Soccer News - Summer 2016

For the fourth consecutive year, the Wolseley Spartans U-14/16 soccer team took home the championship trophy at the Vibank Snake Slayer Invitational Tournament, held on Sunday, May 29 in Vibank.

The Spartans began their day at 9:30 am, with a 6-1 victory over Kipling. Carter Parker and Ryland McCall took on scoring duties during the Kipling game.

The 12:30 game saw them defeat the team from Stoughton with a score of 4-2. It's noteworthy that the Spartan's winning goal against Stoughton was scored by Jackson Baran, the only team member who had moved up from Wolseley's Under 12 team to join the Spartans for this tournament. Jackson will surely be a player to watch in the future! Other goals against Stoughton were scored by Tanner Baran, Ryland McCall, and Carter Parker.

The two victories placed the Spartans at the top of Pool A, so they went on to the semi-final match where they played Broadview, who had placed second in Pool B. Carter Parker, Tanner Baran, and Ryland McCall each scored once, securing a 3-0 victory over Broadview. The Spartans were off to the 5 pm final versus Indian Head.

The final game saw the Spartans victorious, thanks to a single goal scored by Ryland McCall. The Indian Head team was gracious in defeat, sharing with the Baran family that they were impressed with the skill and coaching of the Spartans, when players from both teams stopped for a treat at the Dairy Mart in Indian Head. Now that's sportsmanship!

The Spartans are made up of players and coaches from both Grenfell and Wolseley.

Participating in the Snake Slayer Invitational were: (back) Coach Amelia Thompson, Nicholas Weinzierl-Dahlman, Sam Reid, Anna Thompson, Carter Parker, Nick Douan, Jackson Baran, Coach Jay Reid, Levi Tarr, Coach Troy Kyle, (front) Cain Kyle, William Reid, Liam Tarr, Ryland McCall, Tanner Baran, Kadmiel Obispo, Brandan Cameron, and Lexy Gilbertson.

For full details on the upcoming Sask Summer Games, check out their website.

Mark Up Your Calendars! - Huskies and Cougars Release 2016 Schedules

As part of the Canada West University Athletic Association, both the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan soccer programs will be taking to the pitch in September and below are the links to the full schedules.

UNIVERSITY OF REGINA COUGARS

The University of Regina Cougars are set to play University of Fraser Valley at home on September 10th.

The Cougars will also host a non-conference game against the University of Winnipeg on Aug. 19, before heading to Edmonton for a trio of exhibition matches. Head coach Bob Maltman will lead his troops against NAIT on Aug. 23, Grant MacEwan University on Aug. 24, and the Alberta Pandas on Aug. 25 in preparation for the regular season.

For more details on the Cougars' upcoming season, click here.

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN HUSKIES

Women
Coming off the most successful season in the program's history, the Huskies Women are looking to start their season against Trinity Western on home turf on September 10th, followed by a bout with the University of Fraser Valley on September 11th.

For full details on the Huskies Women's schedule, click here.

Men
Coming off of last year's 6-3-3 record, the Huskies Men will start their 2016 season on the road versus the University of Calgary Dinos on September 3rd and finish the weekend on the road against the Mount Royal Cougars.

For full details on the Huskies Men's schedule, click here.

LAKELAND COLLEGE RUSTLERS

The SSA will share more details on the Rustlers schedule as it becomes available.

Another Successful Year of Grassroots Workshops

Lara Schroeder, SSA Coordinator of Member Services was back on the road in April with Year 2 of the Grassroots Workshops Program. It was a very successful year, meeting with the following Member Organizations: Estevan Senior Soccer (04.20), Regina Soccer Referees Association (04.21), Broadview Soccer (04.27), Stoughton Soccer (04.27), Kindersley Soccer, (04.30), Langenburg United Soccer (05.02), Springside Minor Sports (05.09), Meadow Lake Youth Soccer (05.25), Meadow Lake Senior Soccer (05.26), Qu'Appelle Valley Soccer Association (05.29), Wolseley Soccer (05.30), Whitewood Soccer (05.30), Moosomin Soccer (06.01), Montmartre & District Soccer (06.02), Lanigan & District Soccer (06.06), Eastend Soccer (06.14), Shaunavon Soccer (06.16).

