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PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1998.
Letter
Soccer president responds to 'Sidelines'
THE EDITOR,
You're damned if you do and
damned if you don't. You just can't
win.
I was somewhat surprised and
disappointed when I read "From the
sidelines" by Hugh Nichol in the
June 17 Citizen in which Mr.
Nichol criticized an attempt to
resolve concerns over parity of
soccer teams.
He unfortunately interpreted a
positive attempt as a heavy-handed
one to intimidate young coaches.
I do not wish to get into a public
war of words, however since the
issue was raised in a public forum,
I feel a need to address some
inaccuracies.
Brussels Minor Soccer is proud
that over the years we have had a
number of young people from
within the ranks of our club who
have participated as coaches and in
other capacities. This year, we have
as many or more young people
involved than ever, including Mr
Nichol's son and his friend, who are
coaching the team described in his
column. We have made
considerable efforts to encourage
development of skills by both
youth and adult coaches through
providing access to, and financial
support, to attend clinics, as well as
reference materials, etc. We make a
practice of involving affected
coaches in discussions and
decisions on issues affecting their
teams.
Most Brussels soccer teams play
in the North Perth Soccer League,
which is a "recreational" league.
This does not mean the soccer is
not competitive. It means that when
there are enough players registered
in a particular age group for more
than one team, rather than having
an "A" and a "B" team, an attempt
is made to divide the players into
two or more evenly-matched teams.
While coaches are encouraged
each year to try to select teams that
are as even as possible it is not an
easy task, especially when requests
for travel arrangements or requests
to play with (or not play with)
certain players or coaches are
considered. Sometimes it works out
well, sometimes it doesn't.
In 1997, we received
considerable criticism about the
selection of teams in one age group
where one was particularly strong,
while another was particularly
weak. This is not acceptable, and
last year, as this year, a meeting of
coaches was convened to try to sort
it out. We weren't successful last
year and may not have been this
year, but at least we tried
Our overall goal is to provide a
positive experience for the players.
While winning isn't everything, it is
more fun if a team can be
competitive with their peers.
Losing every game can no doubt
provide lessons in the way life
sometimes works, however, it
certainly doesn't help build
enthusiasm or self esteem,
particularly when overshadowed by
an "equal cross-town rival" that
blows them away by a wide
margin.
Mr Nichol states, "It was
explained to the rookie coaches that
they would have to give up one or
two of their players for the
betterment of the sport".
This is untrue. There was no
attempt to suggest anyone "had to"
do anything, otherwise there would
have been no need for a meeting to
discuss the issue. In fact, there
ended up being changes to the other
two teams but not their team. The
meeting of coaches from each of
the three teams in the age group
was held to discuss and try to
resolve the concern. Suggestions
were made and additional ideas
requested.
The young coaches made several
good suggestions. An option that
may not have been the best one, but
one acceptable to all coaches was
reached.
Mr Nichol states, "The boys
argued that they did not pick the
teams, had no choice in which
players they were given and
refused to dismantle the team
because a more experienced coach
had lost in front of a capacity
hometown crowd".
There were no concerns
expressed at the meeting over input
into choice of teams. There was
discussion over a strong player who
had been slated to play for one of
the teams but had not played, thus
perhaps unbalancing the teams. All
coaches had ample opportunity for
input into team selection.
At an initial coaches' meeting a
draft list was presented with
requests of players and evaluations
of previous coaches. The list was
discussed with input from all
coaches and several adjustments
were made. Since the coaches did
not know all the players, several
joint practices were held to try to
help with player evaluation to see if
team selection was appropriate.
There was verbal agreement among
coaches to look at options to adjust
teams if they appeared unbalanced.
The young coaches did not
refuse, nor were they asked, to
"dismantle" their team. As stated
above, they participated in the
discussion and offered several
suggestions. The issue was never
about the ego of "an experienced
coach losing in front of a capacity
hometown crowd", rather it was an
attempt to ensure a positive
experience for children
participating in a recreational
activity.
Mr. Nichol's statement is both
Continued from page 4
from the Ministry of Agriculture
for 75 per cent.
The administration related to this
system was substantial and was not
a good use of taxpayer dollars.
What this government recognized
was that this duplication needed to
be eliminated. The farmer now
pays what he actually owes and the
rural community receives their
portion of municipal tax, directly
from the provincial government
through the Community
Reinvestment Fund.
insulting and injurious to a
concerned volunteer coach and
parent.
