Turf Classic

  • Boys U8-19
    March 7 - 9, 2025
  • Girls U8-19
    March 21 - 23, 2025

About

Teams are accepted on a rolling basis until the event reaches capacity. We strongly encourage early application, as events may sell out early!

Don’t get stuck in the mud! Come join us for one of the top pre-spring season events in the Midwest! The Turf Classic is a unique tournament, where all games are played on turf fields. This event is a great pre-season tournament that gives players and coaches of all levels the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming spring season. Each year this event hosts more than 450 teams traveling from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Canada.

  • Over 450 teams participate annually from across the Midwest and Canada.
  • All Games played on Turf! No Rain outs!
  • Great Pre-Season spring event for teams of all levels!
  • Multiple divisions in an age group/gender to promote competitive balance.
  • USSF certified referees.
  • Awards for Champions and Finalists in each age division.
  • GotSport Scheduler used to avoid coaching conflicts.

Format

March Turf Event Field Locations by Age Group:

For our Boys Turf Classic, Elite Spring Thaw, and Girls Turf Classic events in March, the following age groups will primarily play in these locations below.

Please note there may be additional fields of each format added in the north and south based on numbers of teams for each event.

  • U9/U10 (7v7) – Riverside Park, NKU Intramural Complex
  • U11/U12 (9v9) – Voice of America, Warren Co Sports Park, possibly Riverside Park, possibly Town & Country Soccer Complex, possibly Bishop Brossart HS
  • U13-U19 (11v11) – High School/college facilities in Cincinnati and Northern KY.

Location

Cincinnati,
Ohio

Fees

  • 7v7 (U8-10): $800.00
  • 9v9 (U11-12): $935.00
  • 11v11 (U12-14): $990.00
  • 11v11 (U15-19): $1,025.00
  • Teams are accepted on a rolling basis until the event reaches capacity. We strongly encourage early application, as events may sell out even before the deadline. Teams will not be accepted until payment is received. Conditional acceptance may be provided, pending team housing arrangements through the event housing coordinator. *Please note that failure to secure housing may result in team withdrawal from the event.
  • For the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 playing season the event did not raise team entry fees.
  • All teams Must pay by credit card.
  • Clubs who are sending 5 or more teams to an event may contact the Event Director to inquire about a check payment option for the club.
  • A 3.25% credit card processing fee will be applied to all applications using a credit card for payment.
  • A $20 Gotsport Software Fee will be added to the final amount for both credit card and check  options.

Early registration discount placeholder content

Contacts

Sponsorship Opportunities:
Brian Johnson
Tournament Director:
Midwest Cincy Events
Housing/Hotels:
Site Search
502-292-3198

Referee Info

Referee Assignor:
Julie Hegerty

Registration Information

Flight Criteria

Please make sure that your GotSport information is correct- your head coach (the one coaching the games) and your team name. You can log into GotSport to change what you need. This will ensure that we can try to accommodate any coaching conflicts. This MUST be completed before flights are posted.

Please click here to assign your primary coaching assignments: Coaching Conflicts

Before you request a change in flight placement, please note that the tournament committee has done their due diligence in researching the following:

  • Current Registered League play
  • Current/Past League play results
  • Past Tournament results
  • Comparison to other teams in Event
  • Application information
  • Requested bracket

If you believe your team has been bracketed incorrectly, please email the event staff with specific results that support your argument by our deadline stated in the flight email.  Please include the following in the email:

  • Team name, age group/gender and current flight.
  • Scores against other teams in the event or scores from leagues or recent tournaments. 

Please don’t include anything with “rankings”. We especially look at actual scores and events that teams have attended this fall/winter/spring. These are the most accurate indicators of your team’s level. Again, be specific please. It is not our goal to set anyone up for failure or to stack the deck in any team’s favor, we want the best competition for all of the teams in our event.

*Please note this does NOT guarantee a change in flight, the final decision is at the discretion of the tournament committee

Schedule Criteria

Please let the event staff  know by submitting an email if any of the following have a appeared on your schedule:

  • A direct coaching conflict within this event for coaches who coach multiple teams (up to two (2) teams). If you are coaching more than two (2) teams you must have an assistant coach.
  • A major mistake ( a team playing two games at the same time or back to back games).

