DAYTON – Rain is sprinkling the soccer players outside this weekend, but that may be ok with John Buntemeyer, the general manager for The Dayton Marriott. In addition to a pool, Sharkey’s and other on-site entertainment, he now has real-time scoring broadcasted to all the in-room televisions.

“Real-time is the new expectation,” Buntemeyer, 51, explains. “It used to be that if teams found out the scores of the games after the tournament, that was fast enough. Now, they want to know immediately after the games. If you’re not real-time, you’re just late.”

Buntemeyer is a man of vision and sees the video capabilities well beyond soccer. He sees a day when corporate meetings broadcast pre and post-seminar videos on in-room televisions. Highlight videos from cheerleading competitions and other sporting events can be delivered as well to the in-room televisions.

“We tested the concept at last year’s Mead CUSA Cup with just one tv in the lobby and went hotel-wide with the Warrior Classic on Memorial Day weekend. This is just the start of things,” says Buntemeyer.

You can catch the Mead CUSA Cup scores real-time on the Marriott television in the lobby or at home on www.cusasoccer1.com all weekend long.

PHOTO: Buntemeyer shows off the real-time scoring on the television in the Dayton Marriott lobby. He is also raffling a Harley Davidson motorcycle for Children’s Miracle Center – Dayton and proudly wears a t-shirt promoting the charity. The raffle drawing is tonight at 10:00pm at Sharkey’s

MIAMISBURG – What do you do with a parent who knows almost nothing about soccer, wants to volunteer and has great graphic arts skill? You put him to work designing your t-shirt, program and signage.

Jeff Stapleton, 46, and a partner at Graphica, is not shy about admitting his ignorance of the game. “It took me until my son starting playing U19 to finally figure out the off-sides rule,” Jeff says candidly. But, he still loved the game and knew he could contribute his skills to making the tournament better.

According to Stapleton, the consistent graphic look of the event – from the signage on the highway to the shirts, the program and even the name badges worn by the volunteers – all set the Mead CUSA Cup soccer tournament apart. “It connects all the participants to the same event,” he adds. As the tournament continues to grow by attracting teams from various states, it becomes apparent that the branding efforts are effective.

Stapleton has been designing a unique logo each year for the Mead CUSA Cup since 1996. Because his kids have grown beyond the club, 2006 will be his last year as he turns over the reigns to someone new. He plans on spending more time with his wife and daughter, who also volunteer in various other areas of sport and the arts.

Will he miss it? “I don’t know yet.” But Stapleton is looking forward to some time off.

PHOTO: Stapleton glances through the 2006 Mead CUSA Cup program book.

CENTERVILLE – Don’t call Cheryl McCarter the day after Labor Day. She will be taking a vacation day from work, unplugging her phone and spending the day in bed. But don’t think of her as a slacker; it is a well-deserved rest.

McCarter, 26, is the scheduler behind the 413 team, 723 game schedule, spanning three venues over three days this coming weekend at the 27th annual Mead/Cusa Cup Soccer Tournament. With over one hundred teams with coaches’ conflicts ranging from multiple teams to volunteer requirements, putting a schedule together that meets everyone’s needs is no small job.

“I have six or seven days to take all the application information, seeding and ranking information and make a schedule,” says McCarter in an upbeat tone. “I have to take several vacation days and work until three or four in the morning just to get it done on time.”

But the end result is worth the extra effort McCarter puts in. She has gotten many compliments from guest teams and they keep coming back every year.

McCarter grew up in Iowa and moved to the Dayton area in 2000 for a job. She has played soccer since she was five years old and has coached boys and girls from U9 to U17. She is currently coaching a Boys U12 CUSA team.

“I try to give back as much or more than I take from the sport,” McCarter says, with a slight giggle. “I got into this by volunteering for a two-hour field marshal shift four years ago. Who knew it would turn into a full-time thing?” But, in spite of the work involved, McCarter seems to be enjoying herself.

During the tournament, you can find McCarter entering scores and supervising the standings and team advancement from her headquarters in “the barn” at the Ankeney Complex in Beavercreek. You can follow the scores online throughout the weekend at www.cusasoccer1.com.

PHOTO: McCarter takes a break during lunch to help a coach with his scheduling needs.

DAYTON – How do you get over 450 volunteers to show up on a holiday weekend to run a concession stand, direct parking, field marshal and do other less-than-glamorous jobs for a large soccer tournament? You feed them steak and all the sides.

Actually, the volunteers all pull together to make the Labor Day Mead/CUSA Cup soccer tournament an event to remember because they care about maintaining a tradition of excellence. But having a good meal at a volunteer reception – following an afternoon of golf – goes a long way toward saying ‘thank you.’

“We’ve been donating food for the CUSA volunteers’ reception for three years,” says Robert Atkins, the proprietor of the Outback Steakhouse in Centerville. “It is our way of giving back to a community that gives so much to the kids each Labor Day weekend and throughout the year. We’re just happy to be a part of it.”

The Mead/CUSA Cup kicks off a weekend of soccer, starting with their team reception this Friday at the Dayton Marriott. More information about the tournament can be found at www.cusasoccer1.com.

PHOTO: Robert Atkins, 27, of Outback Steakhouse, prepares steaks for the volunteers on the portable grill used to cater events. The reception was held at the Yankee Trace Golf Course clubhouse on Sunday, Aug. 27.

LEBANON – With Labor Day Weekend approaching, this means one thing to the Centerville United Soccer Association (CUSA) Girls U14 team; the Labor Day Mead CUSA Cup. The CUSA 92 Premier team is one of the host teams, and they are ready to go says Asst. Coach Dean Burgess.

“We got started a little early this year, back in late July. The girls had a full week of training followed by a camp hosted by CUSA. The camp was three hours a day for five days.” Burgess then added, “We attended a tournament last week and we’re at the Arsenal Challenge Cup this week.”

But don’t think the girls are being worked too hard. After this weekend, the girls will have a week to rest before entering their hometown tournament.

“I’m still going to touch the ball on the week off. I’ll also be icing my knee,” says sidelined Kristie Wolf. Wolf has been on the team for about two years and is sitting out with a knee injury. “I played yesterday’s game and felt a little shaky. I should be ready to go for the Mead CUSA Cup.” Wolf adds, “Some of these girls have played together since they were seven. We play as a unit; we play as a team. Teamwork is the reason our team wins games.”

The team has a bit of an emotional tie to the upcoming Mead CUSA Cup. When they were in the U10 division, the girls made it to the finals and lost on penalty kicks. This year will be their last chance to win a first place trophy.

Another reason the CUSA 92 Premiere team should do well is the parenting that surrounds these young ladies. Donna Reist, parent of Erica Reist, says, “I try to give her as much encouragement as possible. I try not to say anything about the opposing team, their record, or anything at all that might scare her. I just want her to have fun.”

With the Mead CUSA Cup just around the corner, keep an eye out for these girls on their home turf. As Burgess puts it, “It will be an advantage for the girls to sleep in their own beds and be right down the road from the fields. They have a chance to take the Mead CUSA Cup this year!”

The games and real time scores of the CUSA team and 203 others competing at the 2006 Arsenal Challenge Cup can be found on www.arsenalchallengecup.com

PHOTO: Kristie Wolf helped her U14 CUSA Premier team to a 4-0 win over Woodridge Premier FC, one of the top 30 ranked teams in the region. (Photo by Michael Blackwell, TourneyCentral.com)

Visit the event website.