Thank GOD I stand Corrected!!! The "Ball-less Soccer" Piece was indeed Satire

I got duped! I did a quick (apparently too quick) google search about the "ball-less soccer" story and didn't dig deep enough as it was a satire piece written based on this TRUE story.

Here is a link to that story

Thank GOD it was just a joke!


This definitely gets filed under the category of "Da Faq?? "

Link to Story - Yes it's REAL. No this is NOT an Onion article

With the growing concern over the effects of competition in youth sports programs this summer, many Canadian soccer associations eliminated the concept of keeping score. The Soccer Association of Midlake, Ontario, however, has taken this idea one step further, and have completely removed the ball from all youth soccer games and practices.

According to Association spokesperson, Helen Dabney-Coyle, "By removing the ball, it's absolutely impossible to say 'this team won' and 'this team lost' or 'this child is better at soccer than that child.'"

"We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

This summer Peter Oldring spent time with the Midlake Thudercats, an under 11 boys and girls team, and put together this radio documentary.

Message edited 9/5/2013 4:03:31 PM.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

I don't even know what to say...

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

This is a terrible idea. Soccer is not a game of imagination. It's a game of kicking a BALL into a net. These kids aren't playing soccer they are running around a field. Why call it soccer??

To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

What? Do they then just run around on a field? This is just ridiculous. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with a little healthy competition.

To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Terrible idea. So when these kids get older then they have to learn that they will not always win. That's really going to go over we'll.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Then what exactly are these children playing ?
What are they learning ?

Soccer is played with a ball. Without the ball, it is not soccer, just kids running around a field.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

This quote has got to be one of the stupidest things I've EVER heard someone say, "We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

Obviously, Helen Dabney-Coyle, does NOT know the definition of the word "sport". Idiot.

To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

I cannot get with this school of thought. Everyone makes the team, no one can excel, no tryouts, etc. Where is the motivation to want to practice and be better, when 'everyone wins'? This is such nonsense.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Scares me too. While we're at it, take away travel teams, JV, Varsity, first string, second string. No more valedictorian, or honor roll. Take away athletic and academic scholarships.
Don't better yourself, you're just as entitled to glory and reward as the kid who loafed around all 4 years. GMAFB.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

There are so many kids now that have no actual idea of what they are good at and what they aren't. We are creating a society of entitled wusses that have no sense of reality and no coping skills.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

This is such shit. Another generation who will grow up thinking their shit doesn't stink. Maybe teach a child it's ok to lose, and try harder next time to win and maybe, just maybe we won't have another group of entitled little brats roaming the streets. We are a bunch of babies. It's pretty shameful.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

These stories kill me. We are encouraging a generation of mediocrity, because there is no victory left to strive for.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

This is why our kids can't cope with reality ......soccer with no BALL????
Sports are competitive - it's not about your imagination - you can't IMAGINE to be good at something you have to work and practice and sweat and WORK to be good at it .......
WTF ???

This kind of stuff ENRAGES me !!

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

That is the dumbest flucking thing I have EVER heard.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Wow. Wow. Wow.

The implications of this for education and development (both in and outside of schools) are horrifying.

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer

My HS was like that. The "Founder", and person my school was named after did not believe in Competition. Hense the reason why my school had no competitive sports. Stupid, if you ask me. Competition is what drives individuals to be better athletes, right? No HS sports in my school, but we did have an awesome mock Hippie Wedding!

Re: To ensure every child 'wins', Ontario athletic association removes ball from soccer