Here’s a nice one from a soccer blog called On The Pitch. It ties back to appreciating the amount of work that goes into achieving a goal and earning what you achieve (with a nice twist as well).
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It seems that whenever you see ‘youth soccer’ mentioned in the news, it’s some story about crazed soccer parents ruining their kid’s lives or some deviant, who also happened to be a soccer coach (making it even MORE newsworthy), being arrested. Yet those of us with kids playing or who coach see the good in youth soccer every day and you wish it would get the attention the bad does.
Well this is a story that is bound to get some media attention – the good kind.
In southern California last weekend, AYSO teams were playing in a tournament to decide who would represent southern California in the state wide championships held in Davis, CA. In the U10 Girls division, the Huntington Park American Eagles, coached by Maria Espinoza, won the right to go to Davis after defeating the Cypress Cyclones, coached by Bernadette Arizmendi. However, the Eagles were upset after their win, because they knew they could not afford to make the trip to Davis to play in the state championship. By default, since the Eagles could not attend, the 2nd place Cyclones would go to Davis representing southern California.
Instead of preparing her team for the championships, Coach Arizmendi decided to try and raise some funds so the Eagles could attend and represent their region as the 1st place team. She asked her parents for donations and sent emails to various organizations asking for help. One of those emails went to local radio personality Ryan Seacrest, know to many as the host of American Idol.
By default, since the Eagles could not attend, the 2nd place Cyclones would go to Davis representing southern California. Instead of preparing her team for the championships, Coach Arizmendi decided to try and raise some funds so the Eagles could attend and represent their region as the 1st place team.
Here’s a link to the rest of the article:
What wonderful sportsmanship and great lesson for all these kids to experience first hand.
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