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Communities team up to win
Fort Simpson and Fort Liard players join forces for Hay River tournament

Jeanne Gagnon
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, September 26, 2013

HAY RIVER
It might have been a soccer tournament, but having fun was more important than the result, said one teacher.

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Alisha Hardisty-Isaiah, left, and Akesha Antoine were some of many Fort Simpson students who participated in the Elks Outdoor Soccer Tournament in Hay River from Sept. 20 to 22. - photo courtesy of Melissa Hardisty-Beaverho

Forty-two Fort Simpson students, divided amongst Thomas Simpson and Bompas Elementary schools, participated in the Elks' Outdoor Soccer Tournament in Hay River from Sept. 20 to 22.

The teams only had two weeks to prepare for this tournament, said Kristen Morrison, a physical education teacher at the high school. As Fort Simpson does not have big enough schools to put in full rosters in some divisions, the players teamed up with other communities, which can be challenging at first, she said.

The students were divided into four divisions with a boys and girls team for each. Fort Simpson players played in Grades 4/5, but players from Fort Liard joined the Grades 6/7 teams as well as the Grades 8/9 girls team. The Grade 6/7 boys team played with Fort Liard students as well.

"Usually, the first game, it's all over the place and they're trying their best to be in their positions and support each other," she said. "But by the end of the tournament, we can notice the improvement on all the teams and communication is much easier and people seem to know their role a little better.

"By the end of the tournament, they finally get comfortable but, then, it's over. But they improved every game."

Morrison was with the Grades 6/7 boys team and watching other games, the same scenario plays out. The kids really learned to play their positions and make better use of the field, which led to improvements, said Morrison, adding it was nice to see how the teams cheered each other, even though they might not have been in the same division or even play on the same field.

"Some people have a lot more experience than others and that's not the main point of this tournament, for sure. It is to get the kids out of the community and to socialize with other communities and to have fun overall," she said. "The focus is definitely not winning. Although it is a tournament, you want to be as competitive as you can."

As the Grade 6/7 boys team did not have a substitute player for the tournament, every players had to play every minute of every game, which is pretty tiring, said Morrison.

One of those players was Zehro'h Waugh, who said he did not get too tired playing without a substitute.

"It was good. We made third (place)," he said. "It was fun. It was nice to get out of town." For the eighth year in a row, Hay River has played host to the Elks' Outdoor Soccer Tournament, drawing more teams than ever from across the territory.

"This is the biggest year so far," said organizer Kelly Webster. "We have 44 teams, and that's somewhere around 500 or 600 athletes, plus many of their families, coming into town for the weekend."

– with files from Sarah Ladik

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