2015 and beyond

Quick note: Not going on a mainland trip this summer is probably the worst news for me in a long time. In other words, life could be worse, really. But I do want to take precautions and prepare well in advance for next year. So here, for everybody who wants to plan early...

• Mid-July: Under One Roof (Las Vegas Convention Center) and Bigfoot Las Vegas Live. Bigfoot has the more prestigious tourney. College scouts watching the older teams. There's also the Swoosh So Cal Ultimate Showcase in Anaheim we played in last year. Some guys said they want to go to Disneyland again. That's surprising, but we can make that happen.

• Late July: We could stay in LV a few days longer for the Bigfoot Las Vegas Classic. The difference between the Bigfoot Live and Classic tournaments: Live has about 40 teams each in the 14U and 15U divisions. Classic has double that number. Also in late July, Fab 48, run by the guys who do the Fab 64. DC Assault won the 17U title in 2013. Fab 48 has a slightly lower entry fee (around $450).

• Also late July: WYBT Hawaii Invitational 14U. We're going to this for the first time this year. If it goes well and we have surplus funds, maybe a return visit in '15? The varsity tourney run by Big West Conference/HISOA is also a first in 2014 and if it returns next year, maybe we play in both again. But I don't really think the BWC will have its officials clinic (and the varsity tourney) in Hawaii every year. I could be wrong, of course.

There are other travel opportunities (Kauai's Merv Lopes tourney, Kona Stingrays tourney in March) for 14U teams. There are also tournaments in the Bay Area, Seattle, and all across the Southwest, Midwest, etc. The time to set a plan is now. I don't want to sit home ever again. Kona will probably be two great tournaments and we'll face two mainland teams. But we'll plan and fundraise for 2015 now.