Although we know life happens but we simply cannot honor requests for the following reason as there are just too many:

  • Travel Distance: Event staff will attempt to accommodate a teams traveling distance to and from the event, it is not guaranteed.
  • Personal reasons (weddings, etc).
  • Non-event specific coaching conflicts not related to this event (another team you are coaching is playing elsewhere).

All support ticket emails must be made before schedules become final.

Roster Rules

Acceptance

Online Check-in

Online Check-In must be completed on or before 2 weeks prior to
the event weekend.

Please upload the following three (3) documents into via GOTSPORT:

  1. Roster: Copy of your team’s official roster. Please cross off players who WILL NOT be attending. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no photo images.
  2. Player Passes:Copies of validated player/coach/manager passes issued by USYSA or US Club Soccer (rostered players and guest players) as they are listed on your tournament roster. ALL CARDS MUST BE BY THE SAME GOVERNING BODY. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no other formats will be approved.
  3. Travel Paperwork: USYSA Teams traveling from outside the state the event is hosted in must get this form from their state office. US Club teams do not need travel paperwork. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no photo images.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS

Guest Players: 

  • The player(s) must be added to the  bottom of the PDF roster used for the player profiles. The team is required to have the player’s “player card” and the player(s) card must be uploaded.
  • If adding guest players within 72 hours prior to the start of the tournament, you must notify the tournament staff via the event email that you added a guest player so that player can be approved. You must also submit/upload the guest player’s player pass online 1 hour prior to the start of your first game

The event will begin to review all information at the close of Online Check-In. You will only receive communication if there are issues with your check-in documents.

Please note: If you do not complete online check-in your team will be held in poor standing and may be disqualified from the tournament per the posted tournament rules. There may also be a fee assessed for any team who has not completed the check in process. Teams will need to go to headquarters to pay the administrative fee and complete the check-in process before competing in any game.

Our travel partner Site Search is committed to providing you with the most memorable experience possible. Realizing hotel accommodations play a major role in your experience, we have partnered with area hotels to offer you the best options and prices.

Our housing manager will reach out to you within two (2) business days of applying to the event with a housing link to book reservations. 

Each family from your team will then have 5 days within creating your block to guarantee all reservations.

If you are a local club (within 90 miles) and do not require any accommodations, please let me know. Please understand commuting teams will not receive special scheduling requests based on commute distance.

** The event uses the office address for the club to determine the distance of travel for the team.

Your team is NOT in compliance with the Stay to Play policy until a minimum of 7 reservations are made for all U8-U12 teams and 10 reservations are made for all U13-U19 teams.

For your team to be in compliance with the tournament rules, your team would need to meet the minimum housing requirement. 

Teams may be conditionally accepted prior to their housing being booked.

If you have any questions or want to book immediately please contact 
support@SiteSearchLLC.com or
call 502-292-3198

Guest Player Pool

Permission to Host

Please make sure that your GotSport information is correct- your head coach (the one coaching the games) and your team name. You can log into GotSport to change what you need. This will ensure that we can try to accommodate any coaching conflicts. This MUST be completed before flights are posted.

Please click here to assign your primary coaching assignments: Coaching Conflicts

Before you request a change in flight placement, please note that the tournament committee has done their due diligence in researching the following:

  • Current Registered League play
  • Current/Past League play results
  • Past Tournament results
  • Comparison to other teams in Event
  • Application information
  • Requested bracket

If you believe your team has been bracketed incorrectly, please email the event staff with specific results that support your argument by our deadline stated in the flight email.  Please include the following in the email:

  • Team name, age group/gender and current flight.
  • Scores against other teams in the event or scores from leagues or recent tournaments. 

Please don’t include anything with “rankings”. We especially look at actual scores and events that teams have attended this fall/winter/spring. These are the most accurate indicators of your team’s level. Again, be specific please. It is not our goal to set anyone up for failure or to stack the deck in any team’s favor, we want the best competition for all of the teams in our event.

*Please note this does NOT guarantee a change in flight, the final decision is at the discretion of the tournament committee

Please let the event staff  know by submitting an email if any of the following have a appeared on your schedule:

  • A direct coaching conflict within this event for coaches who coach multiple teams (up to two (2) teams). If you are coaching more than two (2) teams you must have an assistant coach.
  • A major mistake ( a team playing two games at the same time or back to back games).

