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» ve ws» le 5 fw Ea TC HDR RRR = YT J RT oe LL RA TT, LET NTN --- Local youngsters enjoy soccer, need coaches More people watch soccer than-any other team sport in the world. Crowds of over 100,000 are not unusual in the cities of South America, Asia and Europe. In some countries the top stars receive adulation usually reserved for heads of state. And if you think Canadians are serious about their hockey, the sheer intensity of soccer fans can reach levels of near insan- ity. Yet for all this, part of the beauty of the sport lies in its simplicity. All you really need is a t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, a ball and a field. . Although North America remains the last place on earth where soccer has not really "caught on," this is changing. A good indication is the growth in the interest of the sport" in the Port Perry area, and Brian Yeo, one of the coaches here firmly believes the interest will continue to expand. From one team just a couple of years ago, there are now five teams in Port Perry with about 75 young enthusiastists from six years and up involved in league play. The five teams are part of the Uxbridge Soccer Association which also includes teams from .Ux- bridge and Blackstock. Port Perry fields two teams of six to eight year-olds, two teams from nine to 11, and one senior team from 12 to about 16. The teams practice one night of the week and then plays a.league game the next night. The regular schedule will run 15 games with playoffs to follow. Although organizers are pleased with the increased interest, it has created at least one problem; not enough qualified coaches. One of the teams in the younger group is presently without a coach, and Brian Yeo, already coaching one team has been doing double duty. In an interview last week, Mr. Yeo suggested that any adult who has played a little soccer or at least knows something about the game might want to take on some coaching duties with the young boys. In league games all teams play under regular soccer rules except the younger teams do not play the full 90-minute games. All equip- ment and uniforms except boots are supplied, but a good pair of soccer boots for a young boy or girl can be bought for around $10. The Association charges each player a $10. registration fee for the entire season. Talking about soccer (or football as it is called every- where except North America) Mr. Yeo stressed the involvement of all 11 players on the field. "It's a team sport," he said, "with everybody taking part in the action." He said that the low-scoring games add an extra dimension of ex- citement for the youngsters. And, played on a wide-open field 110 yards long and 40 yards wide soceer is a great sport for conditioning and exercise. Working with the younger team members, many of whom know nothing about the game, the coaches stress the fundamentals such as never touching the ball with your hands. Thinks like kicking and field position are explained, and then the younger groups "just get out and play." The overall simplicity of th¢ game is somewhat mis- leading, however, as mastering the skills and techniques requires practise YE Aly Port po Has Wo tesiiv of six to eight. -year olds playing soccer. Here some of the team members of and dedication. As the team members get older, stronger and gain ex- perience, more emphasis is placed on the sophisticated techniques of tackling, dribbling, passing, heading, kicking from both feet; corner kicks, and offensive and defensive positioning. Goaltending is a special art in itself with unique skills required. While soecer is growing in popularity in the Port Perry area, it seems to have really expanded in Ux- bridge where about 15 teams are operating. There is even a girl's team in Uxbridge which plays in the same league as the boys. Mr. Yeo said that soccer is not limited just to boys and any girl would be wel- come to play. He hopes that some day Port Perry could field an entire girls team. Ball possession is the key to winning soccer and the struggle for control is gruelling and demanding. Commenting on why soccer does not enjoy the same popularity in Canada as some other team sports, Mr. Yeo suggested it is a matter of tradition with hockey, baseball and soft- ball being the sports that most youngsters take part in. "But we think that soccer is really starting to get more popular." CONTINUOUS FORMS available at the Port Perry Star 985.7383 NEW HOMES-ADDITIONS GENERAL CARPENTRY Norm's General Contracting ASPHALT ROOFING: ALUMINUM SIDING SOFFIT Norm Tripp 985-3563 Office 985-8216 P.O. Box 608, Port Perry Hygrade Fuels oe Now is the time to have your furnace serviced and cleaned for the next heating season. ® Parts for all makes & models. e Blown-in Attic Insulation. e Central Air Conditioning (Installed & Serviced] eo New Oil, Gas, Electric, Forced Air Units Installed. for fast, prompt, courteous service | PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, July 6, 1977 -- 17 the Green Hornets and Orange Bombers gather with coach Brian Yeo. Using the head to direct the ball can result in a pass to a team-mate or even a goal. Heading the ball properly requires skill and practise. ARVICE FISHER Port Perry - 985-7951 -HEATING - 2 Ton Unit priced from $950. up. 985-7951 FLT D EI