The Huntsville Soccer Club welcomed 26 teams from across central and southern Ontario for the Muskoka Cottage Classic tournament at McCulley Roberston from August 19 to 20. The boys’ U9, U10, U11, and U12 teams took to the fields on Saturday with the girls’ U11 and U12 teams following on Sunday.
Each team played three, 30-minute games following the LTPD (Long Term Player Development) format with a modified field size and rules. No scores were kept – the main focus for the tournament is on having fun and learning to love the sport of soccer as well as encouraging young kids to be physically active in their lives.
Despite the rainy, cold weather on Saturday, the boys’ teams brought their skills to the fields as their families and friends cheered from the sidelines under umbrellas and team tents.
U10 started off the day, playing against Orillia. Huntsville was quick to the ball to put it in the net.
The second game of the day was the Huntsville Strikers U9 division versus Aurora. These boys applied great pressure in their defensive end.
The U11/12 team met North Bay for the fourth time. “Today the boys want it bad, so today is the day to take the win,” said Coach Dave Caplan.
On Sunday, August 20, the U11/12 Girls’ Divisions took their turn in the Muskoka Cottage Classic. The weather was the opposite of Saturday’s: the sun was shining and teams and spectators needed tents and umbrellas for shade this time.
The Huntsville Strikers U11 played their three games and their coach, Jeff Young, described the girls as being ‘cohesive’. The team came along nicely over the season, said Young, with a lot of new girls learning their roles on the field to enable them to play as a team.
In the photos below, the U11 Huntsville Girls faced Kawartha Lakes
The U12 Girls watched the U11 teams play as they were strategizing and warming up along the sidelines. Coach Mark O’Dell always promotes four things to remember when out on the soccer field: 1. Have FUN! 2. Work Hard! 3. Play Fair! and 4. HAVE FUN!!!
For more information on the Huntsville Soccer Club, visit huntsvillesoccer.ca.
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