Although we know life happens but we simply cannot honor requests for the following reason as there are just too many:

  • Travel Distance: Event staff will attempt to accommodate a teams traveling distance to and from the event, it is not guaranteed.
  • Personal reasons (weddings, etc).
  • Non-event specific coaching conflicts not related to this event (another team you are coaching is playing elsewhere).

All support ticket emails must be made before schedules become final.

Online Check-In must be completed on or before 2 weeks prior to
the event weekend.

Please upload the following three (3) documents into via GOTSPORT:

  1. Roster: Copy of your team’s official roster. Please cross off players who WILL NOT be attending. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no photo images.
  2. Player Passes:Copies of validated player/coach/manager passes issued by USYSA or US Club Soccer (rostered players and guest players) as they are listed on your tournament roster. ALL CARDS MUST BE BY THE SAME GOVERNING BODY. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no other formats will be approved.
  3. Travel Paperwork: USYSA Teams traveling from outside the state the event is hosted in must get this form from their state office. US Club teams do not need travel paperwork. This document needs to be a single file PDF document, no photo images.

HOW TO UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS

Guest Players: 

  • The player(s) must be added to the  bottom of the PDF roster used for the player profiles. The team is required to have the player’s “player card” and the player(s) card must be uploaded.
  • If adding guest players within 72 hours prior to the start of the tournament, you must notify the tournament staff via the event email that you added a guest player so that player can be approved. You must also submit/upload the guest player’s player pass online 1 hour prior to the start of your first game

The event will begin to review all information at the close of Online Check-In. You will only receive communication if there are issues with your check-in documents.

Please note: If you do not complete online check-in your team will be held in poor standing and may be disqualified from the tournament per the posted tournament rules. There may also be a fee assessed for any team who has not completed the check in process. Teams will need to go to headquarters to pay the administrative fee and complete the check-in process before competing in any game.

Our travel partner Site Search is committed to providing you with the most memorable experience possible. Realizing hotel accommodations play a major role in your experience, we have partnered with area hotels to offer you the best options and prices.

Our housing manager will reach out to you within two (2) business days of applying to the event with a housing link to book reservations. 

Each family from your team will then have 5 days within creating your block to guarantee all reservations.

If you are a local club (within 90 miles) and do not require any accommodations, please let me know. Please understand commuting teams will not receive special scheduling requests based on commute distance.

** The event uses the office address for the club to determine the distance of travel for the team.

Your team is NOT in compliance with the Stay to Play policy until a minimum of 7 reservations are made for all U8-U12 teams and 10 reservations are made for all U13-U19 teams.

For your team to be in compliance with the tournament rules, your team would need to meet the minimum housing requirement. 

Teams may be conditionally accepted prior to their housing being booked.

If you have any questions or want to book immediately please contact 
support@SiteSearchLLC.com or
call 502-292-3198

Facilities

The address to each facility can be found at the following link.

REMINDERS:

Teams playing at Warren County Sports Park:
Use the following address to enter: 3021 Greentree Road, Lebanon, OH 45036.
If you are playing on Fields 17 or 18, please use Gate 4 when entering and exiting the complex. If you are playing on Fields 15 and 16, please use Gate 2 for entering and exiting the facility. It is imperative that you DO NOT WALK on the grass fields on your way to your game field. They will be marked as such.

Teams playing at Town and Country, VOA, and Riverside Park:
May not warm up on the grass fields at those locations. Those fields are closed until early April.

Teams playing at NKU Intramural field:
The first field when you walk in is #1. The next field is #2 and then #3 will be the field in the back right corner.

Teams playing at Riverside Park:
The fields are numbered 1 and 2. 1 is closest to the very large parking lot and the press box. Field 2 is the far one with the smaller parking lot. 2A will be the field closest to the road and 2B will be the field closest to the trees.

Explore

Cincinnati,

Ohio!

We have included links to the Cincinnati CVB, Butler County CVB, Warren County CVB and Northern KY CVB so you can plan your weekend prior to arriving in town. These links include information on things to do (entertainment, attractions, shopping, outdoors) as well as dining recommendations. In addition, we have also included links for family friendly activities in the area.

FAQS

Sponsors