Miss-Delectable
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The News Leader - www.newsleader.com - Staunton, Va.
The sounds of a soccer game are unforgettable for many people.
The whistle blows, players and coaches yell back and forth and fans scream to root their team on.
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But what if you couldn't hear those sounds? How could one play soccer without hearing their teammates warning about a defender creeping up on them or the whistle signaling a penalty or the end of the half?
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind's boys' soccer team does it every day.
"We're not that much different than other soccer teams," said co-coach Tina-Margaret Steele through an interpreter. "The only disadvantage they might have is me being a first-time coach. The team and James Houselog (the other co-coach) are helping me with the game as much as I'm helping them, but we're all having a good time."
For VSDB, every time they take the field it will never sound like a normal soccer game: Whistles, barking coaches and the boom of a well-kicked soccer ball. For the VSDB squad, soccer is a silent sport.
But through the help of a sign language interpreter Steele said: "Sure, sure, because I'm deaf, sometimes it's hard." But Steele says being deaf is no disadvantage.
"Oh yeah, it's all the same," she said, her hands fast at work. "Hearing or deaf doesn't matter. We just mix it up with hearing or deaf teams, we don't worry about being deaf."
Being a deaf athlete has its own set of challenges, but the players on VSDB's team have a new, more difficult task at hand in their second soccer season. Their goal is play well and be competitive in every match against every opponent, whether it's against another deaf school or a private school.
"I think many people underappreciate the combination of skill and physical fitness required to play the game well," Steele said.
Some of the schools on VSDB's schedule this season are Ridgeview Christian, Massanutten Military and the Kentucky School for the Deaf.
With a full roster of 23, VSDB will definitely not lack bodies to put on the field. Leading the way are three seniors. There is also a group of seventh and eighth graders that are ready to make a difference.
One of the things the Cardinals will have going for them is a loud cheering section. And while they can't hear their applause, VSDB athletic director Wayne Hite says it still helps.
"They can feel it when the fans are jumping around and they can see that, too. So they know that they're here for them and that's all that matters," Hite said after helping organize practice Tuesday.
"I feel very proud and excited. And I can't wait until our first home game and seeing all the people moving around, jumping around, supporting us," Steele said.
Just another example of how with some practice, nothing is impossible.
VSDB Soccer Schedule
Aug. 30 Ridgeview
Sept. 7-8 at Kentucky School for the Deaf
Sept. 11 Valley Campaign
Sept. 18 at Massanutten Military
Sept. 19 Cornerstone
Sept. 20 Valley Campaign
Sept. 24 at Cornerstone
Oct. 4 Massanutten Military
The sounds of a soccer game are unforgettable for many people.
The whistle blows, players and coaches yell back and forth and fans scream to root their team on.
ADVERTISEMENT
But what if you couldn't hear those sounds? How could one play soccer without hearing their teammates warning about a defender creeping up on them or the whistle signaling a penalty or the end of the half?
The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind's boys' soccer team does it every day.
"We're not that much different than other soccer teams," said co-coach Tina-Margaret Steele through an interpreter. "The only disadvantage they might have is me being a first-time coach. The team and James Houselog (the other co-coach) are helping me with the game as much as I'm helping them, but we're all having a good time."
For VSDB, every time they take the field it will never sound like a normal soccer game: Whistles, barking coaches and the boom of a well-kicked soccer ball. For the VSDB squad, soccer is a silent sport.
But through the help of a sign language interpreter Steele said: "Sure, sure, because I'm deaf, sometimes it's hard." But Steele says being deaf is no disadvantage.
"Oh yeah, it's all the same," she said, her hands fast at work. "Hearing or deaf doesn't matter. We just mix it up with hearing or deaf teams, we don't worry about being deaf."
Being a deaf athlete has its own set of challenges, but the players on VSDB's team have a new, more difficult task at hand in their second soccer season. Their goal is play well and be competitive in every match against every opponent, whether it's against another deaf school or a private school.
"I think many people underappreciate the combination of skill and physical fitness required to play the game well," Steele said.
Some of the schools on VSDB's schedule this season are Ridgeview Christian, Massanutten Military and the Kentucky School for the Deaf.
With a full roster of 23, VSDB will definitely not lack bodies to put on the field. Leading the way are three seniors. There is also a group of seventh and eighth graders that are ready to make a difference.
One of the things the Cardinals will have going for them is a loud cheering section. And while they can't hear their applause, VSDB athletic director Wayne Hite says it still helps.
"They can feel it when the fans are jumping around and they can see that, too. So they know that they're here for them and that's all that matters," Hite said after helping organize practice Tuesday.
"I feel very proud and excited. And I can't wait until our first home game and seeing all the people moving around, jumping around, supporting us," Steele said.
Just another example of how with some practice, nothing is impossible.
VSDB Soccer Schedule
Aug. 30 Ridgeview
Sept. 7-8 at Kentucky School for the Deaf
Sept. 11 Valley Campaign
Sept. 18 at Massanutten Military
Sept. 19 Cornerstone
Sept. 20 Valley Campaign
Sept. 24 at Cornerstone
Oct. 4 Massanutten Military