2003
During late spring and summer of 2003, a cross section of community soccer
volunteers enter into discussion regarding the possibility of major Hilo
Bayfront soccer field renovations. The group considers making an application
to the United States Soccer Foundation for grant support. We miss the Fall
grant application deadline. In spite of this, a positive outcome emerges.
An indoor soccer tournament is proposed as a means to demonstrate cooperation
between the range of local soccer organizations: AYSO, Ha’aheo S.C.
(HYSA), Hilo Makule League, Men’s League, Women’s League, and
the Hispanic-American Soccer League.
2004
1st Annual Hilo miniBig© Indoor Soccer Tournament
Initial Edith Kanakaole Stadium (EKS) deposit to secure the facility was
provided by Barbette Navarro, a Ha’aheo Soccer Club volunteer. AYSO Region 274,
Hilo advanced the initial EKS rental, upon the condition that the tournament
or tournament committee would guarantee reimbursement, should the tournament
fail. The tournament is restricted by the County regarding existing floor marks
which delineate three tennis courts. Since we could not modify or change the
floor marks we decided to adapt. The miniBig© tournament was born out
of necessity and in true soccer fashion, made the best out of the situation
at hand.
The first tournament took place February 28th and 29th, 2004. Opening day
of the tournament Hilo was “socked in”. It had poured all night
long. Flood warnings were up, in fact around the island. It was one of those
rare
days when all outdoor activity in the County was being cancelled due to rain.
Except for a small leak which dampened a spot at the edge of the center court
EKH was dry. The tournament was able to start as scheduled. It was soon apparent
to everyone that the ability to play indoor soccer when conditions outdoors
were less than optimal was a great thing.
The eight participating teams and group of AYSO U10 and U12 youth who were
invited to scrimmage discovered by the end of the tournament that the miniBig© with
it’s 4 vs 4 and 7 vs 7 format was an exciting local style improvisation
on the basic Futsal concept. In the first year there were only two official
divisions: U14 and U16/19.
Futsal is the international term used for the game and is a conjunction
of Spanish or Portugese words. Soccer “futbol” and indoor “sala”.
The game is typically played indoors on a basketball court without the use
of sidewalls or dasher boards.
The National Boys and Girls Clubs adopted the sport and it is now played in
over 1,100 clubs throughout the continental U.S. The AYSO national organization
has also played the sport in a close working relationship with the U.S. Futsal
organization since 1988.
The Hilo miniBig© was established to promote local soccer and is part
of a larger drive to secure funding through the United States Soccer Foundation
and regional sponsors to develop a series of premier outdoor/indoor fields
for youth through adult players on the island of Hawaii.
Major sponsors for the inaugural tournament: AYSO Region 274 and the Ha’aheo
Soccer Club, Makule Soccer League, Women’s Soccer League, and Club
Futsal (UHH RISO); Terry Yamane, Arctic Distributing. Contributors: Anita
Tatum, Integrity
Graphics; Island Naturals Market and Deli; Barbette Nabarro, concession,
Baba Nabarro, equipment support; Sweet Dreams; Prints Unlimited; Marq Sims,
Ponahawai
Pharmacy; Terri Stormont, tournament PDF’s and statistics; Keolanui
Photos; Ted Bennet, BIIF Referee Assignor; Debbie Scott, Treasurer; Dan Belcher,
Rules
Review; Malia Lewis, First Aid Coordinator; Glenn Yafuso, Yafuso Sound LLC.
2004 Tournament Committee: Gordon Inouye, Mick Kalber, Michael Marshall, Joy
Memmer, Mike Robinson
2005
Almost immediately following the conclusion of the first tournament attempts
were made to reserve EKS for a 2005 miniBig©.
As it turned out this would not be a straight forward proposition. The EKS
facility supports a
wide range
of special events that occupy many week-ends throughout the year. The Merry
Monarch festival, Christmas crafts fair, auto, trade, and orchid shows, graduations,
and so on. With diminishing availability for indoor tennis - a sport for
which the Multipurpose facility is specifically attuned, the County was not
inclined
to support the addition of another annual event. It took
several months of negotiating, but by late Fall 2004 the miniBig© was
allowed to reserve April 14 and 15, 2005 for the 2nd annual tournament.
In mid- December 2004 the tournament is contacted by the University Hawaii
Hilo Graduation Committee. The dates reserved by the miniBig© are
needed for UHH Spring graduation. An agreement is reached. The tournament
gives
up its dates for UHH graduation in exchange for use of the UHH New Gym.
New dates
are established for the 2nd Annual tournament: April 1 - 3, 2005.
Club Futsal a Registered Independent Student Organization (RISO) assumes major
sponsorship for the tournament. Club Futsal as a UHH RISO is able to utilize
the New Gym without charge and in addition provides $1000 for referee services
and $200 for the purchase of tournament game and trophy balls.
Kamehameha Schools Athletic Department allows the tournament to borrow two
pair of indoor Kwik goals. The Communities of Christ Church provides housing
for one of the visiting Kona teams. Eurosport - the fabled soccer traders,
provides a number of give away items, including t-shirts, balls, stickers,
and catalogs.