That now brings the grand total of Grassroots Workshops conducted to 49.

As well, SSA was able to pilot a Grassroots Workshop Technical program delivery with Soccer 101 clinics delivered in Melville, Moosomin, Shaunavon and Wawota, and Entry Level Referee clinics in Ile-a-la-Crosse and Yorkton. The clinics were offered at a reduced fee to participants and were very successful. We will continue to offer technical programs through the Grassroots Workshop program in the future.

We continue to develop programs and services that will greatly benefit the membership as a result of feedback received. Be on the lookout as they are released!

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Thank you to our sponsors for all their support!

Blyth Elected to the Sask Sport Inc. Board of Directors

SSA Past-President Leslie Blyth was recently elected to the Sask Sport Inc. Board of Directors at the June 11, 2016 Annual General Meeting in Regina.

CONGRATS LESLIE!

Elected in 2013, Jeannette Kuc, also a Past-President of the SSA, finished her term with the Sask Sport Inc. Board this year.

For a full list of Sask Sport Inc. Board of Directors, Click here.

2016 Sport Chek National Championships Venues

Four provinces - Newfoundland Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick - have been selected as hosts for the 2016 Sport Chek National Championships. As hosts, the provincial soccer associations will stage both the men's and women's competitions during the Sport Chek National Championships from 5-10 October 2016.

The Sport Chek National Championships are Canada's premier amateur soccer competitions, with provincial and territory winners pitted against each other at the senior and youth levels on the national stage.

"The Sport Chek National Championships encourage excellence in our sport, from the youth to senior levels in amateur club soccer," said Canada Soccer President Victor Montagliani. "Our host provinces and host cities will once again prove to be excellent ambassadors and hosts for our game in Canada."

In 2016, Newfoundland Labrador will host the two senior competitions in St. John's (men's Challenge Trophy and women's Jubilee Trophy), Ontario will host the U-18 Cups in Vaughan, Prince Edward Island will host the U-16 Cups (venues to be confirmed), and New Brunswick will host the U-14 Cups in Moncton.

Next year marks the 94th edition of the senior men's competition (since 1913) and 35th edition of the senior women's competition (since 1982).

Eastside Soccer the 1st Clu b to Affiliate with Club Excellence

Club Excellence and Saskatchewan Soccer are proud to announce that Eastside Youth Soccer Association, an e ntity of Saskat chewan Youth Soccer Inc (SYSI), is the first SSA Member Organization to declare itself as a Club Excellence Affiliate.

Club Excellence is the only national multi-sport certification program that is designed to recognize clubs/associations/organizations that invest in building capacity to meet and exceed basic operating principles.

Congratulations Eastside!

The Coaches Association of Saskatchewan will be hosting

Core Training for Coach Developers in Saskatoon, SK from February 4 -5 and 26, 2016. These events will provide Learning Facilitators, Coach Evaluators and Master Coach Developers with an opportunity to complete their Core Training requirements.

Coach Developer candidates must complete rigorous training, and this training is now being made consistent across Canada. The following training is required by all Coach Developers:

Core Training: Provides Coach Developers with the skills to perform their role.
Content-specific Training (Sport or Multi-sport): This includes micro-facilitation and/or micro-evaluation which gives Coach Developers an opportunity to practice delivery with their peers.
Co-delivery: This is a chance for the new Coach Developer to practice with real coaches alongside an experienced Coach Developer.

Once a Coach Developer has all of the above training pieces they are considered "TRAINED".

Evaluation: Evaluation confirms that the Coach Developer is capable of certain abilities which are deemed important in the training of coaches. Once a Coach Developer has been evaluated they are considered: "CERTIFIED".

