By: Steve Chan
On Saturday, February 16th, the 180th Pacific Coast Scout Group was very excited to throw our first sporting fundraiser tournament at Daniel Woodward Elementary School in Richmond, British Columbia. The gymnasium was packed with people who had never played dodgeball, people who had tried dodgeball once or twice, and people who regularly played dodgeball. Players and spectators alike had the chance to socialize before the game, and it was a very friendly atmosphere!
The event formally started when Sophia Yip, the president of the 180th Pacific Coast Scout Group, gave a short introduction about Scouts Canada. The event would not have been possible without the help of the Vancouver Dodgeball League (VDL) who led a Dodgeball 101 tutorial for players. They taught the basic rules of playing dodgeball and demonstrated some techniques, followed by the most awaited part for the players — the start of the round robins. Teams were able to play at least 10 games during these rounds.
After the ‘battle of the balls’, there was an exciting raffle draw. Players who purchased raffle tickets had the opportunity to win Cypress Mountain lift tickets, an iPod Shuffle from Apple, a Cobs Bread gift basket, USB drives courtesy of Staples, vouchers from The Zone Bowling Center, gift sets from Cafe Artigiano. Each player also received a Lansdowne Mall eco-bag which included Subway coupons and a Scouts Canada wristband.
A tournament isn’t a tournament if there isn’t a playoff round or a final epic match. The teams were split fairly into two tiers and battled for the winning titles. We would like to congratulate the champions of Tier 2, “The Great Little Balls” team, captained by Clarice Fu, for a hard-won fight. Team “Sandlot” from Tier 1 shut down all opposition by winning six matches straight! Congratulations to them for claiming the Tier 1 championship.
Those who had never played dodgeball before enjoyed learning a new and exciting game, while those who experienced it before were motivated to play more. The event was a major success, not only because we were able to raise funds for the group, but because we were able to provide a fun-filled and social event for the participants. These fundraising activities are great for getting everyone together, and they are an excellent way to ensure the continued the success of the Scouts Canada programs. I for one can’t wait for our next event!
More pictures in the slideshow below!
