Canada Soccer Futsal Canadian Championships

This past weekend, Canada Soccer hosted the Futsal Canadian Championships in Calgary, Alberta. Saskatchewan was proudly represented by Unity FC on the men’s side and Saskatoon Green & White on the women’s side, both entering the tournament as Sask Cup Futsal Provincial Champions.

Unity FC opened their tournament in dominant fashion, defeating Zamyad FC North Vancouver (BC) 8–1 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Saskatoon Green & White faced a tough opening match against Sporting Montreal FC (Quebec), falling 6–0.

On Friday, Unity FC took on the Winnipeg Pioneers (Manitoba) in a hard-fought battle, coming away with a 4–3 victory to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Saskatoon Green & White faced adversity early in their quarter-final against the Fredericton Picaroons Reds (New Brunswick), trailing 4–0. Showing incredible resilience, they mounted a remarkable comeback to win 5–4 and advance to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Unity FC met the defending champions, Atletico Gatineau (Quebec). Despite a strong effort, they fell 6–2.

Saskatoon Green & White carried their momentum into the semi-finals, defeating the Winnipeg Pioneers 4–1 to earn a spot in the National Championship match.

Unity FC bounced back in the bronze medal match, defeating the host province’s Edmonton Rangers (Alberta) 7–5 to secure the bronze medal.

In the championship final, Saskatoon Green & White once again faced a Quebec opponent, Montreal FC. Despite a determined effort, they fell 4–0, earning a well-deserved silver medal.

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association congratulates both Unity FC and Saskatoon Green & White on their outstanding performances and for representing the province with pride.

Sask Cup 11-a-side

Registration for the 2026 Sask Cup 11-a-side Tournament, taking place from June 12-14 in Regina, opens April 15th and will remain open until May 15th.

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.

Member Assistance Program Grants

Deadline: Midnight Wednesday, April 15^th

Eligible only to SSA members in Good Standing.

The MAP Grants supports member organization’s efforts to increase the number of participants, expand sport and organizational development opportunities and strengthen local capacity to grow and promote the game of soccer in Saskatchewan.

Learn more about the MAP Grant on our website and if you have any questions, please contact Darcy McLeod, Coordinator of Member Services at 306-975-0870 or by email at d.mcleod@sasksoccer.com

Membership Renewals

Renewals are now overdue, please complete the renewal form and submit payment to ea@sasksoccer.com.

Regular membership: $150

Associate Memberships: $100

Saskatchewan Soccer Association Submission Manager

Connected

To strengthen relationships and foster meaningful conversations, SSA will host Monthly Technical Meetings with Member Organizations.

These sessions are designed to share updates on SSA and CSA projects, hear your perspectives, and support early collaboration on your initiatives.

The meeting link is provided below and was also shared in a previous email to all MO representatives.

Connected | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

Technical Tuesday Speaker Series

The Prairies Premier League Website is Now Live

We’re excited to share that the Prairies Premier League schedule and official website are now live!

This marks a historic step forward for soccer across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario, as the league officially kicks off its inaugural season this May. The PPL provides a high-performance, semi-professional platform that bridges the gap between youth, university, and professional soccer.

Visit the new Website Here.

Prairie Premier League - Club & Community Showcase

Founders Movement “This is YOUR League”

Bring your club, families, and community together for an unforgettable semi-professional matchday experience in Saskatoon. The PPL offers a powerful platform to celebrate your club, inspire your players, and showcase your identity in front of a growing soccer audience.

Featured Match Opportunities (Saskatoon – SMF Field)

Choose one or multiple matchdays to spotlight your club:

May

· May 10: EXCEL Male vs Forza – 7:00 PM

· May 23: EXCEL Male vs Bonivital – 8:00 PM

· May 24: EXCEL Female vs Bonivital – 9:00 AM

June

· June 7:

o EXCEL Female vs QC – 11:00 AM

o EXCEL Male vs QC – 2:30 PM

July

· July 3: EXCEL Male vs Thunder Bay – 8:00 PM

· July 4: EXCEL Female vs Thunder Bay – 7:00 PM

· July 11:

o EXCEL Male vs FC Manitoba – 11:00 AM

o EXCEL Female vs FC Manitoba – 2:30 PM

· July 16: EXCEL Female vs Lucania – 7:00 PM

Premier Club Experience – $2,500

Your Club. Your Night. Your Stage.

Position your club at the heart of the PPL experience with a fully integrated matchday activation:

Club Recognition & Visibility

· Official Club Night themed around your organization

· Club banners displayed prominently at the venue

· In-game recognition during match announcements

· Featured promotion across PPL social media channels

Exclusive Access & VIP Experience

· Free entry for all members wearing club gear

· Reserved seating section for your supporters

· 5 VIP season passes for club leaders or special guests

Player & Youth Engagement

· Player walk-out experience with PPL athletes

· Halftime showcase game for your U7 team (4v4, 10 minutes)

Community Impact

· Create a memorable experience for families and players

· Provide free access to high-level semi-pro soccer

· Strengthen club pride and community connection

Why Get Involved?

This is more than a game—it’s an opportunity to:

· Inspire the next generation of players

· Elevate your club’s profile across the province

· Engage your members in a professional matchday environment

· Be part of building a new era of soccer through the PPL

Shoutout to Kindersley Soccer for hosting an excellent coaching clinic April 11–12!

It was a great opportunity to connect with local coaches from Kindersley and surrounding communities, sharing experiences, learning from one another, and continuing to grow the game together.

Thank you for the warm hospitality. We’re looking forward to connecting with more communities over the next few weekends!