FOR MORE INFORMATION

SSA OUTDOOR PROVINCIALS

The 2016 Soccer for Life 11-Aside Outdoor Youth Provincial Championships was held in Lloydminster, SK on July 1-3, 2016.

For full results, click here.

Missed the action? Check out the album on our Facebook page:

2016 S4L Outdoor Youth Provincials Pictures

The SSA extends its appreciation to the Lloydminster Drillers Soccer Club for their efforts in putting on another stellar event for all our teams, spectators, and staff in attendance. You went the extra mile to ensure the event went off without a hitch!

THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER A TEAM IN THE SENIORS/MASTERS/CLASSICS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!!

Information on the 2016 Outdoor Provincial Championships is available on the SSA website.

The 2016 Soccer for Life Outdoor Seniors/Masters/Classics Provincial Championships will take place on:

August 5-7 in Lloydminster

Entry Forms and Rulebooks for these competitions are available on the website with the following deadlines:

Friday, July 15, 2016 - Entry Deadline for Soccer for Life Senior and Masters/Classics Provincial Championships
Sunday, July 31, 2016 - Roster/Transfer Deadline for Soccer for Life Senior and Masters/Classics Provincial Championships

In addition, the SSA would like to inform potential participants in the Soccer for Life Women Masters Provincial Championship that this competition will be open to players 30 years of age and older as of January 1, 2015. This change from 35 years of age and older aligns to the change from Canada Soccer in the age classification for the Regional Women Masters Championship. As this is the first year of this change, please refer to the Rulebook for important information relating to the participation of individuals between 30-34 years of age. If your team is interested in entering the Soccer for Life Women Masters Provincial Championship, please contact Dave Nutt, Director of Soccer Operations, at 306-975-0826 or [email protected] in order to ensure an accurate understanding of these new rules.

The SSA thanks the Lloydminster & District Soccer Association for their willingness to host this summer's competitions and looks forward to welcoming teams from across Saskatchewan!

For more information on the Soccer for Life Outdoor Seniors/Masters/Classics Provincial Championships or Saskatchewan Open Cup, please contact Octavian Iliuta, Coordinator of Competitions and Referee Development at 306-975-0894 or [email protected] .

Kevin Holness and the game recognized during the SSHF 51 Sports in 52 Weeks

As part of their 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is featuring 51 Sports in 52 Weeks. From July 10th to 16th, the feature sport will be the game of soccer. The Hall of Fame will be taking a look at one special Soccer Inductee Kevin Holness! Features will be included on their Facebook page and on Twitter on Wednesday!

GET CONNECTED WITH THE SSHF - On Facebook * Twitter * Website *

This week, help us celebrate the game by posting pictures on your Facebook Pages and on Twitter, and tag us:

On Facebook :

@Saskatchewan Soccer Association

On Twitter : @SaskSoccerAssoc

AND Use the Hash Tags:

#PrairieProud

#LoveThisGame

#SaskSoccer

#SoccerWeek

The SSA Finds Its Way To Sandy Bay, SK!

It's not often that you can say you've literally hit the end of the road, but recently SSA instructor Chris Chisholm did that! Tucked away in Northern Saskatchewan is Sandy Bay, which was the location of a two day SSA School Camp, June 8th and 9th, at Hector Thiboutot School. Sandy Bay is located 450km Northeast of Prince Albert and has a population of roughly 1200 people; the only way to travel further North from Sandy Bay is by water or air!

With the assistance of Physical Education teachers Odean Thompson and Eric Lewis, Coach Chisholm took over the Physical Education class for the two days, teaching over 150 children soccer from grades one through ten. Additionally, Chisholm ran a Goalkeeper clinic and a session with the community's Recreation Director in the evenings. Thompson, originally hailing from the Caribbean and making stops along the way in England and Toronto, has now been the High School PE teacher at Hector Thiboutot for a couple years. He is excited to get some form of regular soccer happening in Sandy Bay and area, as he has played soccer at a high level his whole life. Thompson will also be the Head Coach of the Team North Male Soccer team for the Sask Summer Games taking place this summer.

