LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A soccer tournament held in Fort Simpson over the weekend didn't include many of the practices used in most sporting events.

Ivan Clillie, right, of Wrigley moves the ball toward the net while Tamara Deneyoua-Nahanni of Bompas B/Trout Lake follows in hot pursuit during a game in the U10 division at the Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

No official scores were kept during the Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament and instead of first, second and third place medals, every participant received a soccer ball. The athletes were also younger than normal for a competition setting, ranging in age from 3.5 to 12 years old.

The tournament, which is in its third year, although the first under this name, is all about participation, being physically active, getting engaged and having fun, said Shane Thompson, the lead organizer. It's also an opportunity for youth to get together and socialize and for athletes from other communities to travel to Fort Simpson.

"It's kind of a friendly competition," Thompson said.

Approximately 140 athletes from six communities, including Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Wrigley, Trout Lake, Whitehorse and Fort Simpson, participated in this year's event from Feb. 21 to 23.

The teams played a round-robin style format in four divisions ranging from U6 to U12.

The games in the U6 division exemplified the concept behind the tournament. In their final game 19 youth swarmed the ball as it was moved around the indoor pitch.

Their goal was to score 12 points between the two teams, having gotten 10 goals in their first game and 11 in their second.

There are few sport competition opportunities in the Deh Cho for youth in the U6 and U8 age range, so this tournament gives them a chance to get involved in a sport, he said.

This was Keanna McLeod's first soccer tournament. The nine-year-old from Fort Liard said she was enjoying playing almost every position including goalie, defense and forward.

"I like that you can meet new friends," she said.

Three athletes from Whitehorse played with both the U12 Fort Liard team and the U10 Wrigley team. Ivan Clillie, 11, was one of five athletes from Wrigley.

"I like playing soccer," said Clillie, who's never been in a tournament before.

Clillie also tried out a variety of positions and scored a number of goals. He's looking forward to returning to Fort Simpson next year for this event.

This tournament was a wonderful opportunity for youth to gain confidence in soccer, said Lynn MacFadyen, a teacher at Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake.

It was the first time athletes from that community had participated in the tournament. Four girls played on a combined team with Fort Simpson students in the U10 division.

"They are really learning a lot just by observing," MacFadyen said.

The Trout Lake athletes learned about playing soccer positions in a bigger gym and were enjoying meeting people from other communities, she said.

Organizing the tournament was a community effort, said Thompson. Staff at Bompas Elementary School organized their students into teams and Thomas Simpson School volunteered their facility and arranged meals and the concession. P.R. Contracting and Hope's Taxis provided transportation.

Val Gendron also helped with the tournament, which was sponsored by the Mackenzie Recreation Association and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs through the Regional Youth Sport Events program.