Page 11 - Trending Magazine 2018 Fall

Growing the Game_Layout 1 18-09-18 3:17 PM Page 2

different countries, as well as those born
in Canada picking it up.
Of the kids who Elizabeth Hernandez
coaches as part of the six week Westman
Regional Soccer Association
programming, the majority are from
South America, with some from Asia and
some Canadian kids as well.
“Definitely the diversity and
multiculturalism has brought it forward
and it’s been exciting because you’re
seeing all these different kinds of angles
and you’re understanding that kids from
different backgrounds are coming in and
having a good time,” Hernandez said.
The skills that they learn on a soccer
field can be helpful as they grow up and Diego Rodriguez, originally from Colombia, vies for the ball with a
move on to other things in life, she said. teammate during an afternoon practice session with the Brandon
University Bobcats men's team. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)
“Building friendships through teams is
important and getting to know other
adults through coaching is important for
kids to develop throughout their years,
and how the climatize to new
environments especially those that come
from other countries,” she said.
It was a breezy day in late August, and
tryouts were underway for the Brandon
University men’s soccer team when
Trending magazine came by. Players sat
lacing up their cleats and pulling up their
socks on the grass beside the Healthy
Living Centre. One of them was
Rodriguez. Although he was no longer
kicking around a soccer ball in Columbia,
he had brought that passion with him to
Canada.
Motorists whizzed by on nearby 18th
Street, seemingly unaware of the players
waiting to showcase their skills. Some
were hopeful first year students with
something to prove, praying for a chance
to play soccer at a university level, and
others were confident — they’d already
been on the team for the past few years.
For them, this was just another practice.
Rodriguez bounced the ball off his knee,
then off his head, then kicked it with his
foot. He was part of the BU team last
year. The tall centre mid-field has seen
the growth of soccer in the community
first hand as a player. Diego Rodriguez

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