2008 Woodie Awards
Hand-in-Hand
DePauw students walk onto field with youth players to promote soccer, community relations
By: Justin Bull
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
When the women's soccer team steps onto Boswell field to face Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Wednesday evening, the Tigers and the Engineers won't be the only two teams on the pitch.
Players from two teams in the Putnam County Youth Soccer Association (PCYSA) will join hands with players from both colleges as they take the field Sept. 26, extending an international soccer tradition to Greencastle.
"It's really great for kids to see and get to know students playing in college," sophomore Neil Wright said, a coach for the county team Dyn-o-mite. "It gives them players and people to look up to."
Male and female athletes from two Putnam County teams will enter the field hand-in-hand with a player from either DePauw or Rose-Hulman before being introduced in front of the home crowd. After watching the game from the sidelines with their coaches, the under-14 Panthers will play the under-12 Panthers in an abbreviated game at halftime.
Classical studies professor Pedar Foss brought the ceremony to DePauw for the first time this season with the help of assistant men's soccer coach Corbin Sutton, English department chair Joe Heithaus and Brock Kaiser, the head of the PCYSA travel teams. Players from teams across Putnam County will participate in opening ceremonies before 14 men's and women's home games this season.
"The idea is to try to connect the college game with the local game," Foss said. "It's a way to help the kids - a way to encourage them to see that there's something beyond the rec league."
Similar pre-game events are hosted by professional soccer leagues around the world, such as the European Premier League and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Connecting local youth players with collegiate athletes is designed to boost an interest in soccer at all levels and enhance the relationship between the DePauw and Greencastle communities. The experience also allows kids to participate in something they see on television, when others their age take hands with professionals.
Players from two teams in the Putnam County Youth Soccer Association (PCYSA) will join hands with players from both colleges as they take the field Sept. 26, extending an international soccer tradition to Greencastle.
"It's really great for kids to see and get to know students playing in college," sophomore Neil Wright said, a coach for the county team Dyn-o-mite. "It gives them players and people to look up to."
Male and female athletes from two Putnam County teams will enter the field hand-in-hand with a player from either DePauw or Rose-Hulman before being introduced in front of the home crowd. After watching the game from the sidelines with their coaches, the under-14 Panthers will play the under-12 Panthers in an abbreviated game at halftime.
Classical studies professor Pedar Foss brought the ceremony to DePauw for the first time this season with the help of assistant men's soccer coach Corbin Sutton, English department chair Joe Heithaus and Brock Kaiser, the head of the PCYSA travel teams. Players from teams across Putnam County will participate in opening ceremonies before 14 men's and women's home games this season.
"The idea is to try to connect the college game with the local game," Foss said. "It's a way to help the kids - a way to encourage them to see that there's something beyond the rec league."
Similar pre-game events are hosted by professional soccer leagues around the world, such as the European Premier League and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Connecting local youth players with collegiate athletes is designed to boost an interest in soccer at all levels and enhance the relationship between the DePauw and Greencastle communities. The experience also allows kids to participate in something they see on television, when others their age take hands with professionals.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Pedar Foss
posted 9/26/07 @ 8:57 AM EST
Just a few corrections:
The head of the Putnam County Youth Soccer travel teams is Rock Kaiser, not Brock Kaiser. Also, there is no 'European Premier League'; there is an English Premier League as well as other national associations, whose top teams play in a pan-European Champions League. (Continued…)
Post a Comment