Indoor soccer with a fun edge.
The Ottawa Police Athletic League program offered at the Boys and Girls Club Ottawa make it possible for kids to play sports without worrying about the cost.
Michelle Nash
The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa’s free soccer league
offers kids an opportunity to play at any skill level with one rule: they all
must have fun.
The indoor soccer league is one of three programs the Boys
and Girls Club of Ottawa offers through the Ottawa Police Athletic League
(PAL). PAL is a completely free competitive sports league in the city of Ottawa.
The program offers opportunities for kids to learn a new sport at any skill
level.
Volunteer Justin Ferns is happy the program offers these
kids the chance to play organized sports.
“It is the only league in the city that is free and it is
great, it gets them out and playing – something many of them would not be able
to participate in otherwise,” Ferns said.
Each team had a coach and one or two volunteer helpers. The
kids learned the basic rules and drills to compete with other clubhouses in the
city and on Dec 11, PAL held a final tournament for the league where five
clubhouses competed; Bayshore, Rochester Heights, Britannia and McCann and
Police Youth Centre.
Bayshore’s boys and girls team won the tournament, but
everyone walked away with trophies. The final tournament was held at the
SuperDome Sports Centre on Bearbrook Road. The kids and the coaches were in awe
of the huge dome and made the most of their opportunity to play at the
facility.
“The kids had a great time,” said Tim Boisvert, senior youth
worker for the Britanna club. “Regardless of who won, everybody got lots of
soccer in.”
Jerrett DeFazio, the program director at the Boys and Girls
Club, indicated he is very proud of this league.
“The emphasis still remains on giving the kids social skills
and community skills but this league is also making the kids see a connection
between education and sports,” DeFazio said.
The free program uses a 24-seat passenger bus to get the
kids to and from the games. They were able to buy the bus through money raised
last February.
“The Ski-a-thon committee raised enough money for us to buy
the bus, which is great because it has really helped with carting the indoor
soccer players around for sure,” DeFazio said.
Kids who normally like playing basketball have taken to
playing soccer this time around with incredible enthusiasm.
“I am amazed, if you present an opportunity the kids will
take it and run with it,” DeFazio said.
Ferns mentioned the World Cup this past summer could have
placed the soccer bug into some of the players.
“Usually if we close the gym for one particular sport, some
kids get upset. But everyone has really been enjoying learning and playing,”
The indoor sport does not take much to play, just running
shoes and gym clothes.
As for kids who can not afford the equipment needed for
their sport, DeFazio said the club would try to help. In the upcoming year, PAL
will offer ball hockey, in which case the helmets and sticks would be
provided.