Throughout the camp the enthusiasm of all the kids was fantastic, and everyone was very friendly in welcoming SSA to the community!

Thank you to Sandy Bay for having us, and well done, coaches and players!

Athletes Weigh in on the Youth Survey

This past weekend at the 2016 Outdoor Provincial Championships, participating athletes were eligible to complete a survey about their experiences in soccer. SSA is immensely interested in the opinions and view points of young soccer athletes and considers obtaining this feedback integral to the delivery of

quality participation experiences to these members. In exchange for completing the survey, athletes received a t-shirt and when all athletes from one team completed the survey, they were entered in a grand prize draw of a pizza party for the team. 375 athletes shared their thoughts about soccer and we look forward to sharing those results with you in the future.

Congratulations to the Valley United U14 Boys team for winning the grand prize draw of a team pizza party! Thank you to everyone who weighed in!

Ten Local Players Added to Huskies and Cougars 2016 Rosters

Click here to read more about the 2016 U of S Huskies Women's Soccer Team Recruiting Class.

Click here to read more about the 3 players added to the Cougars 2016 Women Soccer Team Roster for 2016.

La Loche Uses Soccer to Strengthen Community

We were thrilled, in May, to be contacted by La Loche Minor Sports, who were interested to start a soccer program in La Loche. This season, La Loche has 80 athletes registered and provides each athlete with cleats, shin pads, and jerseys. Recently, students from La Loche Community School partnered with reporters from Saskatoon StarPhoenix to produce a video thanking the world for their support. The video specifically mentions the impact that soccer, among other things, is making in the community. Watch the video here.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Adult Survey throughout May and June. Response exceeded expectations with 948 surveys completed - meaning approximately 1 in 5 Adult athletes across 14 Adult Member Organizations gave feedback on the survey. We're proud to provide athletes with a platform to share their thoughts on their soccer experiences and look forward to sharing the results with you when data analysis is complete.

Congratulations to the winners of the prize draw: Fredrick Juma, Jessi, Charlotte Brockman, Zoha Mansoor, Cody Weise, Nancy Fetch, Scott Kohlenburg, James Daigneault, Kristina Chamney, Sarah (Fitbit ChargeHR), Marc Butikofer (Fitbit ChargeHR), Allan Wolinski (Fitbit ChargeHR) and Mike Biette (iPad Mini).

Special Olympics Regina Hosts Invitational for Teams From All Over the Prairies

Submitted by: Samantha Stom-Anthony

Well, the 2016 edition of the Raiders Prairie Soccer Invitational has come to an end. Eighty-three athletes and 20 coaches fielded teams ready to compete...and compete they did!

The weather on the weekend was gorgeous. Twenty-seven degrees, sunny, with a gusty breeze. Perfect soccer weather. The Mount Pleasant Soccer Park was a perfect venue for our event. It boasts plenty of trees for shade and a secure location where athletes and caregivers can relax and let the mingling and friendship building commence. Again this year, both of our Saturday meals were catered right at the park, so transportation requirements for the day were minimal, which, in turn, maximized the athletes' ability to meet and talk with other athletes, parents and caregivers. This also provided plenty of time for Dairy-Anna, the mascot from SaskMilk, and Cooper, the mascot from the Sherwood Co-op, to hang out with the athletes. The mascots were definitely the belles of the ball!

A huge shout-out goes to the coaches and volunteers who work with these amazing athletes every day. Your dedication, encouragement, support and tireless advocating on behalf of our Special Olympians makes the biggest difference in their lives. Thank you for all you do...on the soccer field and behind the scenes. Your hard work does not go unnoticed!

