Congratulations - Good Sports!

Great Story written by Debbie Hoyn (wonderful volunteer for Summer Football)

At the Shellharbour Summer Competition today 9th Novemeber, two U8 teams showed what Summer Football is all about!  Congratulations to the Nazaroos team (in light blue shirts) and the Arsenal team (in purple shirts) on a great game and a great display of sportsmanship. 

The game began for Arsenal with only 4 players on the field and Nazaroos had 5 players.  As the game went on, another player, perhaps the brother of a player in the Arsenal team was standing on the sideline watching.  After the Nazaroos scored a goal, the coach of the Nazaroos team called across the field and offered that the player go in goals for the Arsenal team.  He did so and the game began again.

As more Arsenal players arrived, their young helper left the field and one of their own team players went into the goal.  Eventually both teams were able to play with a full 7 a side.  The Nazaroos team were playing some very good football and had scored a number of times when their coach called out for them to pass the ball more often. Parents of the Nazaroo team were also calling to the players to make more passes rather than just head straight for the goals.  The team did pass more and tried their best to maintain possession rather than keep attacking.  As the game progressed, the Nazaroos coach encouraged his team to give the Arsenal players more time on the ball and called to them to let their opponents run forward more often with the ball.  The Nazaroos players were even calling to each other not to tackle or to move out of the way when the Arsenal players got the ball.  The Nazaroos coach then took 2 of his players off the field, which challenged his team and allowed the Arsenal team more time on the ball and the opportunity for players to have more touches on the ball.

It was fantastic to see parents, spectators and players enjoying the game and encouraging each other in a fantastic display of sportsmanship!

Well done, Nazaroos and Arsenal!