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Page4 Friday, October 20, 1978 CASTOR REVIEW Sports There is a controversy raging over the importance and need of football in our high schools. From all indications it is not one that will be resolved in a hurry. An Ottawa Board of Education trustee, Roy Bushfield, has been trying for the last couple of years to have the football program removed from the curriculum of high school athlet- ics. To this point he has not been successful, and in my mind, its a good thing that he has not been able to have the sport erased from the books. Mr Bushfield has suggested that the European version of our game, namely soccer, be imple- mented in the high schools in the place of the hard-hitting Canad- ian brand. Mr Bushfield and some con- cerned parents claim the game of soccer is less expensive than football. They also say it is less dangerous than football; that players are less likely to sustain injuries of a nature that could hinder them for the rest of their lives. Another claim is that players of a less rugged nature can play the game. You don't have to be mammoth to play soccer wheras if you are fairly large it doesn't hurt in the game of football. These may seem like good points and perhaps they are. But I see fault with several of the arguments propounded by Mr. Bushfield and those who think as he does. In the first case there is some question as to whether soccer is less expensive than football. The highest sum of money to be doled out to supply a high school football team with the necessit- ies is the initial cash outlay for equipment. But subsequent to that, the only expense is that Peter Van Dusen Football to get boot? incurred when equipment must be repaired. No new equipment need be purchased for several years since all the materials and uniforms are adjustable and need not be replaced perennial- ly In soccer however, the shorts and shirts and so on must be purchased on a yearly basis as the players vary in size. The uniforms are not adjust- able. So while football may require a relatively large sum of money at the outset, it becomes a relatively uncostly venture in subsequent years. So the monet- ary angle to the anti-football argument is not that strong. Second, it may well be true that injuries sustained while playing football are more severe in nature than those obtained while playing soccer. But then the question becomes do the injuries occur that often to make a difference? I don't think so. Having played high school and college football, I found that only lack of preparation and the odd fluke were causes of injuries and even those were not that severe. There are some injuries to the knees that may hamper a player even through his adult life. But they occur fairly infrequently. A soccer player who has not done the proper warm-up exercises before a match is just as likely to turn an ankle or twist a knee as a football player. And if injury is Mr. Bushfield's main bone of contention then why does he not launch a campaign against organized hockey. There are thousands of school aged children and teen- agers playing the all-Canadian game and just as many of them getting injured as in football. And I would venture to guess that the cost of hockey equip- ment per player far surpasses that of football equipment. But I don't see Mr. Bushfield trying to have hockey replaced by figure skating. Next there is the question of players of a less rugged nature who are more able to play soccer than football. That may well be true but then the reverse may also be true. That big youths are not as polished in their abilities as the game of soccer requires. I would suggest that both sports be retained on the high school program. There would be some extra cost but the kids would have the advantage of both sports and isn't that what education and schooling is all about to give the students as much education as possible both from books and on the playing fields. What was that quote about the healthy body and the healthy mind? It will take awhile to get the problem straightened away. Should we consult the students about the issue? Should we scrap the entire athletic program in favor of solely formal educ- atiom? I believe the solution lies in offering both sports and letting the student decide for himself. Curling News The Russell Curling club opens for Curling on the evening of October 27 with an instruction clinic for new and old members. The opening bonspiel takes place on Saturday, October 28. The club will open with a wine and cheese disco party on October 21 at 8:30 p.m. All old and prospective new members are invited to attend. For further information on the party or curling call Micheline Pygas at RUSSELL Leo Marion LOADER OPERATIONS SAND ® TOP SOIL © MUCK AND FILL CRUSHED GRAVEL 445-5775 BOUTIQUE LA COUTURIERE Francine Dignard Mgr. Tissus G la verge -- remnants All needs for sewing, crochet & macrame PHENTEX SPECIAL Sky Reg. 89° 2 plys Reg 70° SPECIAL SPECIAL 3/$1.00 2/$1.00 Also Elite 3 oz. SPECIAL 75° "While