Vancouver Whitecaps soccer representatives Sam Lenarduzzi and Carl Valentine made their way through Coast elementary schools Thursday, teaching some simple skills and getting kids excited about the upcoming soccer season.
"We have a partnership with Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association (SCYSA) and we decided to do this elementary school program to help promote healthy lifestyles and hopefully increase soccer registrations," Lenarduzzi told students at Roberts Creek Elementary School on May 10.
Students from Davis Bay Elementary School also travelled to Roberts Creek for the hour-long presentation where they learned the four most important things for soccer players to remember.
"These are the four things that we live by at the Whitecaps. These are very, very important," Lenarduzzi stressed.
The four points were to show team spirit, to always try to do your best, to have good sportsmanship and to show respect for others.
With those ground rules laid, Lenarduzzi and Valentine turned to some fun drills using volunteers from the audience.
Students practised passing, dribbling, netting and ball control while trying to launch balls over Valentine or competing to see which pair could volley the ball on their forehead the longest.
Lenarduzzi then divided volunteers into two teams to compete in a soccer relay.
During the relay one team looked to be out of the race when at the last second a sprint by the final team member resulted in a tie.
"That's a perfect example of why we never give up," Lenarduzzi noted.
He encouraged children to get involved in a sport like soccer, eat healthy foods and be active every day in order to live a long and healthy life.
The SCYSA is now taking registrations for the upcoming soccer season on the Coast. Find out more and register on-line by June 30 at www.scysa.ca.
