For the Love of the Game

Athletics at Tabor runs the gamut from teaching students the beginnings of a sport all the way to providing already talented athletes opportunities to compete at the highest levels of their game. At all levels, we hope to instill a love of sports, sportsmanship, and competition.

Beyond the many choices we offer within our cocurricular program for learning new things through arts, dance, music, community service, debate, robotics, MakerLab, and more, the multiple levels of sports we offer throughout the seasons provide opportunities to learn about being a teammate and to enjoy learning a new game. With the theme of this issue of Tabor Today being about how we instill a lifelong love of learning through our programs, Wes Chaput’s effort with boys’ 3rds soccer is certainly a story that deserves attention.

Last year, an enthusiastic group of 51 young men joined together on the track field on upper campus to not only learn and play the game of soccer, but to become part of a growing tradition. Head Coach, Wes Chaput, along with assistant coaches Chris Millette and Emily Kaplan, has created an experience like no other. “What makes 3rds soccer so special is that we have cultivated a culture where you can be yourself, and that’s what it’s really all about.” Coach Chaput emphasizes that it doesn’t matter how good you are or how long you have played, rather, it is more about showing up, being a good teammate, and having fun.

The coaches plan practices where all 51 players are moving and steadily getting better as they rotate through a fair system of game-day players for each game. “Team sports have a lot to offer for everybody in terms of life lessons, competition, and exercise, and 3rds soccer is a great avenue for a lot of these kids to learn those important life lessons,” said Chaput. This specific experience allows students, who may or may not aspire to excel in soccer, to gather together in unity and learn from one another in a fun atmosphere.

A couple of times each fall, the girls’ JV team combines with the boys’ 3rds team to have a joint practice. They learn humility and respect as they share the field and witness the emerging talents of the other players. Both teams have smiles on their faces for the duration of practice and walk away having made new friends and learned something new.

Coach Chaput has made a remarkable impression on all who have played on his team these last eight years. The boys thoroughly enjoy the culture and traditions that have taken shape. One of their favorites is the annual Legends Game, played on the last Thursday of each season. Anyone who has played at least one season of 3rds soccer during their Tabor career is considered a “legend” and is invited to participate in the game. It is jaw dropping to see the throng that shows up to play. Current players and past players (some now playing JV or varsity) come together for a massive melee of a game. From freshmen to seniors, they enjoy an afternoon of pure silliness and great camaraderie while they celebrate the program they love and their part of the legend of 3rds soccer!

Enjoy the group photo above of the 2018 Legends.