I was invited by the coordinator of Moresports, Cynthia Lee, to come out to see their annual Soccer Jam event they host and must confess, many youth sports organizations across Canada, if not the globe could learn from their model to provide quality sports programming.

As I shared in a blog I did a few weeks back, How More Sports is creating more sport opportunities for kids, they are a community-based organization in Vancouver, BC, established in 1998 to provide opportunities for kids to play sports that could not afford to be in organized leagues.

Since that time, they have grown with multiple hubs in Eastern Vancouver, one in Coquitlam and have approximately 4000 kids participate in their programs annually.

The best part, if kids can’t afford the fees, they provide subsidies so kids can play, their goal is to never turn a kid away regardless of their socio-economic status.

Like when I went to see one of their basketball programs in one of the hub schools last month, today I saw many kids with HUGE smiles on their faces as they played soccer but it was what I did not see that truly inspired me how we can bring the game back to the kids.

 

 

The only uniforms that the kids wore were donated Moresports t-shirts with no numbers or name bars (common in youth sports for “scouts” to ID “prospects”) in various colours.

There were no officials to enforce rules as we see in many organized sports today, as early as 6 years old when kids play “elite” level sports (which is the dirtiest word in sport today, there is no such thing as an elite 6-8-10 year old kid, they are just early bloomers)

The parents either sat quietly on blankets, bleachers or stood along the sidelines and some took pictures, most just watched in silence or cheered when the occasional goal, great save or shot was made by any, not just their own, kids on the “teams”.

There was not a vocal minority who were screaming instructions at their kids, criticizing their mistakes as is all too commonplace today in organized youth sports that is leading to so many kids quitting before high school.

Some are those are the ones that sit at the end of the field or in parking lots having tailgate parties (as is often the case at “prospect” tournaments) who become vocal as they had one too many wobbly pops.

Other than the K1 group (who had the most participants), there were no subs and when there was, the leaders ensure that every kid rotated in and out evenly but most games had 6-7 players a side.

There was No Scoreboard, No Scorekeepers, No Timekeepers.

There was no tournament board keeping track of wins and losses that coaches will check as the tournaments evolve to figure out their standings, when they will play after round robin and if they anticipate tiebreakers, goals +/for etc.

There were no trophies or participation medals or ribbons.

There was no apparel tables to resell branded merchandise for the “prospect” tournament or silent auctions, door prize raffles or volunteers selling 50/50 tickets to raise money for the tournament hosts.

Kids just played For The Love of the Game.

There were almost an equal ratio of girls to boys playing on the co-ed teams all the way to G7 (11 years old)

There were leaders (much higher % are female as they want to give back to the program than male coaches in youth sports) for each “team” who are former campers that have been identified as potential leaders in the community and receive training which includes High 5, Fundamental Movement Skills and majority are under 18 years of age.

Most only gave the teams pep talks for warm-ups, then during the games would just ensure that the game continued by getting the balls when kicked out of the mini-fields.  Some “coached” by saying … keep it going, great shot, great save it was ALL POSITIVE.

The coordinator, Cynthia Lee, was one of those herself, then a leader, and now the full-time coordinator who organizes this event.

This was the third year that the event was hosted at Trillium park, ironically one sky train stop or short drive away from Rogers Arena and BC Place Stadium where our professional soccer, football, and hockey teams play that most, if not all, of the kids playing today sadly will never have the opportunity to see due to the ongoing rising costs of tickets.

Trillium Park consists of two all-weather soccer fields, which Moresports converted by using cones and age-appropriate nets into 16 mini-fields, the epitome of small area games at its finest.

 

The schedule for the day is below

K1 (5-6 year old kids, their largest age group) started the day by playing 3 20 minutes games with 5 minute breaks and 2 minute hydration breaks.

When the ball would go out of play, the kids or leaders would retrieve and they would throw it in and GAME ON.

2-3 (7-8 year olds) and 4-7 (9-11 year olds) would play 3 x 30 minute games also with 5 minute changeovers and water breaks.

Approximately 1000 kids participate in the annual event.

Think about this.

60 – 90 minutes of activity, small area games, age-appropriate nets, balls to follow Soccer Canada’s new LTPD model, trained leaders and coaches providing limited feedback that is positive (to let the kids PLAY) and in lieu of multiple trips back and forth, you get to play all your games back to back.

Similar to the good old days where you went to a park and played for HOURS vs. structured games and tournaments that are all too commonplace today.

They also had a carnival with bouncy castles and various other activities and food trucks for kids to fuel up more after they devoured their snack bags they all received that included a voucher for those from economically challenged families for kid favs, grilled cheese, fish and chips (my lunch for the day) and Triple O’s burgers.

Why this truly was unique compared to any other jamboree that I attended as coach, parent or player is it also included tents from all of the community sponsors that permit Moresports to provide their amazing programs

United Way – Vancouver Parks and Rec – Vancouver School Board – Canucks Autism Network

This provided them the opportunity to engage with parents and vice versa.

As I was leaving the Vancouver Police showed up with their (motor) bikes, one of their dogs squads, their horses. Vancouver Fire Department had come in past years so they also could engage with the community that at times sees them as the bad guys (as many of these kids are in really tough neighborhoods who see more than the fair share of police and social workers).

One of the VPD’s staff sergeants volunteers as a leader for the event also.

As I was driving back home my head was spinning, why is this not THE MODEL for communities across Canada to promote quality sport and kids being active as it is only currently being run in Vancouver.  It was the epitome of organized Free Play.

I also thought, organized youth sports could also learn as unlike the vast amount of organizations that I have talked to, Moresports is growing by adding more hubs and the executive director, Bill Woodley, hinted that they are having dialogue with other provinces how they can provide the same model but only if they identify they NEED it which many have come calling.

The challenge he said, is they will have to remove all the barriers and promote collaboration as Vancouver has done with parks and rec, school boards and other community organizations.

Proof that if all stakeholders buy-in to a common vision that it CAN BE DONE.

When we all work together, the best part of it all, Kids PLAY, Have Fun and love the game more at the end than when they started.

Kudos to all the team members, the hundreds of volunteers, leaders, coaches of Moresports to show us that it can be done if we remember what it is really about, the KIDS.

 

 

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