The VSOA is pleased to announce that the Enosburg Falls Hornets boys and U-32 Raider girls in the North and the Fair Haven Slater girls and Sharon Academy Phoenix boys in the South are Vermont’s premier 2025 Sportsmanship teams.
This year, for the first time, following all regular season and tournament games, each referee rated both teams on the sportsmanship behavior of the players, coaches, fans, and on-site administrative support. Vermont officials worked over 1700 games this fall.
Marvin Pritchard, Vermont Soccer Officials Association President, expressed praise, “Congratulations to the teams selected for the 2025 VSOA inaugural Sportsmanship Award. The school, community, and soccer official relationship that you have developed is a model for others to emulate in the future. You have been chosen by soccer officials who respect your passion for the game while always exhibiting the highest level of sportsmanship.”
Frank Martel, noted referee for over 50 years and the Northern Vermont Athletic Conference assignor, has seen it all. Martell said, “Sportsmanship at its best is players following the rules of the game, respecting opponents, teammates, and officials. Players helping an opponent up, congratulating them on a great play, being honest and telling an official that the ball last touched them, and for coaches, players, and fans respecting calls or non-calls even if they perceive them to be incorrect.”
This year’s VSOA Sportsmanship Committee also mentions three highly rated finalist teams that displayed exemplary sportsmanship, and they were from the Southern Vermont League, the Mount St. Joseph, Stratton, and Randolph girls, and the Otter Valley, Brattleboro, and West Rutland boys. From the NVAC, the finalists were the Caledonia United, South Burlington, and Richford girls and the Richford, Essex, and BFA-Fairfax boys.
Eric Evans, who assigns all games for SVL officials, said, “With the prevalence of social media, reports of poor sportsmanship nationwide in soccer are well documented. It’s refreshing to see Vermont high school soccer be immune to this trend through the efforts of the Vermont Principals Association, athletic directors, and especially the players and coaches. It’s fitting that the VSOA recognizes those schools that represent Vermont high school soccer at its best.”
The Sportsmanship Award-winning Enosburg Falls, U-32, Sharon Academy, and Fair Haven athletic directors were notified recently and are now organizing events at their schools honoring their teams. VSOA officials will attend and present the teams with a banner and certificates.
