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Four different Random Acts of Sportsmanship have been reported to the CYC Office in the first month of the Fall sports season.  We know there are plenty more taking place, help us recognize those players, coaches, officials and fans by reporting Random Acts of Sportsmanship to buzzswanston@archstl.org or call Buzz at 314 353-8911 ext. 13.

We first want to recognize the Seckman High School boys soccer team who recently played in the CYC/Bob Guelker Memorial Soccer Tournament.  Three different officials from 3 different games commented on how the Jaguar players displayed great sportsmanship and were a pleasure to officiate.  Congratulations to the coaches and players.

Staying with High School boys soccer, Mike Richardson and his St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Junior team that plays Sunday afternoons in the CYC High School Boys league has been recognized by an opposing coach for their outstanding sportsmanship before, during and after the game.  Tom Church, the Ascension coach said the SMMA sportsmanship stood out at their game.

"POINT!!  POINT!!!"  Certainly you have heard fans screaming this at a volleyball or basketball game when the score keepers don't put the score up quickly enough.  A volleyball official at the Seven Holy Founders SLAM for CF Tournament commented on the sportsmanship of the fans concerning the score.  It was late in the second game of a tight match between St. Simon and Seven Holy Founders.  One of the St. Simon fans quietly and politely said to the St. Simon coach, can you check the score, I don't think it is correct.  At that point the coach asked the official to check.  He did check with the score table, and the scorekeeper said it was correct.  It was at this point that a couple of SHF fans spoke up and said "I believe they gave that last point to our team, it should go to St. Simon."  The scorekeeper then realized the mistake.  The score was changed and the match continued.  What a wonderful act of honesty and sportsmanship for everyone in the gym to experience. 

Finally, in a 6th grade boys soccer game in North County this past week-end, St. Ann scored an apparent goal on what looked to be a head ball after a cross.  Several players on both teams stopped playing, thinking that the goal was scored off a hand ball.  The closest referee was screened on the play and after consulting with the trail referee, who did not get a good look at the goal, declared it a goal for St. Ann.  However, the player who scored the goal, John Dieckmann came over to the near referree and told him that while he didn't mean to do it, the ball went into the goal after hitting off his arm.  The officials conferred again and decided to disallow the goal.  There was only 5 minutes left in a very close game, and that could have been a very important goal for St. Ann.  Although St. Ann ended up winning the game, the real winner was John, his teammates and coaches, because they are promoting good sportsmanship and fair play over winning! 

We are proud of the teams, players, coaches and fans cited in the four Random Acts of Sportsmanship mentioned above.  We hope these acts enourage other CYC participants to follow their lead in how they act on and off the field.  Plus we encourage everyone to let us know when you see such acts, so we can recognize all the Random Acts of Sportsmanship that take place in CYC activities.