Now, down to the serious business of the tournament. In the Competitive Division, this year's Champions are the Edmonton Tigers, winning the gold medal game by a score of 1-0 over the Regina Raiders. The Westman Cougars from Brandon won the bronze. The Competitive Division welcomed the additions of the Westman Cougars and the Edmonton Ice (all-female team) this year. The Developmental Division also added a new team this year, the Saskatoon Ice, who were the Champions. The Regina Raiders 2.0 fought their way to a silver medal.

The tournament went so smoothly...and that is due largely to the amazing team of volunteers we had helping us pull off this high-quality event. We thank everyone who pitched in and lent a hand over the course of the weekend as we could not have done it without all of you. Thirty-four volunteers came together for this year's Raiders Prairie Soccer Invitational - WOW!!!

Two very special, patient and gentle people who need to be recognized are the officials who worked the entire tournament. Simon Shannon, Abbey Shannon, Youssef Omar and Dylan Carvalho did an amazing job, not only of officiating, but of teaching our athletes how to perfect their soccer skills. Our athletes learned a lot from them over the course of the weekend.

The Regina Police Service team, led by Officer Claudio Serrano, came out to play both of our Developmental Teams...although they did need a little help from the mascots. Dairy-Anna scored four goals! Holy Cow!!! - Literally! These games did not affect the teams' standing in the tournament. Additionally, RPS officer Shane Hoedel's son, Ethan, measured the speed of the athletes' shots using the radar gun. It was very exciting and the male winners were Brent Toner (Edmonton Tigers - Competitive Division: 88 kph) and David Meakin - Developmental Division: 75 kph). The female winners were Eileen Mooney (Edmonton Blue Ice - Competitive Division: 69 kph) and Kelly McRuvie (Saskatoon Ice - Developmental Division: 50 kph).

This year, the KC Holgate Memorial Awards were introduced to recognize athletes that demonstrated sportsmanship, true grit and the qualities of an MVP. KC, brother to Cody Holgate of the Regina Raiders, was an avid athlete who demonstrated these qualities and many more. KC died on June 3, 2010, in a tragic skateboarding accident. The Holgate family selected the winners based on their observations over the course of the weekend. The three awards were presented in each division. The Competitive Division winners were: Jordan Deren - MVP (Edmonton Tigers), Craig Bray - Sportsmanship (Westman Cougars), and Eileen Mooney - True Grit (Edmonton Blue Ice). The Developmental Division winners were: Heather Otterbein - MVP (Saskatoon Ice), Tammi Stevens - Sportsmanship (Saskatoon Ice), and Ryan Uleryk - True Grit (Raiders 2.0).

Our tournament sponsors, as always, were extremely generous, with athlete prizes and monetary support. Each athlete left the tournament with at least four prizes to take home with them. Thank you to our major sponsors: SaskMilk, Sherwood Co-op and the KC Holgate Foundation. Sixty-four additional supportive sponsors came on board to help make this an even more amazing event.

Finally, thank you to the Special Olympics Regina organization. Without their support and encouragement, this tournament would not have been possible. Thank you specifically to Mike Penno, Rick Sanden and Abigail Frasz for all they do!

Thank you! Thank You! Thank You! We'll see you next year at the Raiders Prairie Invitational. Save the date: June 3 - 4, 2017!

SSA High-Performance Development Centre Signs 2016 Graduation Class

July, 2016

The SSA High Performance Development Centre is proud to announce the graduation and post-secondary commitment of eight grade twelve and grade eleven senior players this month. With a continued success in signing 100% of program graduates we wish the following athletes nothing but the best in their future career and soccer endeavors.

