Three Saskatchewan Players Named to Inaugural Women's Futsal Canadian National Team

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association is incredibly proud to announce that Erica Hindmarsh, Jade Houmphahn and Jadyn Steinhauer all of Saskatoon SK Impact FC have been named among the first 14 selected to represent Canada’s inaugural Women’s National Futsal Team.

They’ll be competing at the upcoming Concacaf Championship from April 28 - May 4 in Guatemala CIty, Guatemala where they’ll face off against Costa Rica, the United States, and either Honduras or Nicaragua. The competition will determine the region’s first-ever women’s futsal champion and award two qualification spots to the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025.

Erica, Jade, and Jadyn join Jerson Barandica-Hamilton of Saskatoon who was previously named Assistant Coach of Team Canada. These three ladies are the first players from Saskatchewan to be named to a Canada Soccer National Team since Jay Tomchuk in 2020.

Women’s futsal is on the rise in Saskatchewan, and we’re just getting started.

Member Organization AGM

Is your Member Organization hosting their AGM in the near future?

Let us know! We would love to attend your Member Organizations AGM to bring greetings and assist where necessary.

If you are hosting your AGM in the near future and would like an SSA representative to attend please let us know by emailing s.porter@sasksoccer.com

Sask Cup Rural

Registration for the 2025 Sask Cup Rural Tournament, taking place from May 23rd to 25th in Humboldt, is now open.

Teams must register through their respective Member Organization to ensure they are placed in the correct division and have the necessary approval to participate in the event.

To register, please use the following link: Saskatchewan Soccer Association: Website by RAMP InterActive

For any questions or further information regarding the Sask Cup, please contact r.gibney@sasksoccer.com.

Green Whistle Campaign

The Green Whistle campaign is dedicated to establishing a respectful and appropriate environment for all referees, with a specific focus on referees under the age of 18.

In competitive and recreational environments, during competitive games, adults may lose perspective, which can have detrimental effects on participants, particularly those under the age of 18.

Recent Referee clinics in SK have successfully trained 84 new referees. 88% of them (74 referees) are under the age of 18.

Given the crucial role of referees under the age of 18 in ensuring the enjoyment of the sport for all, it is imperative that we collectively assume a strong responsibility to protect and safeguard them.

If their Whistle is Green, they are Under 18

Saskatchewan Soccer Association Policy Updates

To align with Sask. Sport expectations Saskatchewan Soccer Association has updated our suite of policy offerings. Apart of this alignment will see Sask Sport assume the management of the independent complaints intake and management process.

Many of the policies have remained unchanged and have been updated cosmetically only. There is a chart on the policies homepage identifying which policies have been updated cosmetically and which have tangible changes.

The discipline process has been updated but will remain similar in nature. Field of play incidents will remain under the jurisdiction of the SSA or member organization managing the game/event.

All other complaints will be filed through the online form as before. The complaint will then be triaged and assessed by ITP Sport & Recreation and will be categorized. Complaints of a less serious nature will be assigned to a complaints resolution officer who will solely manage and complete the judicial process including issuing a decision.

Complaints of a serious nature will be assigned to a case manager who manage the intake of information from the complainant and respondent and will then appoint an external discipline panel to issue a decision.

If you have any questions about the new discipline or appeals processes please contact Steven at s.porter@sasksoccer.com

Entry Level Referee Course Online Modules

Starting in 2024, Canada Soccer has launched the new updated Entry Level Referee Online Modules. These have replaced the SSA Google Classroom approach aligning entry-level coach and referee development at the National level. The access keys for the online modules (purchased by each participant) will cost $30 for $2025 and $50 in 2026.

All eligible Referee Entry Level Clinic participants (minimum of 14 years and older) are required to complete The Online Training via Canada Soccer’s SmarterU platform before moving forward with a seven-hour in-person session to complete referee certification.

The Referee Course Registration Guide is outlined here. The Referee Entry Level Clinic process via Smarter U is available via this link. The Small Sided Referee /Futsal referee process is described here. All information is also available on the SSA Website on the Referee Courses page.

For more information on referee courses or to schedule a practical session in your community, please contact Octavian Iliuta – Manager of Referee Development @ o.iliuta@sasksoccer.com.

