Focus on fun for host teams
Winning would be nice, but that’s not really the coach’s message for Medicine Hat’s Rattlers Academy Soccer Club teams who get to host under-12 Tier 3 indoor provincials this weekend.
With many in their first or second year of playing indoor at all, coaches are still working on the basics.
“The focus for myself and Jared (Ursulan, assistant coach) is not to win games, but teach them how to pass the ball, not being afraid to shoot, to be comfortable with the ball,” said boys coach Allan Siwela.
“At this point it’s all player-focused. It’s a team at the end of the day but we’re still focusing on the individual.”
Try telling that to them midgame, however.
Both the boys and girls sides have seen clear improvements, not just with intangible things like skills but also on the podium. Siwela’s boys won their home tournament, then took silver at an event in Red Deer. The girls, started with bronze, then won a silver, and finally a gold as the season progressed.
“At the beginning we got bronze, now we’ve got gold so I think we’re progressively getting better,” said 11-year-old defender and goalie Jaylyn Austin.
The girls’ eight-team tournament is split into two pools, with the Rattlers playing Tempest at 7 p.m. tonight to open the event. The Rattlers boys are in a three-team pool and had expected a Friday game, though their online schedule only shows games Saturday against Fort Saskatchewan and Storm.
All matches are at the Family Leisure Centre, a huge focal point in its first time hosting a provincial championship.
“It’s pretty exciting, the first time in the facility,” said boys midfielder Luke Pilgrim.
“There’s a little bit of home field advantage, but (the nerves) are a good thing too,” added girls coach Kaity Letwiniuk. “They’ve just been working really hard all year and it’s definitely been paying off.”