Waiouru junior soccer off to a great start

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 688, 27 May 1997, Page 12

Waiouru junior soccer off to a great start

With a full team in each of three age groups, the green and white colours of the Waiouru Junior Soccer Club dominated the field on Saturday 17 May. "We got a good response from the kids and the parental support has been amazing this season," said coordinator Bill O'Brien. The competition has been re-arranged this year so that there is a senior grade for the 10-13's, an intermediate grade for the 7- 1 0' s and a junior grade for the 5-7 year olds. Splitting up the age groups has meant that ability levels and sizes of the children are mueh more evenly matched than in previous years. The senior team, coached by Noel Rings, hasalmost a new look as only a few of the children played here last year. He said "they have

already beaten last season' s win total" and look forward to challenging games throughout the season. Colin Hodkinson, coach of the intermediate team, is very pleased with how his team is coming together. "They are .learning very quickly how to talk to each other, pass the ball and to play together," he said. The coaches stress that having fun and developing some skills is much more

important than winning the game. The 'player of the day' isselectedon team play and improvement in skills as much as on the number of goals scored. The week ' s winner in each of the three grades from both the W aiouru and Taihape teams gets a certificate to keep and a trophy to take home until the next game. Parents have been volunteering to help as well as turning up to support their

child's game. A round-robin tournament will be held in midJune with W aiouru, T aihape andTaumaranui. Some may also play against Wanganui teams when those teams have a bye. It is hoped that Ohakune and Raetihi will be able to field a team also, which would then provide sufficient teams for a soccer league in this area. Practice is at 9am for an hour before games start

about 10am, so that children and parents with commitments during the week can still be involved. The club provides all the uniforms as well as some track tops. Boots are required but many children wear running shoes, especially in the junior teams. Donations of spare boot£or second-hand boots for sale are welcomed at the club. Shin pads can be improvised and one enterprising parent spoke of lino and foam pads which worked well. Soccer' s contact is Bill O'Brien on (06) 3876-111 Ext 7636 at work or 3875130 at home.