When asked about the importance of having HPDC members transition into Collegiate, National or Overseas opportunities, SSA High-Performance Stream Manager Coach Terrol Russell responded by saying that, "the five to six days a week of training for upwards of 10.5 months each year is more than just training athletes to become students of the game. They are also being trained to transition into the next stage of their life and become our future leaders. After years of learning off-field skills in areas like time management, resume development, etiquette, critical thinking, hard work, and how to recover and build on life mistakes, HPDC athletes have shown the ability to not only more readily transition into other playing environments, but also have the ability to survive the rigors of life in a post-secondary environment. In the case of Taylor Bubnick and Jacqueline Altrogge, spending four months of their senior year of high-school living in Europe and playing for Swansea Football Club has prepared them to take on tasks of any size."

Listed below are this year's senior graduates and Collegiate signings:

Taylor Bubnick (Aurora) - Taylor returned from a stint with Swansea City Football Club in Swansea Wales in May. Although she would have enjoyed staying in Europe, Taylor has decided to study and play at Trinity Western University located in Langley, British Columbia. Taylor plans on studying Human Kinetics, and potentially Education. Planning on bringing her positional versatility to the team based on her diverse playing experienceas well as her improved speed of play from her experience overseas, Taylor has challenged herself to reach even higher levels of achievement in the coming years. Best of luck, Taylor.

Taneil Gay (QC)- Taneil will be attending the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Having been previously identified at provincial competitions and having been an impact player for her Regina Club, Taneil's deceptive speed and desire to make an offensive impact will bring her success at the Collegiate level. Taneil is looking forward to her next challenge and we wish her all the best in her next challenge.

Kayla Kaip (Humbolt) - Kayla has been training with the SSA Centre of Goal Keeping Excellence under Coach Zlatan Dautbegovic for the 2015-2016 indoor and outdoor programs. Her commitment and dedication was shown by her effort to drive in from Humboldt for 6:45am sessions (over an hour drive) twice per week and on weekends. This dedication has been rewarded with an opportunity to play for the Red Deer College Queens starting in the fall of 2016.

Rikki Logan (QC) - Rikki will be attending Quest University in Squamish, BC. Rikki says she chose Quest because of its excellent learning environment and quality athletic program. Rikki has participated in several SSA High Performance programs, culminating in her participation in the Martin Academy South Satellite High Performance Centre in 2014 and 2015. She is excited to be Quest's goalkeeper and make an impact on the park. Best of luck, Rikki!

Chelsea McConnell (Hollandia) - Chelsea will be attending the University of Saskatchewan in the fall where she plans on studying Kinesiology. Chelsea says she is grateful for all she has learned in the past year with the High Performance Development Centre, and hopes to bring her knowledge of the game to the Huskies soccer team. Keep up the excellent work Chelsea, we wish you nothing but the best.

Sarah Ochitwa (Aurora) has been a part of the High Performance Development Centre since 2011 and is the program's first signing to an NCAA Division One Institution. Recently committing to Illinois State University for the fall of 2017, Sarah plans on pursuing a degree in exercise science and continuing to become a physician's assistant or a physical therapist. She is looking forward to being an impact player and aspires to be on the starting line-up, as well as become an All-American. We know Sarah will make us proud.

Lauren Petras (SUSC) - Lauren's tenacity and hard work has paid off as she will be playing for the Cougars at the University of Regina in the fall of 2016. While playing she will study Gerontology Kinesiology and looks forward to the challenge of University level soccer in the CIS. Developed as a universal player who has the ability to play virtually any position, she foresees an opportunity to utilize her speed, strength and strong technical ability in the Cougar's backline. We wish Lauren nothing but the best in the future.

Keara Quinn (SUSC) - Keara will attend the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta this fall, where she plans on being an impact player as well as a leader on and off the park. A player that can use both feet equally Keara has been a member of the High Performance Development Centre in Saskatoon for multiple years, and is thankful for the experiences she has had with the program, including training with the Swansea Ladies team. Good luck, Keara!

