T'HE FREE PRE^S SPORTS MAY ^25, 2000 B3 Track vets give back It is an unwritten rule in the Prince George Track and Field Club. A longstanding tradition that generations of track and Field athletes have followed without question or complaint. Every summer, athletes who have moved past the scope of the PG Track and Field Club and gone on to college or university track careers return to their home town and give up their own free time to help coach the next generation of athletes. “They’re paying back what they got,” says Tom Masich, head of the PG Track and Field Club. "When they were training, guys came back and helped them and now they’re helping the next batch. These kids look up to them for inspiration.” Heidi Dunkley, who just graduated from UBC with a degree in exercise science coaches junior athletes every Monday and Wednesday night and has been since she was in Grade 12. “I have so much fun, that’s why I keep coming out,” says Dunkley. “We incorporate lots of games and team spirit. ” University of Victoria runner Rob Connors agrees that returning to help the young runners is like an obligation, but one he does gladly. “Track club has given me so much, I may as well give something back,” says Connors. “I can be a role model and give them tips from experience. If they don’t have someone to look up to they might not continue.” Eyes firmly on the prize BP/Maple looks to unseat traditional champions In recent memory, the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League division one has been dominated by a single team. Croatia has been virtually unbeatable — firmly entrenched as the ruling kings of soccer. But this season, Boston Pizza/Maple coach Hans Ruch is hoping to beat Croatia at their own game. It isn’t about who has the most skilled individual players, says Ruch. It’s about who has the best organized and effective team system. It’s that system which Ruch says Croatia excels at and which he is trying to bring to Boston Pizza/Maple this year. “We are at a stage of reorganization — bringing in a new system. We have a lot of skilled players. Hopefully we can play a system that can improve our game. It may take more time than some people think, but if we can give them, at the end of the season, equal games or even maybe beat them I think it would be a big success,” says Ruch. Implementing a successful system for BP/Maple not only means learning from Croatia, but also adapting to beat them. “You don’t play high balls in their box because their defenders get them all,” says Ruch, explaining some of the strengths Croatia has that BP/Maple will need to overcome if they are to challenge the kings of the division. But Ruch is not without tricks of his own. He is teaching his Boston Pizza is hoping fast moves and smart playing will help them win more games like this one against Honda/Citizen. Doug Brown/Free Press players a maneuver called the offside trap. “The sweeper pushes out his whole defence. So if the forwards don’t move out of the zone and they get the ball they are clearly in an offside position. What this trap does is it slows down the for- wards because they don’t feel very safe to move closer to the goal because they always have to watch the defence line.” But the trap is a tricky maneuver, and a fast, smart offensive line can quickly turn it to shambles, says Ruch. “It asks a lot of thinking from the defence and especially the sweeper,” says Ruch. But so far it seems to be working. BP/Maple used the trap effectively against Honda/Citizen during a weekend game, trapping five of their forwards in an offside position. They went on to win the game 4-0. “We basically took over in the second half.” BP/Maple is so far the leading contender to unseat Croatia, but Ruch is not comfortable with making predictions so early in the season, especially when he feels his team needs a lot more work. Physically, the team is not up to par says Ruch and physical conditioning will doubtless be the highlight of many BP/Maple players weekends. But there are bright spots — BP has acquired strong players like forward Alan Ruch and defenceman Sonny Powers. Surely a few guys like these two can turn the tide in their favour? Not so, says Ruch. “Of course that helps, no doubt about that. But I wouldn’t say just because of these two guys we’ll play better soccer. We have to work at the whole team to improve each player a bit and play a better system and strategy too.” It’s that level of strategy and conditioning which Ruch feels will be key to finally beating the kings at their own game - but it’s also a level he doesn’t feel BP/Maple is yet equal to Croatia in. “They are really by far the best organized team. I wouldn’t say that they have a way higher level of skill than the rest of the teams in the first division, but they are the best organized team ... That’s their strength as a team and we are simply not there.” TALKING YELLOW PAGES Your free 24 Hour Information Source £'564-2929 k- WTTT Call 564-2929 l».-J Press the I* 1 4 digit code HOTLINE SPORTS SCORES & RESULTS National Sports Report........................3050 NHL Report....................................3051 NBA Report....................................3053 NFL Report....................................3054 Major League Baseball.........................3055 NCAA Top 20 Report............................3056 Boxing Report.................................3036 *,Golf Report..................................3001 Tennis Report.................................3002 Sports Transactions...........................3037 SCHEDULES & STANDINGS Major League Baseball.........................3038 NFL...........................................3039 NHL...........................................3040 NBA...........................................3041 INJURY REPORTS NHL...........................................3031 NBA...........................................3032 Major League Baseball.........................3033 NFL.......................................... 3034 PICKS & SPREADS NFL...........................................3042 Major League Baseball.........................3044 NBA...........................................3045 NHL...........................................3046 luAvt nw« Ff W ■ UlUrtT .COMMUNICATIONS INC. THE PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS jfc “Free” Scrap Removal Cars and Trucks - Large or Small Cash for Some Check and compare prices for towing or service calls. Call “Lauran or Dwayne" for more information Cell. 961-2593 Pgr. 612-6552 Cell. 561-6197 Pgr. 553-1517 964-3829 Over 20 Years Experience SAGE • SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS • SHIMANO • FENWICK • FEDERAL Bon Voyage Outdoors... brought I. you by Bob'i Spirit t Tbo Ft*. Prtll The fishing season is in full swing now in the interior and although the weather didn’t exactly co-operate, hopefully everyone who got out had some good luck. Char fishing has been picking up over the last couple of weeks and anglers have been successful using large spoons such as Apex, Swim Whizz, Flatfish and FSTs. Many anglers going after char are now practicing catch & release for larger fish. It’s nice to see anglers releasing a twenty to thirty pound char, that may be up to fifty years old, and opting to keep smaller char in the five to ten pound class for table fare. Releasing large char allows the genes of these spectacular fish to be present in future giants. Fishing for Chinooks has been fairly good already with a large return of fish on the Kalum River. The Kitimat River is seeing a few fish already, but things likely won’t get going for another month or so. Limited Entries are now out so don’t delay getting them in. All Limited Entry applications must be received by June 14th. This year the government is offering a special limited entry mountain sheep hunt available to all resident hunters of BC with a valid BC hunters number. One ticket will be drawn whereby the applicant may choose which area they wish to hunt in. There is no limit to the number of tickets each hunter may purchase. The price of the application is $15.00, $10.00 of which go to the sheep foundation. Don’t forget to bring in your best fishing picture for the June Wall of Fame and have a chance at a $50.00 Gift Certificate. 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