OCEAN CITY- The  Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s 25th annual St. Patrick’s Soccer Tournament returns next weekend with roughly 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the mid-Atlantic region expected to converge on the resort for the four-weekend event.

From modest beginnings 25 years ago, the annual St. Patrick’s Tournament has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and is now one of the largest events of its kind. The 2013 tournament will host over 150 teams competing in 12 divisions and will be held over four weekends beginning next Friday, February 22. The tournament will be held on four consecutive weekends starting February 22-24, when the under 18 boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be held.

The local area will be well represented next weekend with the Decatur Soccer Club and the Red Storm team out of Salisbury competing in the boys’ under-18 tournament. On the girls’ under-18 side of the bracket, the ESU Blitz from Bishopville will compete along with Rommel’s Ace and the Wicomico Dragons, both based in Salisbury.

On the weekend of March 1-3, the under-10 and under-14 boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be held. The under-12 and under-16 boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be held on the weekend of March 8-10. The month-long event will culminate with the adult men’s and women’s tournaments on March 15-17. The format will be pool play followed by a single elimination tournament to determine the champions in each division.