Football/Soccer
Setting Ike up with a great football team and development opportunities was one key focus in my preparations to come here to New Zealand. To say Ike is passionate about the sport is an understatement, and I knew that his happiness here would largely be contingent on the opportunities to join a team, so I put some effort into finding him a team to start with as soon as possible. We had missed try outs, so his coaches in Oregon were kind enough to write up detailed Fifa qualified reports about his fitness, skill, sportsmanship, and commitment, and he was placed on the federation team for the Cambridge Football Club.
Within his first week here Ike was invited to join a futsal team and games started right away. Friendships with the football kids from school found their glue. Club practices started shortly after, and within a couple of weeks, Ike was cementing friendships all over town.
What came as a surprise to all of us was the culture of sportsmanship here in New Zealand. Ike's club team has a clubhouse, with a full kitchen and dining area where teams gather to eat after games. Not just the club's teams, but they also invite their opposition. After each game, both teams come together to share a meal which is hosted by the home team. Before they eat, each team captain makes a speech thanking the coaches, refs, and parents, and commenting on the game including compliments to the opposing team. Coaches will give speeches as well, followed by prizes handed to players on both team for player of the match.
When we first witnessed this, we were absolutely blown away. I've since come to learn that this is a carry over from Rugby culture, and has permeated into most sports in New Zealand. When there isn't a clubhouse, teams will give their post-game speeches right on the pitch. This tradition has come to be one of my favorite aspects of the kids' football world, as these kids learn good sportsmanship, gratitude, class, and grace.
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