Hello
Welcome
If you're looking for an epic travel soccer opportunity, then you're in the right place. Our teams participate in local, national, and international competitions on a regular basis. We travel with comp and rec teams to most, and we welcome players globally to join us.
Copenhagen 2021
Euro Games Copenhagen - August 18-21, 2021
The Euro Games are an LGBT (and allied) sporting event that occur on an annual basis in a different European City. Few to no American teams go, however we'd love to be the one to go next year. This tournament coincides with World Pride, a major roving international festival so planning early is of greatest need and will further elevate this event's experience.
11v11 and 7v7 format available, we'll strive for an 11s squad or more. For men we offer a tournament 7:7 on artificial grass and a tournament 11:11 on natural grass. For women, the 7:7 tournament will take place on natural grass. In all competitions there will be two performance classes. In total we guarantee four matches per team, whereby the concrete mode depends on the number of teams registered. The matches will be led by external referees.
Venue: TBA
If possible, we will try to go early for 1 or more friendly match and seeing other cities.
More information will be available in the coming months and weeks.
Registration
Commitment to play required by October 2020
Estimated Tournament Player Fee is $120 (likely transferable, see terms when signing up)
Gray Ducks Player Fee: $50 (non-refundable, but to be applied toward costs.)
Fees to estimate:
Airfare: check your preferred provider, let us know if you find a great fare
Hotel: Required to stay with the team, past years players have stayed elsewhere and had a poor/disconnected experience. This is a team experience, travel dates can differ though.
Uniform: Plan for $75
Join the squad by emailing ryan@grayduckssoccer.com anytime prior to or during registration.
AND Join our Facebook Group specific tot this tournament: www.facebook.com/groups/copenhagenducks/
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Chicago 2021
Pride on the Pitch - June or August, TBA
The largest sports organization in the Midwest welcomes you and the LGBTQA soccer community from all over the world to The PrivateBank Fire Pitch.
The tournament offers both recreational and competitive levels of play, all gener and women's formats. We will send a competitive team, and also try to send a rec team.
- 5 guaranteed 20 minute games
- 5 minute halftime
- 4 fields to alleviate waiting time between games
- Showers available between/after games
- Full Bar/Menu
- Outdoor seating and fire pit
- Guests welcome
Registration
Starting April, registration will open.
Per Player Fee is anticipated: $80
Join the squad by emailing ryan@grayduckssoccer.com today AND Joining our Chicago Bound Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/chicagoducks/
Location
PrivateBank Fire Pitch
3626 N Talman Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Accommodations
Previously we rented an AirBNB, however accommodations may be the responsibility of the traveling player. We will provide ample opportunity for players to coordinate shared housing, and a preferred hotel.
Our Travel Secret
A Preferred Miles Card
A Delta Amex can help you achieve travel easily to one or more of tournaments. We also help you meet your minimum spend by letting you charge team costs and reimbursing you in full. Of course, only pursue this if you feel it will help and you qualify.
Las Vegas 2022
Sin City Classic - January 15-16, 2022
You will be joining over 9,500 LGBT and Allied athletes, family and friends for two days of exciting athletic competition! This year's soccer tournament will again host the IGLFA Indoor World Championships consisting of 26 teams from the US, Canada, Mexico, UK and possibly elsewhere.
In 2022, we will bring up to three teams to this tournament. 2021 was cancelled due to Covid.
Join the squad by emailing ryan@grayduckssoccer.com and joining our group page here: www.facebook.com/groups/lasvegasducks/
Division Format
■ Teams will play 7 versus 7 in one of 3 divisions.
■ Teams are capped at 13 players.
■ A women's tournament will be 7v7 AND 5v5
■ We will be sending 3-5 teams, 1 per division and format so Competitive and Rec level players welcome
■ Game format for 12 teams or less is 12-minute halves, one-minute halftime and guaranteed four games. In case of high demand, up to 16 teams will play 8-minute halves, one-minute halftime and guaranteed 6 games.
■ Game times will be Saturday, 8am-7pm and Sunday, 8am-6pm. Games are typically a portion of the time indicated.
■ Game Times will be released to the Team Captains ONE WEEK BEFORE via e-mail.
■ All Teams are required to check-in a MINIMUM of 30 minutes PRIOR to game time. Failure to do so will result in an automatic forfeit.
■ Round Robin play will take place Saturday, which will determine seeding for the Sunday playoffs.
Match Details
■ Two referees per game minimum. Referee decisions are final.
■ This tournament is officially sanctioned by the IGLFA, therefore, all IGLFA 7v7 Indoor Tournament rules apply.
■ Any red cards from prior sanctioned IGLFA tournaments that have suspensions that need to be served, will carry over.
■ IGLFA rules will be followed with the exception of substitutions - unlimited, on the fly and at referee game stoppages.
■ Teams will be required to have an affiliation with a parent team that is a current paid member of the IGFLA for the 2018 year.
Venue Info
Longevity Sports Venue - Two 7v7 fields happening at once, plus 5v5 field.
■ Arena style with state of the art turf.
■ Climate controlled.
■ TURF OR INDOOR SHOES ONLY!
■ Restaurants, bars and restroom facilities are nearby.
