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Steamboat Springs — For a quarter century, the Steamboat Mountain Soccer Tournament has drawn the best teams from across the state to the fields of Steamboat Springs.

This weekend 105 teams - a dozen of them from Steamboat - will help the tournament celebrate its 25th anniversary. For visiting teams, the tournament is a chance to enjoy the town's scenery and mountain vibe - and maybe take home a title. For the Steamboat Springs Youth Soccer Association, it's a chance for local teams to grow in a competitive atmosphere while raising money to support local programs and fund its traveling teams.

"This tournament has always brought a high number of quality teams from the Front Range," Ben Beall said.

Beall grew up playing in the tournament and is now helping to coach the U-12 boys soccer team. Last year, the team he coached with Michael de Jong won the U-11 division.

"This is great tournament," Beall said. "It's a chance for our players to wake up in their own beds and play on their own fields. It's a chance for visiting players to come to Steamboat Springs and enjoy the mountains and our community."

De Jong, who works closely with Beall, agrees that the tournament is important, and knows firsthand the impact playing in it can have on a youth team in Steamboat Springs.

"It was huge for us," de Jong said about winning the tournament last year. "After the tournament, we had a lot more confidence in our ability to play with the other teams in our fall league and other tournaments."

The hometown showing is part of a progression that started four years ago when de Jong started coaching a team.

"We went from losing every game to winning one game to winning the entire tournament," de Jong said. "It's been great to watch these players grow and gain confidence."

The team finished in the middle of the pack of last year's fall league but got off to a strong start this summer by winning a tournament in Grand Junction. De Jong said his players are excited about the chance to defend their title in this year's Steamboat Mountain Soccer Tournament. The local team will take the field for its first game at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

"This tournament means a lot to Steamboat Springs and the Association," de Jong said. "With more than 100 teams coming to Steamboat, it has a huge impact on our economy and it can be a big boost for local teams."

Kris Rowse, tournament director, said there are 200 games scheduled in Steamboat Springs during the three-day tournament. Play begins Friday at 8 a.m. and will continue all day Saturday. Games will take place at Whistler, Heritage, Ski Town, Emerald and Memorial fields. Games also will be played at Steamboat Springs High School.

Rowse said this year's tournament, which features boys and girls players between the ages of 11 and 18, is about the same size as last year's.

"We are happy with that," Rowse said. "Especially when you look around at the economy."

Rowse said the money raised from enty fees is funneled back into the Steamboat Springs Youth Soccer Association's general fund and is used to reduce fees for local teams.

The tournament also draws a large number of teams from across Colorado and from across the country. This year's tournament will host teams from South Dakota and Long Beach, Calif.