Soccer workshop sows seeds of sport

The World Cup may be underway in Africa, but children on the southwest coast had their own taste of the beautiful game earlier this month.

On June 12 and 13, over 134 children from communities between Margaree and Rose Blanche gathered in Isle aux Morts for a soccer workshop spearheaded by Kathy Bond.

The former Isle aux Morts resident now lives in Waterdown, Ont. but returns home each year to visit with family. She said she just wants to see children out playing again on the fields where she used to play as a child.

Nine coaches from the Burlington Youth Soccer Club flew down to deliver the two-day workshop. With the help of two volunteer drivers, they were also able to bring two truckloads of donated soccer balls, cleats, shinpads, uniforms and nets.

All the equipment was provided free of charge to the youth who turned up.

Mrs. Bond said in past years she had seen established Ontario sports clubs donating equipment overseas. Last year she decided to see if she could get some of the equipment sent to her hometown.

Her plan worked and it led to modest soccer programs in Burnt Islands and Isle aux Morts last year.

This year she got more people on side, and the event was bigger and better than she could have imagined.

"Saturday was a clinic where parents and children came out. They learned the basic rules and how to pass the ball," said Mrs. Bond. "Sunday was a tournament where they played against one another. They ended it off with a barbeque with hotdogs and pop."

The event led to the creation of several soccer teams that will now meet and play against each other on the coast this summer.

Jason Hann of Isle aux Morts has taken over organization of soccer in that community. He said practice is held twice a week, but the youth don't always wait for the organized play to get out on the field.

"They go over and play by themselves now. They don't need to be organized. I see them playing soccer by themselves two or three times a week," he said.

The program to donate new and used gear is called Play it Forward Newfoundland. Mrs. Bond stressed that the program is not about charity. She noted that almost everyone who attended would be able to afford the gear. Rather, the program gives children a taste of the sport and sows the seeds of organized soccer in this area.

Her hope is that it will get children active, provide them with the opportunity to play and perhaps keep them out of trouble in the future.

Some of the donated gear was sent to children in La Poile. Another 65 uniforms were sent to children in the Codroy Valley.

Mrs. Bond said they still have a lot of gear left over. She is hoping someone in Port aux Basques will take up the cause and organize youth soccer in the gateway community.

The coaches who attended were treated with traditional Newfoundland hospitality while on the southwest coast. Mrs. Bond organized a barbeque for them, and parents who brought their children out for the event took up a collection to buy lobsters for the group.

Both Mrs. Bond and Mr. Hann say the children really did appreciate the event, and that is the most important thing of all.

"They just really enjoy it," said Jason. "The exercise is fantastic. We don't have much here for the kids so whatever we can do for them the better."

reporter@gulfnews.ca