INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / October 1, 1991

 

The confidence game

Winning isn’t everything. At least,
not during pre-season.

Coach Dan Jones didn’t bat an
eye as Douglas College’s fledgling
women’s soccer team lost its two
inaugural BCCAA games during a
recent Kamloops tournament.

“By concentrating on winning
this early you will miss out on the
essentials,” said Jones. “I told the
players winning the game is secon-
dary, that it was more important to
see what their capabilities are.”

Besides, there was a vindicating
40 win over BCIT in the Royals clos-
ing game of the Kamloops tourney.
Jones was impressed with the talent
pool vying for the team (16 to 20
players will make the grade), liked
the aggressiveness of his wingers
but admits the strikers and
defenders need time to gel.

Jones also hopes player bonds
formed at the tournament and his
own coaching style will produce a
team capable of challenging power-
house Vancouver Community
College. But just how much work
still faces the new team was shown
on Saturday, September 21, when
defending provincial champs VCC
defeated the Royals 3-0.

“I really concentrate on letting
the players feel they have a vested
interest in the team,” says Jones,
showing his psychiatric-instructor

 

 

 

 

 

Douglas College sweeper Sara Weatherby (left) clashes with VCC
player. The Royals were defeated 3-0.

colors, “instead of performing
because a coach is screeching at
them.”

He’s no dictator, and Jones has
had success with his laid-back sys-
tem. When he coached Kerrisdale
Under-18’s in Vancouver’s competi-
tive Metro League from 1986-90,
the team reached the provincial
final three times, won twice, and
once reached the national final.

“When players have confidence
in themselves and each other, they
can do wonders.” @

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women’s soccer coach Dan Jones talks strategy at half-time.

Looking at
ecology from
both sides

Valentin Schaefer spent last year
on educational leave examining
Environmental Studies at the Univer-
sity of Victoria, and the Douglas
College Biology Instructor couldn't
have picked a better time. A recent
continent-wide debate was sparked
by a front-page story in the New
York Times berating Victoria for
dumping untreated sewage into the
Strait of Juan de Fuca.

“The main reason | went to the
University of Victoria was to look at
environmental studies from an inter-
disciplinary perspective,” says
Schaefer. “There is a tendency in
scientists to see issues in cold, fac-
tual ways. But there are sociological
and psychological factors that are
just as valid.”

The sewage debate provided a
perfect example, says Schaefer.
“One scientist from the University
of Victoria was arguing there is no
problem because the sewage is

Ecology continued on page 7

 

 

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