THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE, Oct. 23, 2014

When teams say they look forward to playing in a state tournament in their home area - as opposed to busing hundreds and hundreds of miles - they say one advantage is the chance to sleep in their own beds.

Except in this case, the closest "own" bed is some 45 miles away.

The state high school class 4A boys and girls soccer tournaments are in Kootenai County this weekend, starting today and running through Saturday.

Most of the boys games are at Post Falls High (see schedule elsewhere in this section), with a few of the games, including the 11 a.m. title game on Saturday, at Coeur d'Alene High.

Most of the girls games are at Lake City High in Coeur d'Alene, with a few of the games, including the 2 p.m. championship game on Saturday, at Coeur d'Alene High.

The only true "local" team in 4A is Lakeland High in nearby Rathdrum. But neither of the Hawks' teams qualified for state this year. Lakeland's boys brought home the third-place trophy last year.

The closest teams in this year's fields are Sandpoint's girls, some 45 miles away, and Moscow's boys, some 85 miles away.

Sandpoint's girls, the defending state champions and this year's Region 1 champions, open the tournament today with a "Breakfast at Lake City High" tilt vs. Twin Falls at 9 a.m. The Bruins took home the consolation title last year.

Moscow's boys, this year's Region 1 champions, open today at 9 a.m. at Post Falls High vs. defending champion Jerome.

The top four girls teams from last year all return. Bishop Kelly, Sandpoint's nemesis at state for years, is in the other half of the bracket from the Bulldogs. Century of Pocatello, third last year, is in the top half of the bracket with Sandpoint and Twin.

Jerome is the only team in this year's boys field which brought home a trophy last year.

Sure, there are local teams competing at state this weekend, but nowhere around here.

Lake City's boys, Lake City's girls and Coeur d'Alene's girls are at the state 5A tournaments in Idaho Falls.

And Timberlake's girls and Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy's girls are at the state 3A tourney in Twin Falls.

For those fans staying up here, or for those of you visiting from the rest of the state, the weather forecast calls for rain every day, so come prepared.

Pack an umbrella, or a poncho, as there's not a lot of shelter at any of the sites.

Or do what we do up here in North Idaho - just wait 15 minutes, and the weather is bound to change.

COEUR d'ALENE HIGH football coach Shawn Amos was recently named a distinguished coach of the year in his sport for the 2013-14 school year by the Idaho State Coaches Association.

One coach statewide is selected in each sport.

Amos guided the Vikings to an 9-3 record and their third state 5A championship in the last four seasons last year. Coeur d'Alene has reached the state title game each of the last four seasons, and made it as far as the state semifinals in each of the last five.

"The coaches board looked at Shawn's entire career, but specifically the last 5-6 years," said Kelly Reed, past president of the Idaho State Coaches Association. "He and his staff have done an outstanding job the last 5-6 years, and the association thought he would be a great choice."

FUTURE LOCAL high school football players will be on display this Saturday at Person Field, when Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle holds its "Championship Saturday" in the seventh- and eighth-grade leagues.

Games begin at 9 a.m., with the seventh-grade championship game at 11 a.m., and the eighth-grade title game at 3 p.m.

The winner of the eighth-grade title game receives the Jim Edom trophy. Edom, who died in 2012, was a driving force behind Junior Tackle in the area.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached by phone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.