Rochester Hills to host 3v3 soccer tournament July 18-19 By Jon Malavolti ROCHESTER HILLS — The Kick It soccer tour returns to metro Detroit July 18-19 when the popular 3v3 tournament comes to Earl E. Borden Park in Rochester Hills. The registration deadline is July 10 and the fee is $180 per team. Each team is allowed six players. There are various divisions, from kids to adults, which are divided by age and skill level. For more information on registration, visit the Kick It Web site at www.kickit3v3.com or call (303) 948-7108. “We’re excited to have it, because it’s the time of the year when our soccer fields are not used as heavily as spring and fall. So it fits perfectly in our schedule,” said Bert Hallewas, Borden Park ranger. The unique setup and style of the tournament has typically drawn about 130 local teams in past years. “The Kick It tour is different from any other soccer tournament around the country,” Kick It Regional Event Director Adam Sponnick said. “We offer a style of soccer that is fast-paced and requires every player to be active in the game. A large number of our participants play year after year and assist us in the development of events that we are very proud of.” The tournament, the only Michigan stop on the Kick It tour, was held in Warren for most of the past decade, but a scheduling conflict brought it to Rochester Hills this year. “It’s a great chance to showcase the community, and there’ll probably be an economic impact as well, because there’ll be people coming from all over,” Hallewas said. Sponnick is also optimistic about the new location. “I believe the move to Rochester Hills is a great opportunity to maintain our previous teams while giving us the ability to reach a new group of teams interested in the Kick It 3v3 soccer tour,” Sponnick said. Teams that win their respective championships qualify to compete in a regional event with a chance to advance to the Kick It 3v3 Soccer World Championships, held at Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. Aside from the scheduled tournament games, the Kick It tour also features contests and a Borden Park, which was used as a practice field during the 1994 World Cup, is located on southeast corner of Hamlin and John R roads in Rochester Hills. The phone number is (248) 656-4797. You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040. |
