Supplement to The Oak Bay Star, Victoria Star, Goldstream Gazette, Saanich News, Sidney Review and The Esquimalt News

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Page M20 November ve 1990.

This Week

Continued from Page 1

Westoby opened Soccerwest five
years ago.

“I saw a niche for this kind of
place from the growth (of soccer)
in this town,” he said.

Westoby attributes the steadi-
ly-growing interest in youth soc-
cer to a number of factors.

“It's a simple game. It doesn’t
require a huge outlay in terms of
equipment. Most of the equip-
ment is supplied by the clubs.
The footwear is the only ex-
pense.

“Even the cost of joming an
organization is cheap,” he
added.

Outfitting a child with soccer
boots can cost anywhere from
$20 to $120, depending on his or
her age, while registration fees
range from $35 to $50 per
season. Westoby speculated the
cost of soccer, compared to a
sport such as hockey, attracts
money-conscious parents.

Bruce Tucotte, manager of
Ray's Sports on Douglas Street,
said fully outfitting a young
hockey player can cost $300,
which does not include paying
registration fees of up to $200.

“Moneywise, we sell more
hockey gear, but for kids we out-
fit more soccer players, Tucotte
said. “More kids are playing soc-
cer. If money wasn’t an issue I
think more kids would be play-
ing hockey.”

The money issue aside,
another factor Westoby said con-
tributes to soccer’s popularity
among parents of young
children is the nature of the

game.

“One of the benefits of soccer is
it’s not a highly physical game.
There’s no attendant violence
and if there is, it’s dealt with
quickly. There’s no five-minute
penalty and then back onto the
field — players get suspended,”
he explained.

If soccer has a negative side,
Westoby added, it’s the pressure

- coaches,

from some parents standing
along the sidelines.

“If there’s a problem in the
sport it’s parental, but that’s any
sport. I think quite often it’s un-
knowingly done. Sometimes the
parents who attend are more
fanatic than their kids.”

However Westoby said paren-
tal invovlement is essential to

youth soccer. The majority of
teams rely on parents as
Managers and
fundraisers. Many of the
parents become involved when
their children start playing.

“There has to be parental in-
volvement, I don’t think any
amateur sport can survive
without it. Many people become
involved because of sons and
daughters playing,” he said.

Westoby’s store has become
something of a gathering place
for soccer fanatics. On a Satur-
day afternoon five or six parents
— coaches and managers — can
be found discussing the high-
lights of morning games.

Bob Johnstone, a youth coach
with the Lakehill Soccer Club,
drops in to see Westoby and pick
up the latest copies of Shoot, a
British soccer magazine.
Johnstone, an ex-patriate Brit,
has been involved as a coach in
the Victoria area for 20 years,
coaching teams from youth
league to first division. He
started when his kids began

playing soccer.

“T like to see the kids’
programs, he said. “I have kids

who are grown up come up to me
and say Hey, Mr. Johnstone,
and theyre kids I’ve coached. It’s
a good feeling, especially when
they're still in soccer.

“You have to get it in your
blood, then for sure you'll stay
with it later in life.”

Some parents never do quite
get it in their blood, leaving soc-
cer when their children lose in-
terest in the game.

AMERICAN TEAM KEEPER Tony Chursky punches the ball away
from the goal during Saturday night's match-up between
former Canadian and American NASL stars at Royal Athletic
Park. The game ended in a 5-5 draw, after a last minute goal

by the American team.

Photo by CHUCK RUSSELL

St

scored during the second-half.

LOWER ISLAND METRO centre forward Steve Chalmers is stopped by Burnaby Select
goalkeeper Gurdeep Johal in action at Topaz Park. Metro defeated Burnaby by one goal

Photo by CHUCK RUSSELL

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After all, it’s your choice.

Life offers many choices. And these

days, there certainly are a lot of
choices when it comes to Ketirernent

Take The Wellesley for instance.
When you select The Wellesley as
your retirement residence, you have

»)

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2800 BLANSHARD STREET
VICTORIA, B.C.

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383-9099

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