Perry collects two more prestigious awards
Dale Perry will have to clear just a little bit more room in his overflowing trophy case after collecting a pair of prestigious awards in the month of March.
The long time soccer coach and volunteer has been recognized by Sask Sport with the Coach Dedication Award for his over 35 years of service to the game of soccer. Perry was also recognized with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association’s President’s Award.
“The President’s award was established to recognize those who have made exceptional contributions to the game in Saskatchewan,” said Lisa Bagonluri, Saskatchewan Soccer Association President. “Dale Perry is undoubtingly one of those individuals. Over the past 35 plus years, he has contributed immensely to soccer, not only in Swift Current, but in Saskatchewan. We join many others in being grateful for all he’s done for the game and for the impact he has made on the lives of so many athletes and coaches. With this award Dale Perry has received the highest recognitions possible from Saskatchewan Soccer, Coach of the Year, Life Membership, David Newsham Award winner, and now as the recipient of the President’s Award.”
“Like most awards, they’re not why you’re in it. It’s always nice to be recognized for something you’ve done, but it’s certainly not the impetus for being involved in anything. It’s just kind of the icing on the cake,” said Perry.
He said that he was surprised to win both awards.
“Most definitely because I didn’t know either of them existed. It was definitely a bit of a surprise. No it’s more like they really are putting me out to pasture now,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t really say that I thought back too much about it because every award, no matter how big or how small, it’s kind of just in the moment for that. You say you’re appreciative of the recognition, but it’s no more special than any other award in reality to me.”
Perry was recognized for his countless contributions to the game of soccer in Swift Current and Saskatchewan over the past four decades.
“It never felt like 35 years. It just went by so quickly,” he admitted.
Perry is already a Life Member of Sask Soccer. He won the David Newsham Award in 2003 and was named the Grassroots Coach of the Year in 2012.
“It all started so innocently,” he admitted. “I remember watching my kid play ball and thinking well they are not getting enough exercise when they are seven or eight years old, so I said well we’ll put them in soccer so at least they will get a chance to run around get some exercise.” That simple decision eventually led to his first soccer coaching gig.
“Then I got the phone call that they were short of coaches and would I be willing to coach. I said, ‘I don’t know absolutely anything about soccer and I wouldn’t be any use to you.’ They said, ‘We have another coach and would you be willing to help him?’ I said, ‘Yeah no problem at all, I’ll help out.’ When I got to the field I asked the other coach what do you want me to do and he said, ‘Why are you asking me, I’m asking you what we’re going to do because they told me you were going to be the head coach and I’d be helping you.’ It just kind of evolved from there. We hit the ground running. 35 years later it’s pretty much all over.”
Perry has lost count of his provincial championships accumulated with the Swift Current United Soccer Club, but the number is likely over 30 since initially taking a girls soccer team to provincials in 1991. He has been known to coach multiple indoor and outdoor teams each season and helped establish and coached both the Swift Current Comprehensive High School Colts and Ardens, including the past 16 seasons with the Ardens, who are the 11-time defending Moose Jaw High School Soccer League champions.
Perry has coached hundreds of teams over the years, so there’s a few highlights that stick out.
“There’s just tonnes of them. I particularly enjoyed my time coaching the high school teams, both the boys team to start with and then the girls team later, that’s twenty-some odd years. There was definitely a lot of memorable times for me.”
“A couple of times that we got to play in the PSL and having success from such a small community, those were pretty memorable occasions. There’s just tonnes of little things as well, seeing players move on to post-secondary education and playing at the post-secondary level. Lots of things, just seeing kids develop and enjoying watching them develop was really what it was all about.”