The Vermont State Officials Association announced a handful of schools from across the state were singled out for producing the 2025 premier sportsmanship teams.
The U-32 girls and Enosburg boys were honored from the north region, while the Fair Haven girls and Sharon boys were chosen for Southern Vermont.
The awards were handed out for the first time this year for soccer, following a tradition that’s been popular in basketball for decades. After the conclusion of each regular season and tournament game, referees rated both teams on the sportsmanship behavior of the players, coaches, fans and on-site administrative support while working over 1,700 games this fall.
“Congratulations to the teams selected for the 2025 VSOA inaugural Sportsmanship Award,” said VSOA president Marvin Pritchard. “The school, community and soccer official relationship that (award recipients) 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 has served as a referee for over 50 years and has witnessed improved behavior in recent years. Martel is the Northern Vermont Athletic Conference assignor and has been encouraged by the recent trends.
“Sportsmanship at its best are players following the rules of the game, respecting opponents, teammates and officials,” Martel said. “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 mentioned that there were a handful of highly rated finalist teams that displayed exemplary behavior. The Southern Vermont League finalist squads were the MSJ, 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 assigns all games for SVL officials and noted that it’s been a breath of fresh air to see fewer high-profile incidents of matches erupting into chaos due to the wrong reasons.
“With the prevalence of social media — reports of poor sportsmanship nationwide in soccer are well documented,” Evans said. “It is refreshing to see Vermont high school soccer be immune to this trend through the efforts of the VPA, ADs and especially the players and coaches. It is fitting that the VSOA recognize those schools who represent Vermont high school soccer at its best.”
The award-winning teams from Enosburg , U-32, Sharon and Fair Haven were notified recently and are now organizing events at their schools honoring their accomplishments. VSOA officials will attend and present each team with a banner and certificate.