quantities last' Reg. 99° 528 rue Notre Dame EMBRUN 443-3113 Comment The Embrun Panthers are no more and its sad, very sad. The crafty cats have breathed their last. After a short but illustrious life it seems the team was too powerful to spur local compet- ition. As was the case most of the time the Panthers finished first in their division last year and went on to represent the region in the Hardy playdowns. Perhaps other teams could not match the Panthers and consequently could not draw crowds because the outcome of each game was never in doubt. The competition was too tough. That's all there is to it. There was no problem with fans. The Panthers always drew big crowds. They were held dear to the bosom of Castor area residents for the years they were together. But maybe it's not all over. Don't forget. . . cats have nine lives. DIANE'S HAIR DESIGN OPEN Tuesday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EVENINGS BY APPOINTMENT 821-3010 Victoria St. Metcalfe (Next to Pharmacy) The joys of competitive hockey By Jack Mclaren As a parent of two boys involved in competitive minor hockey, I have often wanted to sit back, catch my breath and take a look at minor hockey at the various levels that exist today. People in the Russell area are familiar with the minor hockey program serving this area. It certainly fullfills the needs of the community at a most reasonable cost. It entails two trips weekly to the Dr. Kinnaird arena plus a journey to surrounding towns for league games. The system has a limitation in that it provides hockey up to about "C" level or in some instances what is referred to as "house league". With two boys playing "A"' level hockey, Greg with the Nepean Raiders Midgets and Todd, Gloucester Rangers Bantams, my involvement as a parent is vastly different and some insight into hockey at this level might be of some interest to area sports fans or to boys who might be interested in moving up to those calibres in the future. Areas with AA level hockey include Nepean, Gloucester, South Ottawa, West Ottawa, East Ottawa and Gatineau. This level is very competitive. A coach will select about 15 of the best players from as many as 150 who attend training camp. Each team is allowed two out-of-zone players; i.e. boys who do not reside in the teams designated area. Competition for these two positions is extremely tough. Tryouts begin in early September and before the season has ended, the following April, each team will have played from 60 to a 100 practice sessions which at the midget level usually last up to two hours. On the average, each team will enter from six to ten tournaments some as far away as Boston and Winnipeg and in April 79 the Nepean Raiders have been invited to represent Canada at the European Midget Championship Tournament to be held in Prague, Czekslovakia - - they have accepted. This costs money-the trip to Czeckoslovakia alone will be in the vicinity of $13,000 and the cost of operating a Midget "A"' team for a single season is around $7500 (primarily ice time and referees). That's a lot of money so why participate at this level? This can best be answered by repeating the question appearing on ODMHA District transfer form - "Reason for requesting transfer"-the acceptable reply-" zone in which player resided does not provide the calibre of hockey he is capable of playing"'. This will satisfy ODMHA officials in most cases and the transfer will be granted (there is a fee involved also). One could argue, as some do, that hockey at this level is too organized -- is played for the benefit of parents and coaches and that there is very little fun left in the game for the boys. First hand knowledge leads me to believe that parents do occasionally get carried away but at least they are involved with their children and one can rest assured that the fun hasn't gone from the game. Boys capable of playing at this level are there because they want to be. They thrive on competition but still know how to have fun as a unit-they are not individuals but a team at all times. Basically the advantages include top notch instructors, an opportunity to travel and meet boys from other countries and if one is fortunate enough to be offered a college scholarship, to further his education. Whether this happens, or upon completion of Midget, a boy is drafted by the OHA Junior team, or he ends up without either, he has to feel some form of achievement which will undoubtedly benefit him in later years. His hockey experience has at least been a form of schooling in discipline. Living 20 miles from Ottawa creates problems particularly if one boy has a game at Cornwall at the same time the other one is scheduled to play at the Nepean Sportsplex. However If I can maintain my sanity for the next two years time will have erased the problems and I will probably say it was all worthwhile. One thing is certain though . . . It sure keeps parents off the streets. G. J. (Gerry) O'Reilley TROPHIES & AWARDS for all occasions SEE OUR DISPLAY ROOM Tel. 445-2008