Three PAC-10 Programs Earn National Ethics, Sportsmanship Award

Three local high school girls soccer programs were among 49 girls programs, and 79 high school boys and girls soccer programs combined, to be named recipients of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s (NSCAA) Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award, according to a press release issued by the NSCAA on Wednesday.

Phoenixville received the Silver Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award for earning no red cards and no more than five yellow cards throughout the season for the second straight year, while Upper Perkiomen, a Gold Award winner last year for earning no cards throughout the season, also received the award for a second straight year — this time as a Silver Award recipient.

The Methacton girls program earned the Silver Award for the first time this season.

Throughout the nation, just 19 boys and girls high school teams received the NSCAA’s Gold Team Ethics Award, while a total of 51 teams claimed the Silver Award. The Bronze Award went to nine teams, which is presented to teams that receive no reds and a maximum of 10 yellows.

In all, 79 teams received either the Gold, Silver or Bronze version of the High School Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes teams that exhibit fair play, sporting behavior and adherence to the laws of the game, as reflected by the number of yellow caution cards or red ejection cards they are shown by referees throughout the season.