COEUR d'ALENE - Funny how those jitters intensify when you're not in control.

So is the agony for former player turned coach Andy Vredenburg, who will be leading his two Sting club girls soccer teams to battle this weekend during the 21st annual Bill Eisenwinter Hot Shot youth soccer tournament.

But back when Vredenburg was midfielder for the Sting from 1991 to 1999, all he had to worry about was his assignment, his role, to help the team win.

Now, he has to worry about everyone's.

And he has to stay on the sideline to boot.

"I'm nervous for all of them," he said of his players. "There's a little bit more anxiety as a coach."

But the fifth year coach and former four year Coeur d'Alene High School varsity star is more excited than anything, as the soccer tourney gives local teams like Vredenburg's a chance to show their stuff in a field of 183 teams from across the Inland Northwest and Seattle.

"Everyone's excited. It's go time for everybody," he said. "You can feel it in the air, definitely,"

How does Coeur d'Alene's soccer skill set on the whole compare with other places?

"It's an awesome community," he said. "We couldn't ask for a better group or community to be in."

Vredenburg's 18 and under girls team took second at the State Cup two weeks ago, and the under 17 team is heading to state in Boise next week. The local tourney, where the city puts out its red carpet and "no corners are cut," is a hallmark event as the season winds down.

Friday and Saturday are round robin games on several area fields in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden, while Sunday teams will play for all the marbles.

"The coolest thing to me is just getting to know them and watching the girls progress, not only as players but as individuals," said Vredenburg, who played in the same tourney back in his playing days.

But it's as coach, where those games wrack the nerves.