Soccer teams invade R.C. today for annual Rushmore Cup soccer tourney

| Thursday, June 28, 2001

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New sportsmanship 'anti-negativity' rules are in effect

RAPID CITY -- Rapid City welcomes 100 soccer teams from all over the region today for the start of the 2001 Rushmore Cup.

The tournament is one of the biggest youth sports events in the city each year, and this summer is no exception. Almost 1,800 kids ages 8 to 18 will play on almost every available field in Rapid City for the next three days.

Games begin at 7 a.m. this morning at sites all through the city. In all, close to 200 games will be played at six different sites - the Valley Fields near the Star of the West Softball complex, the Polo Fields near the Fairgrounds, Rapid Central High School, the Minnesota Street fields, Omaha Field, and Noordermeer Field in Sioux Park.

Teams from Colorado, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota are entered.

Divisions range from under-10 to under-19 for both boys and girls. Every division except U-10 has a championship game. The U-10 divisions have festival play with no title game. This is because of a nationwide movement toward putting less pressure on younger soccer players.

All championship games are scheduled for Sunday at either 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. In most cases, championship games will be played at the same location a team plays most of its games. Title games will be played at the Polo Fields, the Valley Fields, Noordermeer and Omaha.

One big change for the tourney this season is toughened rules about sportsmanship. The center referee and both linesmen (assistant referees) have a scorecard for each game that enables them to award points to a team based on the attitude and behavior of its players, coaches and fans. A team, and its fans, can earn up to 15 sportsmanship points a game. Those points will be one of the criteria used for breaking ties, and tourney director Randy McKee says the points could end up deciding one or two finalists.

The referees also will have the power to stop play if they hear a negative comment coming from a player, coach or fan that is directed at the referees or opposing players. In such a situation, play would be stopped until the person who made the negative comment leaves the game site.

"(Youth sports) associations are taking a stand against this," McKee said, referring to negative comments at youth sporting events, "especially comments from parents. I think (the rule) is a positive addition to the tournament."

The level of soccer this weekend figures to be high throughout the age groups. For the most part, the teams competing are travelling club teams that are made up of the best soccer players from a city or region. Many of the Rapid City teams playing this weekend are Rushmore Soccer Club teams - which is the highest level of youth soccer kids can play in Rapid City.

The Rushmore Soccer Club is also the tournament sponsor.

The tourney is kept running by an army of volunteers recruited by the Rushmore Soccer Club. McKee said there could be as many as 400 volunteer workers, coaches and referees in action at the event.

SUNDAY'S Championship game schedule

(Note: U-10 divisions have no championship games.)

Boys divisions

Under 11: 1 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 12: 3 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 13: 1 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 14: 3 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 16: 3 p.m., Central High School

Under 19: 3 p.m., Noordermeer Field

Girls divisions

Under 11: 1 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 12: 3 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 13: 1 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 14: 3 p.m., Polo Fields

Under 16: 1 p.m., Central High School

Under 19: 3 p.m., Omaha Field