16 — Friday, April 3, 1998 — North Shore News

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Siigre news

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NEWS photo Gra Ledwidge

YOUNG soccer players kick up their heels during a recent clinic for five- to six-year-olds at Delbrook Park. The
North Shore Soccer Training Centre holds player and coaches clinics for all ages throughout the year.

Kids get a kick out of clinics

C.J.Thomas
Contributing Writer

THE World Cup of soccer kicks
off this summer in France and
Canada will not be among the
32 qualifiers.

This despite the fact more people play
the game in this country than any other
sport.

Ir’s a long and exhausting debate as ta
why Canada repeatedly fails in interna:
tional competition. We fon’t nave a pro-
fessional league for kids to aspire to, is
one argument. Another is that kids quit
the game to play other sports, especially
in high school.

We don't have the tradition, the
coaches, the climate, the desire or even a
media anxious to promote the world’s

most popular game.

These are all excuses heard everytime
a Canadian side fails to make the World
Cup or Olympics.

“Our kids are as good as s anyone in the
wortd up to age 14," says Tom
McManus, Director of the Narth Shore
Soccer Training Centre. “But then they
see the Canucks, Grizzlies and (Canadian
baseball player) Larry Walker and sce that
as their chance.”

MeManus is a professional coach hired
to run the centre to foster soccer devel-
opment on the North Shore. The pro-
gram is available to any registered soccer
players or coaches on the North Shore.

“My top priority is to provide better
coaching to keep kids interested,” says
MeManus. “Too many coaches think
they need to vell and scream to motivate,
they should stress fun. We need to de-

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emphasize winning and focus on working
hard and having fun — kids wil keep
plaving soccer if “they're having fun.”

MeManus and his staff of volunteer
coaches will conduct training sessions for
teams that request them. [fa team is hav-
ing a particular problem they can contact
the centre and arrange a time MeManus
can come out and conduct the training
session.

oerg Roche is a soccer parent who
called MeManus in to work with his son's
Lynn Valley Jaguars under 12 team.

“The tam started winning big. time
after Tom came in,” says Roche. “The
plavers were immediately focused and
responded extremely well.”

Peter Woodbridge had the same reac-
tion after his West: Van Fiving Eagles

See Soccer page 18

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