Ontario Athletic Association Removes Balls From Game So Ever

I dont even know what to say  

With the growing concern over the effects of competition in youth sports programs this summer, many Canadian soccer associations eliminated the concept of keeping score. The Soccer Association of Midlake, Ontario, however, has taken this idea one step further, and have completely removed the ball from all youth soccer games and practices.


According to Association spokesperson, Helen Dabney-Coyle, "By removing the ball, it's absolutely impossible to say 'this team won' and 'this team lost' or 'this child is better at soccer than that child.'"

"We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

This summer Peter Oldring spent time with the Midlake Thudercats, an under 11 boys and girls team, and put together this radio documentary.

http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/blog/2013/09/03/to-ensure-every-child-wins-ontario-athletic-association-removes-ball-from-soccer/

WTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Imagine that concept in baseball. Hey, batter, batter! Swing, batter batter...at nothing.

Better yet, how about tackle football. Players knocking the crap out of one another for no good reason. Only to suffer multiple concussions as a professional, then hold out their hands for a payoff. Wait, isn't that the premise anyway? Lol

It is from the This Is That show. The About page states:
This Is That is a current affairs program that doesn't just talk about the issues, it fabricates them.

Would be pretty funny to watch one of those games if my son was playing.

He would 'dribble' the air through everybody and score every time!!!  I can see it now... the striker hits a powerful shot of air and the goalkeeper dives for the low corner only to catch air or... did he miss it and the air got by him.  The striker starts celebrating as the goalkeeper rises pumping his fist and prepares to punt the air... or maybe he just rolls it out to his fullback after all it's a lot easier to play possession based soccer with air.

Was it a goal or was it not.  The striker and keeper start arguing about which of their imaginations is better.  The ref issues an imaginary card to both then places the ball back at the middle of the field.  At least we think it was the middle of the field.  Not really sure since we decided not to paint lines on the field anymore because we want our kids to not feel limited by arbitrary boundaries.

Please tell me the board does know it's a typical Cannuck sense of humour. Eh. Their method of exagerating the problem of not keeping score. It did give me a chuckle though.

That is absolutely hilarious! Sadly though, many will believe it to be true due to the direction many children's programs are headed.

It's totally true! And, it's the only way boys' teams can stay competitive now that the girls are beating everyone!

rdeal486 wrote:I dont even know what to say  

With the growing concern over the effects of competition in youth sports programs this summer, many Canadian soccer associations eliminated the concept of keeping score. The Soccer Association of Midlake, Ontario, however, has taken this idea one step further, and have completely removed the ball from all youth soccer games and practices.


According to Association spokesperson, Helen Dabney-Coyle, "By removing the ball, it's absolutely impossible to say 'this team won' and 'this team lost' or 'this child is better at soccer than that child.'"

"We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

This summer Peter Oldring spent time with the Midlake Thudercats, an under 11 boys and girls team, and put together this radio documentary.

http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/blog/2013/09/03/to-ensure-every-child-wins-ontario-athletic-association-removes-ball-from-soccer/

Put the ball back in play, remove the parents (and I am one of "those" parents).

Imaginary ball would sure as hell make juggling a lot easier.

rdeal486 wrote:I dont even know what to say  

With the growing concern over the effects of competition in youth sports programs this summer, many Canadian soccer associations eliminated the concept of keeping score. The Soccer Association of Midlake, Ontario, however, has taken this idea one step further, and have completely removed the ball from all youth soccer games and practices.


According to Association spokesperson, Helen Dabney-Coyle, "By removing the ball, it's absolutely impossible to say 'this team won' and 'this team lost' or 'this child is better at soccer than that child.'"

"We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

This summer Peter Oldring spent time with the Midlake Thudercats, an under 11 boys and girls team, and put together this radio documentary.

http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/blog/2013/09/03/to-ensure-every-child-wins-ontario-athletic-association-removes-ball-from-soccer/

California will adopt this soon and make it real

Anybody see imaginary refs on the pitch?