■ On-site staff.
■ Parking is free.
■ The Awards Ceremony will take place Sunday
Costs:
Player Fee: $75
Airfare: $220-$320*
Hotel: $150*
Transportation: $25-35*
Uniform: >$100*
Total Estimated Cost:
$400-$500 per player usually
*The pricing is based on costs known and researched in October 2018. These fluctuate weekly.
Team hotel is TBD
Past Tournaments
Ryan has led a team to this tournament the past 5 years. 2020 was huge in that we brought our first women's team in addition to two all gender teams. Our D1 team took first yet again, incredible! In 2019 we brought two teams and earned a first and second place finish with both teams in the top division of play. In 2017 and 2018, we placed 2nd in Division 1. In 2016, we placed 3rd in Division 1. It's been an incredible journey each year.
Hong Kong 2022
Tournament Background
We welcome LGBT and Allied players to join us from anywhere in the US. No need to be from Minnesota to be a Gray Ducks tournament squad player. We are considered a top club in the LGBT playing circuit, and are able to be that due to our acceptance of great talent from elsewhere. You'll just have to learn a few Minnesota words like Oofta, Pop, and Dontchya Know.
Seeking to help the Gray Ducks get to Hong Kong? DONATE HERE
In 2017, the International Federation of the Gay Games (FGG) awarded Hong Kong with the privilege of organizing the 11th edition of the Gay Games. The games will occur Nov 9-Nov 20, 2022 with the hopes to bring together some 15,000 participants from around the world. The largest hetero-friendly sports, cultural, festival event in the world! Open to all, the HK Gay Games will contribute to the visibility and integration of Lesbians, Gays and the Transgendered.
Read more at: www.gaygameshk2022.com
Tournament Dates and Information
Anticipated Costs
You control your own destiny in cost as you can crowdfund or collaborate with your team to raise funds.
$250 - event fee.
$50 - Team deposit due Sept 2021, non-refundable, will be applied toward team costs (e.g. uniform, travel, etc)
$100-$300 - Team Uniform
$1,400-$1,900 Estimate for airfare AND hotel
ESTIMATED TOTAL: $1,900-$2,700 USD
We strive to provide our players with sponsorship monies, private funding, and the opportunity to volunteer and earn toward their trip.
Next Steps + Register
Email ryan@grayduckssoccer.com reflecting on your interest in joining the team AND join our Hong Kong Bound Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/hongkongducks/
Team Manager
The team manager is Ryan Adams, veteran team organizer, who led the Gray Ducks to a Bronze Medal in the Paris Gay Games, a 2019 World Championship title in Las Vegas, and the TC Jacks to 5 national and 1 international LGBT tournament where each team found a podium finish ranging from 1st to 3rd.
FAQ
Can my partner travel too?
Yes, absolutely. The more the merrier. Maybe there is a sport they'd like to participate in too? Check out the Hong Kong website for the other sporting options.
Do you have to be LGBT?
Our team, and the event, are inclusive of our Allies. We have always had allies on our team and welcome everyone. We do ask players understand it is an LGBT event at it's core and participate in all the community functions.
Why does it cost so much?
We can't argue with you there, the event fee is incredibly off-putting. We continue to advocate this, however your fee includes access to everything happening during the Gay Games and contributes to this massive global event. The Games are expensive to produce, and there is not corporate sponsorship to further offset the costs, maybe one day!
Do you have to be from Minnesota?
Our team consists and has long consisted of persons from Minnesota and beyond. We welcome all persons willing to done our uniform and play soccer to advance equality and celebrate Pride.
Are there opportunities for non-players?
Absolutely, we always could use team support from management duties to coaching.
Does the team stay together or book travel as a group?
We empower you to book your own journey if you choose to. However, we do strive to book flights/hotel together where possible as it can significantly reduce cost and simplify logistics. Players who've stayed in the team block have had very memorable experiences and made new friends for life. We do have an new policy though were players staying separate from the team are not eligible for sponsorship funds, and players who cannot attend the full tournament are also not eligible for sponsorship monies. So, plan to stay with the team but travel at your leisure.
Do we practice before the tournament?
Ideally, those in Minnesota will be on a specific team 12 months leading up to the tournament to familiarize and advance ourselves. We will host seldom practices and then strike hard with practice a couple months out from the tournament. We will ask that players come to Minnesota once prior to Hong Kong, or join the squad for another traveling tournament.
What if I get injured before I go, or have to cancel?
We hope that is not the case, but understand that it can arise. A loss of a player to our roster can have a ripple effect. There are several purchase points during this process, so some things may be refundable whereas some elements are not. You should pay close attention to the terms and conditions of each purchase for your answer to this. The tournament offers an insurance coverage, we suggest you review this on their website during the registration process. It costs under $6euro. We do collect a non-refundable team fee which is applied to your uniform purchase closer to the tournament date. This is non-refundable because in the event you cannot go, those monies will go toward getting another athlete on board. We find it necessary to have players monetarily invested in the team to protect everyone's investment in attending this tournament. We also encourage you to book travel insurance or umbrella insurance. We will strive to book team insurance for our travel dates too given this tournament is out of the country.