High values stressed by ESA coach

By Jon Clark
CORRESPONDENT
  
   "Have Fun! Play Hard! Play Fair."
   Seven years ago when Leonard February volunteered to help coach an ESA soccer team, those were his goals for the kids. He still stresses these goals with his two teams that he co-coaches with Chris Garland.
   Together, they and a host of other men and women volunteer their time, money, energy, skills, and good old fashioned American values to children in Elizabethton through soccer with ESA.
   Coach February is also the treasurer of ESA and is responsible for finding sponsors for teams. This year 17 sponsors donated at least $250.
   Coach February explained that individual and corporate sponsorship is crucial to enabling ESA to accomplish its mission.
   The money is used for a variety of purposes, not the least of which is to help maintain the scholarship fund. ESA's policy is to allow all children who want to play soccer an opportunity to play, regardless of their ability to pay.
   The scholarship fund is the means by which ESA accomplishes this. "This fund allows us to pay for the equipment and fees of needy players."
   Sponsorship money is also used to purchase the team t-shirts. These t-shirts bear the logo of the teams sponsor and are given to each team members to keep at the end of the season.
   "If we didn't have sponsors we'd have a real hard time and our fees would be much higher. With sponsors, nobody gets turned away!"
   Last Monday's article briefly touched on a connection between George Bush and ESA. Here it is, in George's own words. "My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years -- 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors and your nation." U.S. President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 29, 2002.
   ESA soccer is one way the good people of Elizabethton can meet that call.
   "Have Fun! Play Hard! Play Fair!" American values handed down to the next generation through a soccer ball and service to ones community.
   A list of ESA sponsors: Dr. David Hardin, Dr. Greene and Laing, Tetricks, Hathaway Percy, Carter County Bank, Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank, Ken Wandell, State Farm Insurance, Accurate Machine, Life Care, Jim Roberts Construction, State Line Drive Inn, Pizza Inn, Summer Taylor, Kiwanis Club, Roger Day.