Each year, the Spikes compete against other gay teams from around the country and around the world in several tournaments in addition to our regular league play. Every fourth year, the Spikes compete at the Gay Games, which is the largest of the tournaments. Each summer during the three years between Gay Games, the Spikes compete in the IGLFA World Cup. In addition to that one major tournament per year, the Spikes sometimes compete in weekend-long outdoor tournaments in Philadelphia, and Atlanta, and/or an Indoor tournament in New York as well.
Ask any Spike who has traveled with the team to a tournament, and he will tell you it is one of the most memorable and fun privledges of being a Spike. In fact the return to "real life" once a tournament has ended is often such a sad day, after the non-stop soccer fun and craziness of a traveling and competing with the Spikes, that we've given it its own term: "PTD" which stands for "Post-Tournament-Depression". So if you're a Spike, but haven't yet traveled to a tournement with us, plan on it next time. It's worth it!
Stipend
In order to help make the travel to tournaments affordable and possible for all members of the Spikes, we typically offer a travel stipend to any active, dues-paying member of the organization who wishes to compete in that tournament. This includes individual members of the Spikes who might not be selected for the Spikes team(s) that comopete there. Each year, the amount of the stipend is decided upon by the Spikes Board of Directors and is based on the expense of the tournament, the number of Spikes goiing, and our organizations' financial status.
Upcoming Tournaments
In 2009, the Spikes are planning on competing in the New York Indoor Classic in March, and at the IGLFA World Cup in Washington, DC in June. Information about the tournaments is available on each even'ts tournament page. On the Links Page, you can also find links to the host's websites of these upcoming tournaments.
Past Tournaments
You find past results, recaps and photos from each of the touraments on their own pages here: