Virginia Tech World Cup draws players from diverse backgrounds
While excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup in Brazil builds, the university and surrounding community can experience international soccer closer to home.
On Sunday, April 13, Cranwell International Center and the Virginia Tech men’s soccer program will host the ninth annual Virginia Tech World Cup soccer tournament.
Originally hosted by Cranwell for international students, the event is now a collaborative effort with the Virginia Tech men’s soccer team.
“Cranwell International Center contacted men's soccer to see if we would be willing to help out and together we decided to expand the event and invite the entire student body as well as alumni,” said Jeff Kinney, Virginia Tech assistant men’s soccer coach. “Once word started spreading, students from other schools asked if they could join. With help from the academic side of campus, we were able to get a number of people from all backgrounds and ages involved and truly made it what it is today.”
Students at other schools in Virginia are encouraged to participate. In previous years players have come from Radford University, Virginia Military Institute, James Madison University, and Hollins University.
Current players on the Virginia Tech men’s varsity soccer team are not allowed to play in the games, but assist in other ways. Players and staff are involved in all aspects of the tournament, from registration to scheduling to officiating. The Virginia Tech World Cup executive committee assists with fundraising, advertising, and getting information out to the public.
There are teams that played in the original tournament that continue to return year after year. “Once graduated, we do have a rule that a team may only have a maximum of two former Virginia Tech varsity players,” said Kinney.
The Virginia Tech tournament is open to all students, alumni, faculty, and staff from any college or university in Virginia. The tournament is held on the soccer and lacrosse practice fields located off Southgate Drive on the Virginia Tech campus. The registration fee is $200 per team.
The Virginia Tech World Cup draw will occur the evening before the tournament and is a mandatory event for all team captains. During the draw, the groups and times the teams will play are picked. All rules, regulations, and registration details are also discussed.
Written by Alexandra Hill of Falls Church, Va., a sophomore double majoring in English and political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
