pin and players are encouraged to exchange club patches with other teams at the end of each game.

Entries will be closed August 1, 2002. Entry fees will be promptly refunded if a team is not accepted. All teams will be notified by August 17. For more information, call Ref-Fuel 2002 Tournament Director Gary Schwartz 579-6591 or e-mail him at gary@eastmeadowsoccer.com