The Stanley Humphries Secondary (SHSS) senior girls soccer team was in action this past weekend at a tournament in Nakusp, despite a recent BCTF vote where teachers voted in favour of withdrawing volunteer services.
“Many of the regular teachers/coaches were in attendance,” said coach Brainwen Hainsworth, who is continuing to coach despite the BCTF vote.
“It is difficult to get other people involved so without the teacher’s participation, the girls simply will not have school soccer. The program has been running for 14 years and I am not willing to lose it after all that time and effort has been put in.”
Hainsworth says that education cutback has made her job difficult as soccer coach.
“Bussing is outrageosly expensive and, unless, I charge the parents for bussing, I don’t know how we’ll continue to get the players to tournaments,” she said.
Taking a team to Nelson is about $500, while going to Nakusp was close to $2,000.
“That doesn’t include the tournament fee, my teacher-on-call cost or hotel costs. The whole situation becomes unaffordabel. So, while I want the program to contineu, unless the government puts more money into the whole system, or parents pay a lot more, I simply can’t keep trying to find people to drive their kids to play during the work week.”
With school tournament on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s hard to find parent drivers for Fridays.
“It’s very frustrating so this could be my last leason,” said Hainsworth. “That breaks my heart and I’m not fully decided but I’m moving closer to that verdict. The system no longer supports these opportunities for kids or for teacdher and therefore, we are losing the vibrancy we used to enjoy in our school experience.”
On the field, the SHSS team won two of three games.
SHSS lost their opener 6-0 against AAA power Mount Baker from Cranbrook.
They then beat Fraser Lake 1-0 with Allie Chown scoring.
The host team from Nakusp beat SHSS 3-1 in game despite a goal from Andrea Poznikoff.
The Bulldogs finished strong with a 6-0 win over Prince Charles of Creston. Poznikoff led the squad with a hat-trick. Courtney Terhune, Morgan Flynn, and Reiss Zibin scored singles.