Staff
Young soccer players in Fort Frances wanting to get their kicks might get a chance to do it for a little longer this year.
Fort Frances Youth Soccer will hold its annual registration on March 8-9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre (a pair of late registration sessions also will be held there March 23-24 from 6-8 p.m.)
A questionnaire will be handed out along with this year’s registration form, which will inquire whether families who are signing their children up to play this season would be interested in a summer soccer program that possibly would run two nights a week throughout July and maybe even into August.
“We have considered for the past few years changing the format of the season and have considered different options, such as extending the length of the season and modifying the number of days per week,” said FFYS president Sarah Gould.
“We thought getting feedback from the players and parents themselves was the best way to really judge what direction we FFYS should take,” she noted.
“There are benefits and drawbacks to both in the board’s opinion. That is what makes going back to the players so important,” Gould stressed.
“There are many factors to consider in the summer, such as the end of school, family vacations, other community sports and events, and, of course, the amount of time commitment from kids and their families.
“We are also considering introducing new components to our soccer program, such as a year-end competitive out-of-town tourney,” Gould added.
“This [questionnaire] will help us to know what kind of interest there would be in organizing something along those lines.”
Youth soccer in Fort Frances, while not as big a draw participant-wise as a few years ago, still attracts one of the largest groups of players for any amateur sport in the region.
“Last season we had over 500 registered players, including the Soccer Squirts and Division 1-5, which covers ages ranging from four to 15,” noted Gould, who added with more players being involved means more of a need for volunteer help.
“It is the support we receive from the community and our volunteers that make our youth soccer program so successful,” enthused Gould, who lauded the effort of generous types like Caroline Spencer, who recently donated a bag of soccer balls to the FFYS and also has coached in the past.
Gould said the FFYS always welcome new members and feedback on the organization, and stated there are plenty of ways to get involved—from coaching and refereeing to helping organize the year-end wind-up.
For those who are leery about trying coaching for the first time, Gould wants them to rest easy.
“FFYS will pair less-experienced coaches or those with busy schedules with other volunteers, as co-coaches,” she explained.
“Coaching is also a good opportunity to gain volunteer hours for high school students,” she noted.
“Refereeing is a paid position, and clinics are available for beginners or those wanting to gain certification.”
To avoid any last-minute problems in organizing teams this year, Gould emphasized no registrations will be accepted beyond March 31, with the season scheduled to kick off May 3.
“The reason we do the registration early is to ensure enough time to get all the players registered in the database for insurance purposes, to make teams, and leave sufficient time to organize for coaches, and all the necessary pre-season meetings, etc.,” said Gould.
“So, no, I do not anticipate an issue as we typically do registration around Spring Break for students,” she added.
Plans are in the works to bring a special one-day interactive travelling road show called “Play Soccer” to Fort Frances in late June, just before the FFYS wind-up.
The show features various inflatable soccer playing areas which are set up by a 140×180 sq. ft. space that allows youth and adults to try their hand at various soccer skills.
Meanwhile, Gould is anticipating another successful season of minor soccer under the supervision of her board.
“As president of FFYS, I am very proud of the hard work the board does each year,” she remarked. “And the reward comes each spring when we hit the pitches and see the excited faces of kids eager for another summer of soccer.
“Soccer is a terrific sport for kids of all ages to be involved in,” she enthused.
“In addition to requiring very little equipment and being a low-cost sport, it promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, and our non-competitive style focuses on valuable skills such as teamwork and, most importantly, having fun.”
