On a beautiful sunny Thursday afternoon, Grades 4 and 5 students from elementary schools across Whitehorse gathered at the soccer fields at Vanier Catholic Secondary School and Christ the King Elementary School for Soccerfest, hosted by the Yukon Schools Athletic Association (YSAA).

Four fields were marked at Vanier and were all full with young players, some new and trying the game for the first time, others showing off their skills to their fellow classmates and peers.

The enthusiasm for the sport by all the players could be seen on their faces and heard echoing around the fields.

Those on the field put forth their best efforts and when a goal was scored or a nice play made, their teammates erupted into raucaus cheers - which were yelled in both English and French.

Even the fans got into it. Those watching on the sidelines had pom-poms out loudly cheering on their classmates and friends.

YSAA executive director, Peter Grundmanis, said that the goal was to get the kids enthusiastic about playing.

We aren’t keeping score or having tournament champions crowned explained Grundmanis. He continued to say it was about getting the kids active and trying something new, if they haven’t played before.

The games were 20-minutes long and the kids sitting on the sidelines waiting for their number to be called to be put back in jumped up and down anticipating returning to the action.

As the days games winded down for lunch the teams sat together and excitedly spoke about all the cool plays they and their team were able to pull off.

Soccerfest, what a great way to spend a cloudless September day. It made this journalist envious that when I was in school we never got to spend a day playing sports. What a lucky bunch.