2026 Referee Season Open for Registrations – To be used for all referee registrations.

Preparations for the outdoor season are under way. Match officials represent a vital part of the game. Please encourage all returning referees to head over to your Member Organization’s RAMP portal and register if they have not done so already. Referees have a very important role in sport and having a trained pool of referees is vital to the success of your local programming.

The new season for registering referees through the 2026 Referee Season is now available and will remain open for the 2026 calendar year.

A kind reminder that all referees 18+ must upload a current Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check at the time of registration.

If you need to submit a Referee Registrar Report, you can find it on our website here.

REMINDER: The 2026 Referee season will not be active until the Member Organization activates it; this can be done in the season settings.

RAMP Season Set Up Tutorial: RAMP Registration System Admin Tutorial

What if not enough match officials are returning?

The time to recruit more participants and book a referee clinic is now. Head over to the Saskatchewan Soccer Referee Courses page for more information. Future referees are required to complete The Entry Level Referee Course Online Module via Smarter U (link accessible on the webpage and also via the individual Ramp account) before registering for the one day in person session. If your Member Organization has any questions, please contact Octavian at o.iliuta@sasksoccer.com.

Entry Level Referee Course Online Modules

As of 2024, Canada Soccer has launched the new updated Entry Level Referee Online Modules. This has 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 $40 for $2026 and $50 in 2027.

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 at o.iliuta@sasksoccer.com.

Community Referee Education Sessions

SSA will be offering Laws of the Game Refresher online education sessions (via Zoom) to all Saskatchewan Soccer registered referees. Sessions will be approximately 1-1.5 hours and will focus on several exciting topics spread over the course of four sessions. We will explore and learn together on Laws of the Game 2025-2026 Revisions, including the Goalkeeper 8 second release. You are welcome to attend one session that fits your schedule.

Sessions take place, March 24, April 1, April 15, and April 23 with a 7:30 p.m. start time.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested, please register here. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to access the session of your choice.

Green Whistle Campaign

Over 80% of the new referees that took a Referee Course in 2025 were under the age of 18.

As the Indoor season, with tournament and leagues is in full swing, a kind reminder to all participants regarding proper behaviour, and displaying a positive example, for a Positive Game Time environment. Emotions do come out, words in the moment hurt, and Referees are Human.

Referees are essential to the participant’s experience and advancement of the game. They deserve our respect and a supportive, abuse-free, environment. You can make a difference; always treat them well and thank them for their contributions every game!

If their whistle is Green, they are Under 18!

2026 Female Referee Clinic

The SSA is pleased to announce the graduation of 27 newly certified Entry-Level Referees. The April 11, 2026 Female Referee Clinic was instructed by Shukwia Tajik (CSA Women’s Elite Referee Program), with support from SERP Referees Ella Kupser, Anna Crump and Liam Burgess, as well as IDEA Coordinator Jennifer Wood.

The group demonstrated exceptional potential through classroom interactions and on-field practical.

We anticipate their contributions to the game as they gain experience, progress and impact future generations.

Ninety-two per cent of the graduates are Under 18, with a large majority being 14 and 15 years old. If their whistle is Green, They are Under 18.

Empower HER Voice. Everyone’s Game.

Indigenous Community Sport Development Grant Program

The spring intake for the Indigenous Community Sport Development Grant, which supports communities in delivering quality, organized sport programs for Indigenous youth across Saskatchewan, is now open.

Spring 2026 Deadlines:

April 30th – North, Lakeland, Rivers West Districts

May 31st – Prairie Central, Parkland Valley, South East, South West, Saskatoon, Regina Districts

Funding Available

Grants typically range from $1,000–$5,000 per initiative annually. The maximum amount available is $5,000 per initiative.

What types of Programs are Supported

The grant is designed to support organized community sport programs, especially those that:

-Increase participation of Indigenous youth in structured sport.

-Support new sport programs or expand existing ones.

-Introduce skills camps, team formation, leagues, or competition pathways.

Who Should Apply

Organizations or communities developing or delivering sport opportunities for Indigenous youth. Applicants in Saskatoon and Regina may apply directly to Sask Sport, while rural/northern/remote communities should contact their District for support and deadlines. The map for the Sport, Culture, and Recreation districts can be found here.

Program Information & Forms

Grant guidelines and application forms are available HERE.

Walking Soccer Win

LDSA has launched a successful Walking Soccer Program after a try-it event last spring partnering with SSA. Soccer is “Everyone’s Game”

“Our participation numbers started with just nine players for our soft launch at the end of April 2025. The first game had 16 players, and by the end of the fall season, we had 22. By the end of the winter season, we were just shy of 40 participants. One of the biggest compliments we had as organizers was on the last day of the season. Every single person who came up to us said they didn’t want it to end and couldn’t wait until September. We ended up extending the season by another five weeks until the end of April.

We didn’t just start a new sport in Lloydminster; we started a community. When we hosted our regular tournament, we had so many of our walking soccer players come out and show their support. It was incredible to have so many people under one roof to support our beautiful game, something that hasn’t been done since before COVID.

A quote from one of our players, Lois, sums it up perfectly:

“I and others playing genuinely appreciate you committee members pulling ‘walking soccer’ together to try! I’m sure it has made me five years younger, even though I’ve only watched soccer before! Way more fun than walking around. The social aspect is so important, and it’s encouraging to seniors to get moving. It’s the most fun you can have with a pinnie on.”

2025-2026 Indoor Registrar Report

The final 2025-2026 Indoor Registrar Report, and registration fees are now overdue.

If your organization received new registrations since the last registrar report in December, please complete the registrar report as soon as possible. The form for this report can be found on our website here.

Please send completed reports to n.strueby@sasksoccer.com.