Badabing tourney kicks off

This is music to the ears of Gentilly teachers Yanick Quenneville and Eric Mecteau, who initiated the West Island’s newest mini-soccer tournament at the Dorval elementary school last weekend: La Coupe Badabing.

Intent on having their school’s best student players prepare for other mini-soccer tournaments next year, Quenneville and Mecteau decided to create a tournament of their own, inviting teams from other West Island and West End francophone schools. “There aren’t any elementary schools that host such tournaments,” Mecteau said. “We have a good gymnasium to do that, and we can put one on before Christmas” – which was also a first.

With five players a side on a 20 by 15 metre court, following regular outdoor soccer rules, the indoor sport amounts to a miniature, sped-up version of the international game. The shrunken playing surface greatly accelerates the speed of play, and level of competitiveness. “Matches are friendly, yet competitive. Everyone wants to win, too,” commented referee Alexandre Dannel, who called all games of the tournament. Teams played matches of 20-minute halves in quick succession.

The tournament saw the best players of Grades five and six face off at a time when organized soccer is rarely played in schools. Basketball and volleyball meets are more common at this time of year, according to Lac Saint Louis Sport Etudiant program coordinator Karine Mayrand. In spite of this, soccer takes priority as the favoured sport for many students. “There are many excellent players, particularly since a lot of soccer is played outside of the schools,” said Mayrand. “When we put together school teams, it’s really surprising to see how much talent there is.”

Girls’ champions Académie Saint Clément of Town of Mount Royal, and boys’ winners Ecole Enfant Soleil of St. Laurent hoisted small replicas of the coveted World Cup. West Island medal winners included College Beaubois, who won silver in the girls’ division and bronze among the boys, and home team Ecole Gentilly, whose girls team won bronze.