TOURNEY: Be a good sport

This past weekend my family attended the Hot Shot soccer tournament in Coeur d’Alene. It was a fantastic weekend with families and great soccer matches. The tournament was run well and it seemed to be enjoyed by all in attendance. That was until near the end.

It was apparent that a few soccer players from a Sandpoint team didn’t learn sportsmanship from their coach or parent(s) as the parent(s) were in attendance when three boys from this team started taunting a young man from Valley Youth Soccer Association (VYSA). This action and how the parent(s) handled the situation really saddened me, especially after how hard all of the boys had played. A head coach did speak with a parent so I am hoping that the parents will speak with their sons and teach them the responsibilities of playing sports and the sportsmanship that goes along with any game, and taunting is not allowed in any sport.

Boys, as any coach or parent would say, “Play a good clean game, have fun and at the game’s end, extend your hand to the opposing team players congratulating them on a well-played game.”

ANN WHITE

Lewiston