Dear Members,

We are pleased to provide you with an update following a productive meeting involving Hassan Mowgli (Director of Operations), Matthew Hnatiw (Manager of Boys Excel Program), and Mike Vitulano, the Youth Male National Teams Coach. The purpose of the meeting was to review and exchange feedback on the March 2025 SK/MB National Team Players Intake, with a focus on Saskatchewan athletes.

In March 2025, Matthew traveled with eight emerging talents from Saskatchewan to attend the SK/MB player intake (QC United, FCR Regina, SUSC, Lakewood, Eastside, Alliance, and the EXCEL Program). Based on their performance, two players from Saskatchewan were identified as top emerging prospects among the 22 players in attendance. Their respective clubs and coaches have received individualized feedback from Mike Vitulano, including a detailed plan aimed at accelerating their development.

Two key development gaps were identified:

Frequency of Training – Athletes require more consistent, high-quality training.
Preparation Leading Up to the Intake – Better preparation timelines and structure are needed.

To address these areas and maximize outcomes for the next 2011/2012 Male athletes' intake—tentatively scheduled for February–March 2026 in Saskatoon—we are implementing a structured approach starting this summer.

July 2025 - Primary ID Camp

A Primary ID Camp will be held by the end of July 2025. This camp will be invite-only, based on recommendations from club technical leadership across Saskatchewan and EXCEL managers Identification. Approximately 25–30 players will be selected to attend.

October 2025 to February 2026 - Monitoring and Preparation Phase

From this camp, a smaller group of players will be selected for ongoing monitoring in their club environments and EXCEL training opportunities. These players will receive individualized recommendations to:

Increase the frequency and intensity of training
Engage in additional high-performance opportunities (Playing-up, collaborative prospect camps, EXCEL training sessions...)
Prepare strategically for the February–March 2026 intake

This forward-looking approach allows us to:

Identify intake prospects well in advance
Provide clubs and SSA with adequate time to prepare athletes
Ensure players arrive at intake in peak condition
Collaborative approach to players development

Further details, including registration information and the exact dates for the July ID Camp, will be shared by the EXCEL Managers in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the development of Saskatchewan's emerging talent.

It’s been an exciting and productive stretch for the Saskatchewan EXCEL Program as we continue to create high-performance opportunities for our athletes across the province.

SK/MB Canada Soccer Integration Camp – 2010 Boys

From March 19th to 21st, eight players from Saskatchewan were selected to attend the SK/MB Canada Soccer Integration Camp for 2010-born players. These athletes represented clubs from across the province, including QC United, FCR Regina, SUSC, Lakewood, Eastside, Alliance, and the EXCEL Program.

This event provided both players and coaches a first-hand look at the high standards expected in a national team environment—highlighting professionalism, organization, intensity, and the overall frequency of training and competition.

Vancouver Whitecaps Showcase

From March 26th to 30th, both our EXCEL Boys and Girls teams traveled to Vancouver to participate in the Whitecaps Showcase. Competing against top-level teams from across the country, our players gained valuable exposure and insights into the level of play required to succeed beyond provincial borders.

BTB Tournament - Edmonton

Shortly after the Vancouver Whitecaps Showcase, both teams competed in the BTB Tournament in Edmonton, where they advanced to the semi-finals. The experience further emphasized the importance of continuing to push our development standards as we aim to close the performance gap with other provinces.

These recent opportunities have played a vital role in our ongoing mission to elevate Saskatchewan’s soccer landscape and ensure our players are prepared for the next level.

Same Game Challenge

An initiative aimed at empowering sport leaders with knowledge and tools to tackle gender inequity and make Canadian sport more inclusive for girls and women.

The Same Game Challenge will run from May to December 2025.

You can learn more about the program here.

Apply online here before April 20, 2025.

If you have any questions about the program or your application, please reach out to samegame@womenandsport.ca.

New Canada Soccer eLearning Modules

Canada Soccer is excited to announce the launch of four new eLearning modules

Idea - Canada Soccer designed to support our membership in fostering inclusivity, cultural awareness, and accessibility within soccer communities across Canada. These modules are part of our commitment to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.