The Family Ball Tournament is a fun, fund-raising tournament that began 17 years ago in the village of Osgoode. Marty Kelly and his family established the John Downey Memorial Family Ball Tournament after John ‘s fatal car accident following a ball tournament in Ottawa.
Our tournament is comprised of 16 ‘all-family’ teams that play three-pitch in two divisions over the course of a weekend. While the competition is generally friendly, the teams compete for the coveted trophies: the “A” trophy – the John Downey Memorial Trophy, and the “B” trophy – the Dick Blanchfield Memorial Trophy.
The tournament takes place at the Osgoode Community Centre each year, on the ‘weekend after the long weekend’ in August.
It has been said that the weekend is like holding 16 simultaneous family reunions, and indeed there are families who plan their family activities and vacations around the tournament (many coming in from out of town), knowing that they can see many old friends and family in the relaxed atmosphere of the weekend.
The Family Ball Tournament selects different charities each year to direct the proceeds of the tournament, and tries to focus on a major charity as well as one or more local charities, as proceeds allow.
Most of our families have been a part of the tournament for many years (some have been in for all 16 years). Team names like Kelly, Blanchfield, Downey, Quinn, Thompson, Doyle, Bracken, Brogan, Chambers, McEvoy, Moloughney, Dewan, Bekkers, McCloskey, Rowan, Sloan, Brophy and Churchill and their extended families all come out to enjoy the Family Ball Tournament each year. The tournament is limited 16 teams for logistics, and indeed there is a waiting list of families waiting for someone to drop out so that they can get in.
The families involved in the tournament do more than play ball, they volunteer their time to organize, set up, tear down, cook & serve refreshments, umpire & scorekeep, among many other things. The tournament would not survive without the extensive volunteer initiative by our dedicated families.
The Family Ball Tournament is entering the next generation, with many of the original team players stepping aside to let their children play, making it a great family event all around. There are as many spectators as players, and it is always a great social event, as well as really great ball!
In addition to the ball games, there is a licensed refreshment tent, live entertainment in the evenings, and kids activities.