An Inclusive Litany

6/22/98

The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association has changed the rules for tournament games involving players under 10 so that no score is kept, yielding no winners or losers. Trophies are not allowed unless everyone on every team gets one. Head Coach Dean Conway calls this a "non-results-oriented initiative," but some of the kids have apparently been keeping score in their heads, contrary to the spirit of the game. Paige Beauregard of Belchertown explained, "I'd like to know the score so I can get better." A coach commented on the association's informal score policy, "In non-results-oriented tourneys, score is not kept for all to see, but only for tourney officials to view, to make sure games aren't too one-sided."