Dear Lions families:
Our trip is fast coming up! This email has some general information about the tournament schedules and preparation for the trip.
Schedules:
I have attached the overall travel and game schedules. Each tournament has a Group Play round where we play a game against each of the other 3 teams in our group. The top teams from the groups advance to the semi-final and then championship round. The groups are unseeded, so we have no idea of what level opponent we will face. All of our opponents are from Norway, Denmark, or Sweden.
We have a team website at <lions.weebly.com/scandinavia-2014.html> where we hope to post pictures, results, blogs, etc.
Chaperones:
Michelle Spinner, a coach who is a student at USF, will be staying with the girls in the dormitories. The girls have met Michelle since she has worked with Norman in the past and has been at some of the practices this month. You will find Michelle's biography on our website. In addition, Teeka James (Norman's wife) and I will be travelling with the team to both tournaments. In Gothenburg, approximately 20 parents and siblings will be joining the group as well. The boys travelling with us will be staying with the boys team they are joining.
Money:
All meals are included during the tournaments themselves. The players will need to purchase meals on our 3 travel days and will also need to pay for snacks, drinks, and incidentals. I am attaching a list of items/expenses that Mattias's teams have purchased on past trips to give you an idea of the kinds of expenses the girls might incur. As I have mentioned previously, Sweden and Denmark each have separate currencies. Your player can change money at the airport or bank. Having an ATM card is preferable to carrying a lot of cash. Be sure to inform your bank of your travels so they don't block the ATM card and also ask them about exchange fees at foreign ATMs. Some banks have foreign correspondent banks where there are lower ATM fees; you can ask if your bank has such a relationship with any banks in Frederikshavn and Gothenburg (slight chance, but worth asking!)
Leisure time:
When not playing soccer (either games, practice, or friendlies), we will be exploring the region, enjoying water parks/beaches/amusement parks, visiting with other teams, or just relaxing in the dormitories. Norman has been contacted by a Swedish girls team that is going to be in San Francisco this spring and we will make plans to meet them while in Gothenburg. Gothenburg is home to Sweden's largest amusement park, so there will probably be an excursion to it as well.
Go Lions!
Our trip is fast coming up! This email has some general information about the tournament schedules and preparation for the trip.
Schedules:
I have attached the overall travel and game schedules. Each tournament has a Group Play round where we play a game against each of the other 3 teams in our group. The top teams from the groups advance to the semi-final and then championship round. The groups are unseeded, so we have no idea of what level opponent we will face. All of our opponents are from Norway, Denmark, or Sweden.
We have a team website at <lions.weebly.com/scandinavia-2014.html> where we hope to post pictures, results, blogs, etc.
Chaperones:
Michelle Spinner, a coach who is a student at USF, will be staying with the girls in the dormitories. The girls have met Michelle since she has worked with Norman in the past and has been at some of the practices this month. You will find Michelle's biography on our website. In addition, Teeka James (Norman's wife) and I will be travelling with the team to both tournaments. In Gothenburg, approximately 20 parents and siblings will be joining the group as well. The boys travelling with us will be staying with the boys team they are joining.
Money:
All meals are included during the tournaments themselves. The players will need to purchase meals on our 3 travel days and will also need to pay for snacks, drinks, and incidentals. I am attaching a list of items/expenses that Mattias's teams have purchased on past trips to give you an idea of the kinds of expenses the girls might incur. As I have mentioned previously, Sweden and Denmark each have separate currencies. Your player can change money at the airport or bank. Having an ATM card is preferable to carrying a lot of cash. Be sure to inform your bank of your travels so they don't block the ATM card and also ask them about exchange fees at foreign ATMs. Some banks have foreign correspondent banks where there are lower ATM fees; you can ask if your bank has such a relationship with any banks in Frederikshavn and Gothenburg (slight chance, but worth asking!)
Leisure time:
When not playing soccer (either games, practice, or friendlies), we will be exploring the region, enjoying water parks/beaches/amusement parks, visiting with other teams, or just relaxing in the dormitories. Norman has been contacted by a Swedish girls team that is going to be in San Francisco this spring and we will make plans to meet them while in Gothenburg. Gothenburg is home to Sweden's largest amusement park, so there will probably be an excursion to it as well.
Go Lions!