The Garden City Centennial Soccer Club was begun with the idea that it was to provide youngsters with the most positive experience possible through playing the sport. The whole intramural program is based on four ideas: everyone plays, balanced teams, positive coaching, and open registration. Of course, this also includes input from parents. Getting as many parents as possible involved in the program helps spread the work around. The Club believes parents will find that this helps spread the fun around too.

The goal is for every child to play soccer, not to sit on the bench. Every child plays at least half of every game. The teams are evenly arranged to make competition betweeen the teams fair. The goal is on increasing skills, rather than focus on winning or losing. "Winning kids come first, winning games comes second" is their motto. Kids thrive on encouragement, so the Centennials work on building them up and offering positive help and not criticism, which they see as an investment in the future of every child, on or off the playing field.

Their programs are open to all girls and boys who register and want to play soccer. There are no tryouts to "make the team," no reserved places, and beginners are just as welcome as the "skilled" players. The following divisions are formed each season:

Girls

*Kindergarten Clinic (in kindergarten or entering in the fall)

*Division I (1st grade)

*Division II (2nd and 3rd grade)

*Division III (4th and 5th grade)

*Division IV (6th, 7th, and 8th grade)

Boys

*Kindergarten Clinic (in or entering in the fall)

*Division I (1st grade)

*Division II (2nd and 3rd grade)

*Division III (4th, 5th, and 6th grade)

The Garden City Centennial Soccer Club was founded in 1969, the 100th anniversary of the Village of Garden City. The Club and its directors are committed to the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, community involvement, social interaction, and giving any child who wants to play the opportunity to do so. Youth programs are open to residents of Garden City as well as any student attending a private or parochial school located in the Village.

The following programs also exist: Intramural Program (designed to give every child who wants to play the opportunity, with strict rules of open registration, balanced teams, positive coaching, and playing time of at least half of every game); Travel Program (designed to be more competitive by organizing teams of the more skilled players to play against other teams from other communities); Senior Division (three teams are also sponsored by the Club for adults who wish to continue playing the sport they learned to love to play as youths); and Referees (community youth who are given special training and then given the opportunity and responsibility to officiate intramural games).

The Club's registration has grown each year to the point that they are now the largest independent youth recreational activity organization in the history of Garden City. Registration for the youth programs alone is greater than 1,700. (The enrollment at the Garden City Public Schools is approximately 3,300.) The population of Garden City is 21,500 and the Centennial organization impacts over 20 percent of those residents when one considers the players, parents, siblings, coaches, referees, and seniors.

The Centennial's organize the largets two-day event annually held in the Village, Soccerfest, which was covered in last week's Garden City Life. Over 4,000 residents attend. This year awards were given to residents and merchants for their support. Frank LeSueur and Frank Kiernan were both awarded a Kevil Award. Garden City Police Officers, the Garden City Recreation Department, Adelphi Deli, Colahan-Saunders Corporation, Garden City Soccer Shop, Garden City Sports, and Bob Tynan were all awarded special certificates of appreciation. Frank Nevins was presented with a #1 Fan jacket to thank him for attending so many games, particularly Soccerfest after recently recovering from heart surgery.

Registration for Village Intramurals is now underway. The deadline for the fall season is August 15. Registration forms can be obtained at the Garden City Soccer Shop and should be mailed to Garden City Centennial Soccer Club, P.O. Box 358, in Garden City. For more information call Paul Glorioso at 294-0185 or Sandy Young at 739-1305.