THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080430
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTINE M. POINTS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Safety has become an increasingly important aspect of sports events, and the Columbus Day Soccer Tournament, which begins today, is no exception.
The tournament has not been plagued by incidents requiring safety measures, but because there are more than 14,000 players, coaches and spectators involved, organizers have taken steps to increase the safety of those playing the game.
Each of the nine tournament sites will be supplied with athletic trainers, golf carts, walkie-talkies and cellular phones.
``Certified athletic trainers are being made available to the players and coaches for everything from wrapping weak ankles to emergencies,'' said Karen Knott, the tournament director.
``The golf carts will allow more mobility between the fields, and the cellular phones and walkie-talkies give us quicker communication in case of an emergency.''
Last year, Kenneth Lueke, the goalkeeper for Beach FC, was seriously injured on the field in a head-on collision with another player, and though there was no problem in getting an ambulance to respond, communication was not on hand.
``We had to use car phones and people had to stand and direct the ambulance in the right direction,'' Knott said. ``This year we thought it would be a good idea to have cellular phones and walkie-talkies to avoid any confusion.''
In addition, volunteers and field marshals will be wearing Columbus Day Tournament T-shirts so they can be easily identified in case a problem arises.
``Field management is the key to preventing problems and fights,'' Knott said. ``At some tournaments there have been problems on the sidelines with parents and observers being overzealous in the support of their team. We hope that by wearing these shirts, field coordinators and field marshals will be identified as someone with authority.''
MOMENT OF SILENCE: A moment of silence for two Virginia Beach soccer players who died in a spring diving accident will be observed at the U19 premier division final at the Old Dominion soccer stadium Sunday night.
The two boys, Matthew Fidler and Ryan Smith, died while scuba diving in the Bahamas in April.
Both were active in youth soccer, playing on their schools' varsity teams, and on all-star soccer squads.
The boys parents also are raising money to dedicate a field in memory of Fidler and Smith at the new soccer complex in Princess Anne Park.
``Matt and Ryan's parents want the field to be a living memorial to them,'' said Michael Barrett, president of the Hampton Roads Soccer Council.
The parents have raised about $20,000 of the $50,000 necessary to have a field named in their honor, Knott said.
COLLEGE BOARDS: The October Scholastic Assessment Test is causing stress in more ways than one for the U19 players. The SAT, which will be given around the country this morning, coincides with the opening of the tournament, wreaking havoc on both players and coordinators alike.
``Trying to coordinate the schedule to accommodate the U19 players was a nightmare,'' Knott said. ``All of the U19 games are being delayed until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and the remaining games will be played on Sunday.''
That means the teams playing in the premier division final Sunday night will be playing their third game of the day.
The timing of the SAT was particularly troublesome because some of the teams are from well outside South Hampton Roads and because there are very few lighted soccer fields in the area.
``Some of the teams that have traveled from out-of-state have had to arrange for their players to take the SATs here,'' Barrett said.
WHERE THE GIRLS ARE: If you don't see many girls out on the field this weekend, it's because the Washington Area Girls Soccer tournament is being played in Richmond.
``We want our girls out there competing against the best in their division, same as the boys do here,'' Knott said. ``Actually, WAGS was introduced first. The Columbus Day Tournament was begun to give the boys something to do when the girls left for WAGS.'' ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
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by CNB