THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409280178
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOHN GORDON, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Emergency M.D.'s, Honker Hills and Southern Pioneer are unbeaten in three Level 2 games so far this season, and Suffolk Golf Course is undefeated in two Level 5 contests.
King's Landing Apartments and Moore & Saunders have not lost a game in Level 3 action, but both teams have a tie - against each other.
Level 1, which is 6- and 7-year-olds, has an emphasis on developing a youngster's skills and no official scores are recorded.
``The SYAA philosophy is fair play and everyone plays,'' said Stella Payne who with her husband, Geoff, serves as the association's soccer commissioners. ``We take away the winning-at-all-costs philosophy.
``We are nurturing good sportsmanship and good behavior. We won't tolerate rude behavior.''
There are eight teams of about 10 children each, but only five are on the field for each squad.
And there is no goal keeper.
``We have lots of high-scoring games, which is more fun,'' Payne said. ``And they play with enthusiasm.''
Teams play four 12-minute quarters instead of two halves, and each team has a coach and an assistant. Level 1 teams also play on scaled down fields and with smaller balls.
No games are scheduled Saturday because of the Peanut Fest Parade. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Players from PT Works skip over balls kicked in their direction as
part of the agility drills at a practice session in Diamond Springs
Park.
Hollis Gwaltney moans as she prepares for head-butting practice.
Trenton Bishop, head coach for PT Works, gives instructions to his
players.
by CNB