He said that "they wondered,
why should minor soccer have the
right to buy and sell these kids like
a commodity on the stock
exchange when they do not own the
players".
I find this comment personally
insulting, in part because it's an
attitude totally foreign to me or any
of the soccer executive. Also as
`I find this
comment
insulting'
these thoughts were never
expressed during the discussion I
suspect Mr. Nichol has included
them solely for effect.
The coaches shared concern over
how the players may feel about
being shifted to another team. The
ground rules were clear from the
start, before any discussion took
place. Any changing from team to
team would be totally voluntary,
with no pressure, and strictly up to
the player and their parents to
decide. In fact, several players were
called who said they would prefer
not to switch teams. The players
who did agree to switch were given
the option to switch back after a
game if they wished.
Mr Nichol said "The question is
not whether they won because they
had better players, a better team, or
are better coaches, but rather would
minor soccer have followed up on
the complaint if it had been their
team losing" and goes on to say,
"They feel they have been singled
out due to their age and coaching
experience, their ideas,
philosophies and theories rejected
because they are not textbook
written."
This implies we are
discriminating against our young
As opposed to a cheque for every
farmer, your government now
forwards one cheque for each
community. I believe this is a
necessary reduction in bureaucracy.
Rural communities will receive the
same dollars but through a different
method.
I certainly hope that people of
Huron believe, like I do, that rural
communities must be preserved but
that efficiencies must be recognized
and duplication eliminated.
Yours truly,
Helen Johns, MPP Huron.
coaches, which is totally ridiculous.
We don't discriminate for any
reason, race, sex, age, or any other.
To suggest that is insulting. We
.volld respond to a concern
expressed by young coaches in the
same fashion as one expressed by
anyone else. A more logical
question in my mind is, would Mr.
Nichol have written the same
article if it had been the young
coaches' team losing?
I do agree with some of Mr
Nichol's comments. It is getting
more difficult to attract volunteers
to serve with community
organizations for a variety of
reasons. People lead busy lives
these days and when faced with the
opportunity to participate in
volunteer activities have to ask
themselves if there is anything
positive in it for them. Is it really
worth the hassle?
Most people who volunteer don't
do it because they expect to get
much, if anything out of it. A few
positive comments or a pat on the
back can keep them coming back
for a long time.
However, all too often people are
quick to complain, but slow to
compliment. As Mr. Nichol
indicates in his column, a few
negative comments or conflicts can
soon send volunteers away or repel
potential recruits. For example,
there may now be people hesitant
to join the soccer executive if they
think they have to read negative
information about themselves
without an attempt made to discuss
the issue with all parties involved.
Until I read Mr. Nichol's column,
I didn't view the situation he wrote
about as negative. In fact there are
more positives than.negatives. A
concern was expressed. It wasn't
ignored, nor were any decrees
issued. If it had been ignored, that
would have been a negative
situation. The affected parties sat
down around a kitchen table,
discussed the issue in a friendly
fashion and eventually came up
with a solution. It probably wasn't
the best solution, but it was one
that everyone could live with.
That's called consensus. It's not a
negative thing. Further, there were
some other folks (parents and
children) co-operative and
understanding enough to try a
change if it would help out. That's
not negative either.
Unfortunately, Mr. Nichol
seemed to be looking for the
negatives.
There are many other positives
he could have written about
Mr. Nichol makes the statement,
"It is beyond comprehension that in
today's world of mass
communication our society has
forgotten the art of simple
conversation, the ability to
verbalize one to one". I totally
agree. However, it seems ironic,
that is exactly what Mr. Nichol is
being critical of. We sat down and
tried to resolve an issue by
communicating one on one. I wish
Mr. Nichol had followed his own
advice and chosen to communicate
one on one with myself, or the
other coach involved, prior to
writing his article. He may not have
changed his mind, but at least he
would understand the other
viewpoints involved.
Too often people criticize
without taking time to find out all
the facts involved, without
suggestions of positive solutions or
without any intention of offering
their assistance to improve things.
For anyone else with concerns,
complaints or better yet ideas on
how we can improve things, please
give me a call. I'm in the Brussels
phone book. I can't promise a
solution, but I can promise that I'll
listen.
For anyone who wants to put
their thoughts into action and work
with a good group of people, I
expect we will need additional
executive members this year. The
election will be at our year-end
banquet. The tentative date is Sept.
13.
Steve Bowers, President
Brussels Minor Soccer
MPP offers her views