Letters From the Editor:

Nothing pulls together Newport-Mesa families quite like the Pilot Cup.

The youth soccer tournament lets us compete and cooperate — with an emphasis on the latter. Though generally cordial, a minority of parents have crossed the line and threatened volunteer referees in years past or put their children on more than one team.

But they are the exception. Nearly everyone else follows rules. Who enforces them? The honor system.

“I know we’re competitive by nature,” Pilot Cup organizer Kirk McIntosh told a crowded room of tournament volunteers Thursday night in Costa Mesa. “We want to win, but that’s not the focus of this tournament.”

He’s right. The focus is fun, community spirit and giving every kid in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa a chance to play.

As McIntosh pointed out, the tournament is “school vs. school.”

It’s not Westside vs. Eastside or Newport vs. Corona del Mar.

Not club soccer.

“We don’t cut kids,” he said. “Everyone plays.”

In both halves. And coaches are directed to put equitable play time ahead of winning. Whether a kid is headed to the MLS or doesn’t know you can’t use your hands, they’re playing in the Pilot Cup.

There is a free substitution rule that allows coaches to replace a player with any stop in play. That means squads can be larger. Fifteen is a good-size team, but some reach 20.

The idea is for schools to spread talent among two or three teams rather than to stack one with the best players. That way each kid gets more minutes on the field.

Parents and coaches are trusted not to use children between third and sixth grades from outside of our two communities, make sure every child puts foot to pitch and respect volunteer referees.

At the meeting this week, McIntosh, a local attorney, gathered with volunteers and members of the Daily Pilot and Los Angeles Times editorial and marketing staffs to start planning the June 1 to 6 tournament. Volunteers were given entry forms and went about the annual ritual of signing up for team colors.

There are just so many shades of blue, McIntosh explained. Those colors are important with so many players.

Last year, some 193 teams and 2,500 players participated at the Costa Mesa High School and Farm Complex. If there are more than 195 or so teams, the event may need to use additional fields.

“It’s grown every year,” McIntosh said of the tourney he launched 11 years ago. “It’s never slowed down, never topped out.”

And because not everyone who wants to help organize the tournament was able to attend, let me give you something from my job description: deadlines. Teams need to be formed by May 10, and entry forms must be submitted by May 18.

And here are the per-child costs: $5 for public school children before May 18 and $7 thereafter; $10 for private school children before May 18 and $12 thereafter.

Those who need sign-up or sponsorship forms can find them here and here. From there you can print them out and distribute at will.

JOHN CANALIS is editorial director for the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at (714) 966-4607 and [email protected].