Jacqueline Altrogge (Hollandia) - After two trials with the Club in late 2015, 'JJ' moved overseas and lived in Swansea, Wales while playing for the Swansea City Football Club from February to May 2016. Jacqueline is a very dedicated athlete and due to her intense senior year of high-school, she has decided to take a well-deserved break before signing with her chosen post-secondary institution for 2017. Planning on pursuing a degree in psychology or kinesiology, over the next year JJ will work weekly in HPDC and continue building her touch, accuracy, and power on the ball. We wish Jacqueline luck in her future endeavours.

SSA GRANTS AVAILABLE TO MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Coaching Development

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) provides funding to registered Saskatchewan coaches looking to improve their coaching proficiency through professional development opportunities. Priority will be given to coaches wishing to obtain a Canadian National Certification (i.e. Provincial B-License, National C-License, National B-License or National A-License or National Coach Certification Program Part A, Part B or Competition Development); however, applications for other professional development opportunities may be considered on a case-by-case basis should funding remain in any given year. Funding can be used to help offset the cost of the following:

Course/Clinic Fees or Registration
Travel, Meals and Accommodation while attending to Course/Clinic

For all inquiries about the Professional Development Grant please contact the SSA Office at 306-780-9225.

2016 Coaching Development Application Form - Due October 31, 2016.

Female Development

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) offers funding for female participants in Saskatchewan in the following areas:

Community Coaching Courses and Clinics
Referee Courses and Clinics
Coaching and Referee Developmental opportunities

For all other inquiries about female development please contact the SSA Head Office at 306-780-9225.

2016 Female Development Application Form - Due October 31, 2016.

Referee Development Grant

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) offers funding for Referee Development in Saskatchewan in the following areas:

Referee Development Courses and Clinics

For all other inquiries about Referee development please contact the SSA Head Office at 306-780-9225.

2016 Referee Development Application Form - Due October 31, 2016

OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCCER OPERATIONS

Hello SSA Members!

After missing out on the last edition of the Soccer News, I am very pleased to be able to provide you once again with some thoughts "From the Desk of the Director of Soccer Operations".

May and June are soccer season in Saskatchewan! With fields around the province full of participants from their Active Start through Soccer for Life, this is one of my favourite times of year! As the playing season winds down for another summer, on behalf of the Saskatchewan Soccer Association, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of people who make soccer possible. From the volunteer coaches and managers, to the boards, committees and staff who spend countless hours organizing teams, leagues and tournaments, and never forgetting the players, parents and guardians, our sport could not happen without your hard work, dedication and support. Thank you!

With the soccer season in full swing, it has also been an excellent time to connect with our membership. Lara Schroeder, our Coordinator of Member Services, has been a true road warrior, trekking across the province to provide Grassroots Workshops. In addition to connecting, the Grassroots Workshops have proven to be an excellent learning opportunity. They provide us with a chance to better understand the many successes, but also the challenges that our Member Organizations face in delivering and growing the game. From this learning, significant work has already been done to develop support resources for our members, including Club Excellence guides and templates to support the development of organizational best practices, " Sideline Superstars: Parent's Guide to Supporting Players" , " Playing with your Kids " poster and SSA Technical Videos .

More resources are also under development, including SSA-recommended game structures for each age group, season and league structures, rules templates, and play recommendations, to name a few. It is envisioned that in the near future, SSA Member Organizations will have access to the tools necessary to support their success and ensure the best possible experience for their participants. If there are tools and resources that would help you to enhance the soccer experience for participants in your community, please let us know so that we can ensure an accurate understanding of your needs.

What I'm watching...

In addition to the abundance of international soccer flooding the airwaves during the UEFA EURO 2016 and COPA America Centenario, there are a few other clips that have caught my attention recently.

The following video comes to us from Will Cromack, a passionate youth soccer coach from Vancouver and Director with Play Better, a movement focused on changing the rewards in youth sport:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8sR5y7Y664

I found the video incredibly inspiring and a great reminder of the power of sport. I am also very pleased to announce that the SSA has partnered with Play Better to establish Coaches' Boot Room chapters in Saskatoon and Regina. The Coaches' Boot Room is an opportunity for coaches from all Member Organizations and Entities to come together for an informal presentation on a topic of interest followed by a social. For more information on the project, please click here .

