Baldursson tourney a boon for us all

The Gunn Baldursson Memorial Soccer Tournament celebrated its 20th anniversary last weekend and, as far as I can see, the annual event is a huge bonus for this region on a number of levels.

Clearly it’s a feather in the caps of event organizers then and now because it’s no mean feat to bring in so many teams from such a wide geographic area – including this year a team from Baldursson’s native Iceland (see John DeCoste’s front page picture for proof!) – and coordinate the successful execution of what has become an iconic women’s soccer tournament.

Local tourism operations – B&Bs, restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, movie houses and the like – benefit tremendously and sports fans everywhere get to witness quality athletic competition on nearly every soccer pitch from Hantsport to Coldbrook.

In addition, there’s the value of the game itself for those young girls who don the cleats. Soccer is a great sport that develops superior cardiovascular and physical conditioning. It encourages a team concept and allows participants to see different parts of the country if they want to take their game to that level.

I had a blast playing soccer when I was a kid. My first coach was an elderly gentleman by the name of Aldo Grandinadi. He was as Italian as they come, with a stubble of beard on his cheeks and a gruff voice that meant business.

We were pretty green then and hadn’t a clue about the nuance of the game. His persistent advice to us was simple yet profound: ‘Kicka the ball.’

I thought that was self-evident, but you know what? You can’t score if you don’t – what? Say it with me: Kicka the ball. How fundamental, yet not as easy as it sounds.

He taught us the throw-in, positional play, how to dribble the ball, kick using the left or right foot, to look for the open man.

If you think about it and use your imagination, these tenets are applicable in any sport and quite useful to apply as a value-system on and off the field. Aldo wanted us to move the ball ourselves, be confident in our ability, but be aware of the others on the field, those who could help us advance the ball and ultimately score.

Indeed, sportsmanship is what it was about then, and it continues to be so today. Gunn Baldursson was a remarkable student-athlete who embodied intelligence and athletic ability. Those qualities have been a shining example for young women for the past two decades, a template upon which future endeavour can be impressed by virtue of participation in this annual event.

What a boon to our youth, this area and those who acknowledge the value of athletic competition. Here’s hoping for another two decades of soccer excellence represented by the Gunn Baldursson Memorial Tournament.