- April 18, 2024
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High school seniors share a moment at the conclusion of the all-star game. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
I wish I would’ve had coaches like Flagler Palm Coast’s Reg Monsanto and Matanzas’ Rich Weber, when I played sports. As often as I hated to see my season end in defeat, seeing I never won any championship, I would’ve loved to compete in a fun-filled all-star game, as a final impression.
I’m sure most athletes would agree. Very few high school seniors walk off fields, courts or hop out of competition pools with championship hardware, which means the overwhelming majority of their lasting memory of high school sports is a loss and disappointment.
But, after the last two seasons, this has not been the case with the area boys’ soccer players, due to the Flagler-Volusia Senior High School All-Star Classic.
After years of going head-to-head against each other, some eliminating others from playoff contention, all of the seniors walked off the field, in their school jerseys, with big smiles, hugging each teammate and opponent – who may have been a teammate during the season – whether they won or lost.
It didn’t matter; they were just happy to be out there, playing the game they love, making new friends, and getting looks from college coaches.
Weber said they developed the game for various reasons, but my personal favorite is so the players can compete without the high pressure in typical games.
“Many times the intensity restricts creative and skillful play as players are too fearful to make mistakes,” he said.
During the game, guys like Dakotah Casale of Matanzas attempted long-range shots, trick moves and didn’t hear a peep from their coaches. But, don’t think the competitive nature wasn’t there. Taylor’s goalkeeper Jorge Duran blocked two penalty kicks, and, for the better part of 80 minutes, everyone went full speed.
It was a game well worth developing, and, more importantly, it’s an idea worth copying. I’m sure the best senior ball players would love to go mano-y-mano against other top locals, football players would want to showcase their skills for the last time in their school jerseys and in front of potential scouts and any other sport would love to wipe the memory of losing in a district or playoff game. Because why not?
