Hamilton Sportsmanship Award Night

by Rachel Harris, CASL Intern

More than 400 CASL players were recognized during halftime of the Carolina RailHawks game on Saturday, May 31. This represented our largest showing to date for the awards night at the RailHawks game, with nearly two-thirds of all winners being present at the game and overflowing the CASL Tower. We had to spill over into neighboring sections to accommodate all of the winners, their families, and the many coaches who came to support these outstanding players. 

thanks @jlavender24 for the picture of your players and their awards!

waiting for the masses

This past Saturday night, we celebrated the CASL Hamilton Sportsmanship Awards Night, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, as the Carolina RailHawks took on the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The night was a complete success as more than 400 CASL Hamilton Sportsmanship Award winners came to pick up their certificate and souvenir items pre-game and participated in the halftime parade. 

Halftime parade of champions

Cici's Pizza donated 100 pizzas to the night

As a server of FREE pizza (thanks to CASL sponsor CiCi’s pizza for donating 100 pizzas!) at our CASL tent during pre-game festivities, I was lucky enough to hear a lot of positive feedback from parents on the night. Several parents thanked us for making the night special for their child and emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship, a core value of CASL. We would like to specially thank Dick’s Sporting Goods and WakeMed Health and Hospitals whose sponsorship of this award helped make the event special for these children. CiCi's Pizza also helped add value to the night by providing FREE pizza to all the winners and their guests.

Each Sportsmanship Award winner received a free ticket to the RailHawks game, an official Hamilton Sportsmanship Award certificate, a CASL/Dick’s Sporting Goods folder, a CASL “Good Sport” wristband, CASL pencils, a Dick’s Sporting Goods coupon, and a CiCi’s Coupon. Cleats, CASL's mascot, was on hand to help congratulate each of the winners. We also had a large representation of CASL staff, coaches, and board members who were all present to help celebrate these good sports.

The Hamilton Sportsmanship Award is named for Dr. Pat B. Hamilton, who greatly assisted the process of establishing and developing youth soccer in Raleigh and North Carolina. His daughter, Cindy Hamilton, attended this Spring 2014 Hamilton Night, and has consistently attended our past Hamilton Award Nights, to help perpetuate the spirit of sportsmanship in CASL and youth soccer. 

Check out a list of all of this year’s winners HERE.