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there encouraging me,” she says. “We have a reason to talk.”
Chanel, a member of the Gloucester Hornets — the competitive arm of
the GSA — has nothing but praise for the parents she has encountered during
her soccer career. “Most are very positive. It becomes their social life.”
Blackburn Hamlet residents Dorothy and Paul Van Bruinessen have
two children playing for the Gloucester Dragons. Not a year has passed that
Paul hasn’t been a coach or assistant coach for one or both of their teams.
“I learned soccer with the kids,” he admits. “I had never played before. But
I always loved to run and I just assumed that my kids would love to run.”
Jennifer Van Bruinessen, 16, admits that having her father as coach has
made her feel more comfortable. “Parents being involved is just all part of
the game,” remarks Jennifer. “I like being outside, and when I run near the
sidelines and hear the parents being encouraging I feel energized.”
NEVER ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS
Still, it seems like there are never enough volunteers.
Of the estimated 2,000 parents with children playing on WCSC
teams, John Foley says that only 100 are actively involved in the organization
of the sport.
“We’d like to see more of a rotation of parents through the volunteer
ranks,” he says.
So, in an effort to encourage more participation, the WCSC recently
adopted a two-year rule for coaching. Commencing in the 2008 season,
volunteers will only be permitted to coach for two years.
The more hands, the lighter the work. And where soccer is concerned,
the more hands the greater the rewards all around.
Karen Secord is a regular contributor and a writer who lives in Westboro.
Soccer parent Paul Van Buinessen learned
the sport so that he could coach his children
Jennifer and Ryan.
Due West/Due East Magazine • Summer 2008 Ottawa Page 41
PHOTO: KAREN SECORD