We recently participated in the 2026 Leawood 3v3 Tournament and overall had a great time. This was the first year for the event, and it’s always exciting to see new soccer opportunities being created for local players.
The atmosphere was fun, games moved quickly, and there was plenty of action throughout the weekend. Most importantly, the kids enjoyed themselves, which is what youth soccer should be about.
That said, there were a few areas that could be improved if the tournament returns next year.
Age Group Concerns
Our biggest concern was the way age groups were handled.
The tournament was advertised as an Under 12 event, but players who were already 12 years old were allowed to participate. In addition, the age brackets combined players from multiple birth years. This resulted in situations where a 2016 team could be matched up against a 2013 team.
At younger ages, a three-year age gap can be significant both physically and developmentally. While our players competed hard, we would like to see tighter age groupings in future tournaments.
Rule Consistency
The other challenge was consistency with officiating.
On the first day, there seemed to be some confusion regarding whether players could score from their own half of the field. Some goals were allowed while other referees called similar goals back.
There was also inconsistency with the rule preventing players from entering the half circle around the goal. Some referees enforced the rule closely while others allowed players into the area throughout the game.
These issues are understandable for a first-year tournament, but having consistent rule enforcement across all fields would create a better experience for players, coaches, and parents.
The Good
Despite those concerns, we had a lot of fun.
The tournament had an excellent turnout, games were competitive, and the format allowed players to get a lot of touches on the ball. The fast-paced nature of 3v3 soccer encourages creativity, decision-making, and attacking play, which makes it a great developmental format for young players.
For a first-year event, we thought the tournament was a success overall.
Final Thoughts
Starting a new tournament is never easy, and we appreciate the effort that went into organizing the event. While there are a few adjustments we’d recommend regarding age group placement and rule consistency, we enjoyed participating and would be happy to see the tournament return next year.
We hope the Leawood 3v3 Tournament continues to grow and become an annual event for youth soccer players in the Kansas City area.