The registration, initially was very slow, but by tournament day the miniBig© has
tripled in size from the previous year. Twenty four teams in four (4)
Divisions: U10, U14, U19/Collegiate/Adult Women, U19/Collegiate Adult Men.
With teams
participating from around the Big island.
The game was changed to strictly 5 vs 5 format, with no splitting of teams
into mini-squads. Teams played a total of 3 - 25 minute matches, followed by
and single elimination tournament play (regulation 40 minute futsal game).
The Adult Men games were especially exciting to watch. Camilo Ramirez’s
Kona Soccer Club and Richard Handy’s Hurricanes played with great
intensity. At all levels it was very interesting to see the continued
development of
ball handling and skill.
Games for the most part happened right on schedule. Mike Robinson did an outstanding
job assigning referees.
First order of business following the tournament was to schedule our dates
for 2006.
2006
Unlike last year, the tournament encountered no problems scheduling dates for
2006.
A decision was reached by the tournament committee go back to the original
miniBig© format - with some additional refinements (3 vs 3 and 5 vs
5; limit team roster to 10 player), and to increase the number of Divisions
in
order to better balance play at the different levels. Better balance; greater
safety for the players.
Anticipate more players from around the island look forward to participation
by an adult men’s club team from the Phillippines. If things go as
planned there should be (8) Divisions: U10 and U12 (all boy, all girl,
or coed); U14
Boys, U14 Girls; U18 Boys, U18 Girls; Open Men; Open Women.
Game format: each registered team guaranteed to play six (6) 3 vs.3 - 15 minute
matches on the small pitch using Pugg Goals (no keeper); and at least one (1)
single elimination 5 vs.5 - 40 minute match on the full pitch with regulation
Futal size goals (with keeper).
We are actively seeking sponsorship to do things to improve the tournament
overall.
For example:
giving an official futsal ball to each registered team (balls = seed for future
champions)
purchasing tournament goals/equipment (reliable quality; no need borrow)
providing division champion t-shirts (acknowledge accomplishment; unlike a
trophy, a t-shirt is high visibility. Good PR for the tournament and sponsors)
To date, Ken Cameron of Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles has stepped forward and
has purchased Pugg Goals for the Hilo miniBig© International Indoor
Soccer Tournament.
With your help we can continue to develop a first rate indoor soccer tournament
experience, and advance the plan for future development of a soccer training
and tournament complex serving the island of Hawaii.
Bayfront Soccer Fields. Picture taken March 9, 2006 day before the start of the 2006 miniBig©. Photo by Dan Straight
2007
Formal sanction of the 4th Annual
Hilo miniBig© Indoor
Soccer Tournament through US Club Soccer (USCS) and the Big Island Soccer
Organization league (BISO-HI) represents a major development for youth
soccer on the island
of Hawaii. Through the persistent efforts of G. Joe Pries, President/Director
of Coaching, Kona Soccer S.C. the cementing of relations with US Club Soccer
and the formation
of the BISO-HI league was established in December 2006.
BISO-HI is currently hosting an indoor league that is running concurrently
in both East and West Hawaii. League games started January 6th and will run
through March 3rd. Combined participation of U10 - U14 players is approximately
150 and growing. Short sided league games, 5 vs 5 in West Hawaii, are held
at the Konawaena H.S. gym; 3 vs 3 Joga Bonito style in East Hawaii, at the
Waiakea Intermediate
School covered play court.
AYSO continues to provide an exceptional program for recreational youth soccer
through out the state of Hawaii. The Kirk Banks and Volcano International
Soccer Tournaments are much anticipated events.
BIL-HYSA and their affiliated clubs Ha’aheo Soccer Club and Kona Heat
Soccer Club have well established programs which promote competitive play with
an emphasis on training to develop a higher level of soccer skills.
BISO-HI, what room is left for yet another soccer organization? From my perspective,
the primary role of the new organization is to be a catalyst for indoor soccer
during the winter season. And to eventually, in coordination with AYSO and
HYSA, introduce US Club Soccer sanctioned activity throughout the year.
As affiliates under the United States Soccer Federation USSF - the main governing
body for soccer in the United States our responsibility is to support the
development of soccer and to support each other in that cause.
During the 2006 miniBig© one hundred and twenty five dollars ($125) was
raised through our twenty-five cent per ticket raffle of items donated by Eurosport.
This amount was matched by the tournament and then matched once more by AYSO
region 274 to become a five hundred ($500.00) donation to the United States
Soccer Foundation sponsored Soccer United Recovery Fund (SURF) which was committed
to rebuilding the soccer infrastructure along the Gulf Coast of the United
States.
My hope is that our local soccer organizations will eventually pool their
combined talents to secure the necessary resources to develop additional fields
and facilities (both outdoor and indoor) for the sport around the island of
Hawaii.
Mahalo to all of the individuals, businesses, and corporate supporters who
continue to help make the miniBig© tournament a reality.