Putting The Game Into Perspective

High School sports are great. Under the best circumstances, young athletes push themselves to the limit, learn new skills, and compete against other adolescents in healthy competition. Team sports add the dimensions of collaboration, cooperation, and camaraderie. If done properly, these too can be valuable experiences that develop character and create life-long memories. As a coach, I get to enjoy these moments with the teams that I work with, and in some measure, get to enjoy the same benefits without the sweat equity. Coaches are subject to their own sweat equity, but that is another matter. Taken together, wonderful experiences can be had by all.

Sometimes it seems as though games and sports are a matter of life and death. They aren't.

This was made clear to me this past week as I had the privilege of coaching in the Nick Micieli Memorial Soccer Tournament in my hometown of St.Catharines, Ontario. I never knew Nick, nor did most of the players in the tournament. Thanks to the tournament organizers from St.Francis Catholic Secondary School, we were to learn that Nick was a promising young man who played high school soccer, went on to college, and died under unfortunate circumstances on his first day at work in an industrial accident.

Played on the first day of May on a sunny day in Niagara, our team had a great run to the final. We faced a worthy opponent in the championship game. Our team battled valiantly, demonstrating all of the best qualities that high school sports can bring out in young men and women. We lost by the narrowest of margins, our opponents from Notre Dame College School in Welland deservedly running out winners by a 2-1 scoreline. The trophy and plaque presentation was made by Nick's parents. Brief remarks revealed the sort of character and values that are evident in the Micieli household. We can only imagine what the family would do to see their son play one more time, one more game, one more day.

Afterwards, congratulations were offered to the winning side, thanks proffered to the tournament organizers and the game officials. As the crowds filtered away, our team lined up to shake the hands of Nick's parents, each player greeting the family with a firm handshake and a genuine word of thanks.

I don't think I have ever been prouder of a team I coached. It was an honour and a privilege to participate in such a tournament with these young athletes from Ridley College, and it put the game- all games- into perspective.