Soccer, the safe sport or is it?

While passing through Winchester, Va., several weeks ago I picked up a copy of the Sherando Times, a newspaper that is published for Stephens City, Middletown and Kernstown, Va. I read this story about Hayden Ellias who was killed while playing soccer. I called Sherando to get permission to share this tragic story with my readers and they were kind enough to give me the OK with the hope of educating the public.

On May 7 Hayden Ellias was honored and remembered as friends and family wore the number 13 and the color orange at the JV Sherando vs. Millbrook soccer game, which Sherando went on to win 3-1. The game was played on the same day and near the same Millbrook practice field where 10-year-old Hayden tragically and unexpectedly lost his life just three years ago while playing in boys vs. girls Winchester United U10-Soccer scrimmage match. With only a few minutes left of practice, Hayden was switched to the goalie position for his team, but from there the sequence of events becomes unclear. As parents began to pack up and the scrimmage match focused on the opposite side of the field, the unsecured soccer goal fell, landing on Hayden. No one saw the goal actually fall on Hayden and the reason why is still unknown to this day but the memory of Hayden still lives on.

Since Hayden's passing, his mother Mary and father Greg have worked hard to start a foundation called "Hayden's Goal." The purpose of the foundation is stated on the website; "Hayden's goal is committed to promote continuing education of players, parents, coaches, referees, soccer organizations and the general public, regarding soccer goal safety.

Hayden's mom reflected on the first time she took Hayden to play soccer. He wouldn't get out of the car, so I made a deal with him. I said, "Look I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to, but you have to try it and if you like it, you can continue. If you don't like it, you never have to do it again." She continued, "I can still remember him jumping back in the car and saying, 'Wow, that was the best thing mom. You know we even get uniforms.'"

Children are one third of our population and all of our future.

pverduce@comcast.net