I heard that AYSO is giving a pizza party to the team that ties the most. Anyone who has played soccer knows it is a battle. The sweat, effort and emotion make the game a precious thing, all for the mutual goal of winning. When you win, it is the best thing. But losing is good, too. As upset as we seem after a loss, it is still good. We work harder next time and feel happier after a win, because of the struggle. The only real sense of loss is when it’s a tie.
Some people say a tie means everybody wins. I say it means everybody has lost. Is AYSO trying to tell the kids not to try, not to sweat, score or win? If AYSO continues trying to stamp all the competitiveness out of soccer, we will end up, in the future, with two teams who walk onto the field and sit down as the referee blows the whistle to start the game. They have been taught not to compete. The game ends, and the teams tie the game, zero to zero. Both teams will earn the pizza party.
The best analogy to AYSO is a short story by Kurt Vonnegut called “Harrison Bergeron.” It is about a futuristic world in which the government has decided that all people must be equal. Beautiful people must wear masks. Strong people must carry weights. Intelligent people have speakers in their ears that make piercing noises to scatter thought. In this way, everyone is equal. It has a tragic ending when Harrison Bergeron, age 14, tries to show people what has happened to them.
Too much equality is a very bad thing. We should have equal opportunities. At the beginning of the soccer game, each team can win. But only one will. AYSO will never be able to take the competition out of a competitive sport such as soccer. It’s no fun for kids when there’s no competition. I want to know why we have to tie in Malibu, and why we can’t just play here.
Gianna Fote
AYSO player, girls under 14