To become a member of the Play Better Coaches' Boot Room and ensure you receive notification of future events please click here for Saskatoon and click here for Regina . For those that are interested but unable to join us for in person meetings, we hope to be able to record each presentation in order to share with a wider audience.

Aligned to the above, the following video is from Saskatchewan's first Play Better Coaches' Boot Room, which took place on June 21st in Saskatoon and featured Dr. Adam Baxter-Jones, a Professor in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L3SCkOyt3A

Originally from the UK, Dr. Baxter-Jones' research areas relate to the growth, maturation and development of children and their relationships to body size and body composition. In the UK he worked with both the English and Scottish Football Associations in the area of talent identification, and, in particular, examining the role of physical growth and maturation on talent selection and sport participation during childhood and adolescence. He is currently part of a Scientific Advisory Group to the English Premier League Growth Study, which aims to establish a systematic set of procedures for the measurement of growth and maturation, educate practitioners on growth and measurement, and assist clubs to develop strategies to account for individual maturational differences. This work has led to the hosting of the "world's first bio-banded tournament" by Southampton FC last year, which was shared in a previous edition of "From the Desk". In case you missed it:

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150825-southampton-bio-banded-tournament-2646125.aspx

Thank you to all of the coaches who made time to attend the presentation. As we continue to grow this project, if there are topics of relevance and importance to the soccer community, please let us know so that we can prepare for future Play Better Coaches' Boot Rooms.

Yours in soccer,

Dave Nutt

Director of Soccer Operations

ATTN: Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Athletes

Have you heard about the CTV Athlete of the Week?

Every week, CTV News features local athletes as our Athlete of the Week, showcasing the talents of athletes from across the province. We're reaching out to our local High Schools, Athletic Associations and other sport organizations to encourage you to nominate some of your own as an Athlete of the Week! It's easy to do!

Visit your local CTV News website (CTVRegina.ca or CTVSaskatoon.ca) and click the 'Athlete of the Week' button on the right hand side of the page.
Fill out the information.

From all the nominations gathered each week, we then select an Athlete of the Week who will be featured in CTV Morning Live, CTV News @ Noon, CTV News @ 6 and CTV Late news, PLUS they'll be entered to receive a monthly prize pack from Subway, valued at over $100! Remember, not only does the athlete get exposure, but the organization does too! So what are you waiting for? Let your athletes know that they could be the next Athlete of the Week!

RESPECT IN SPORT FOR ALL MEMBER ORGANIZATION AND ENTITY COACHES, MANAGERS AND TEAM PERSONNEL

Respect in Sport is REQUIRED...No Exceptions!

And WHY?

Provincial-wide MANDATE from SaskSport Inc., to all Provincial Sport Governing bodies for ALL sports, ALL TEAMS in Saskatchewan - FAQ about the RiS Provincial Certification Initiative
Everyone deserves a safe, abuse-free, and bullying-free environment
Reduce the risk of liability for YOU, as a volunteer - Education is power against instances of negligence, abuse, and harassment

Your RIS number must be provided upon registration with your member organization.

All Coaches and Team Personnel must possess Respect in Sport (RIS) certification prior to participating in their first soccer related activity, therefore, please note that participation in local games, tournaments, and access to travel permits is prohibited without RiS.

Certification is FREE and only takes approximately 3 hours. Click here to begin.

Certified, but lost your RIS number? Click here .

Contact Udo Baecker for further information regarding RiS Certification.

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SEND US YOUR PICTURES!!!

From the sidelines, at the end of a game, to the finish of a great practice, we want to share your pictures and stories! Submit yours today to [email protected]

We want to hear your soccer stories!

Please email us at [email protected]!

Saskatchewan Soccer Association | www.sasksoccer.com