Newsletter

 2022 Spring Newsletter 

After two years, our outdoor soccer season is up and running. We have a total 471 players registered in Fort Saskatchewan Soccer for this outdoor season. This is up by over a 100 registrations from the 2019 outdoor season. Since our last season there have been lots of changes to our program for both indoor and outdoor. They are exciting changes that will help our program grow and the players will learn stronger development skills.

Changes 

In May of 2021 Fort Saskatchewan Executive made the tough decision to withdraw from the District of Tri-County Soccer. The Fort Saskatchewan Executive felt this change was needed for the viability of our soccer program. In mid-September of 2021, we got confirmation from Alberta Soccer to join Edmonton Minor Soccer association as part of the North Zone. It will take some time for the executive to learn the ropes but we are so excited to be part of the North Zone. 

The next Change is the transition from Timbits to Junior Arsenal. Alberta Soccer Association came out with the grassroots soccer program a couple of years ago, and has been slowly transitioning ALL communities within Alberta to adopt the grassroots program. This is a station rotation festival style play. There are 4 stations where each group of players work on each skill for 15 minutes per station. There is general movement, coordination, soccer technique and small sided games.              

This is so EVERY child gets to touch the soccer ball as much as possible. If you watched a U7 game 3 years ago. It was most likely one player running across the field for 30 minutes with 10 other players running after them. Alberta Soccer feels that in past years as the players developed they were not learning the basics of soccer because on average one child did not touch the ball more than 4-6 times during a game. This is not good for the growth and development of the individual player, and it leads to frustration once they hit the older age groups as they cannot compete during a game the way they should, and they eventually quit playing soccer altogether. This program is NOT OPTIONAL. There are certain requirements that EMSA needs to meet to obtain their district licensing which is required to be able to send U13 and up teams to provincials. This is one of the requirements. 

For this year we are using up the extra Timbit jerseys for the Junior Arsenal program we have stored in the Equipment shed. We understand the mixed matched colored Timbit  jerseys are not ideal, but we felt it was a waste of money to throw out or donate  that many jerseys. For the upcoming indoor season and going forward white Arsenal warm up shirts will be provided for the junior players, they will be able to keep them the same as they do for the Timbit Jerseys. 

In past years the U9 program has been a completely in-house Fort Saskatchewan program. This year we have entered our teams in the EMSA North league. This is what all other soccer communities within EMSA North do. As an executive board we feel this gives the teams more variety of opponents and better prepares them for U13 and up when they start playing league games throughout EMSA. We have also to the best of our numbers divided each team by birth year and gender. This is to ensure the majority of the team stays together throughout the years. They will learn to grow as a team and know how everyone plays, growing the team stronger year after year.

Reminders 

This year we have 17 teams from U9 - U19 participating in league play and over 230 Junior Arsenal players. We have not had this many teams in 6 plus years. We understand soccer in the Edmonton area has expanded to over double. We are over the moon excited about this but this means some quick decisions may result in trial and error or they may be good decisions. Please keep in mind, every single Executive Committee member, coach, assistant coach and team manager are volunteers. They have families, full time jobs and most likely have children in soccer as well. We do what we do because we love it and want to see all kids have fun and play and learn solid soccer skills. Please if you have a complaint, wait 24 hours and then follow through with the chain. The chain would be your coach, then the age appropriate program director, then the vice president. If there is any abuse towards a coach, assistant coach, executive board member then discipline action may apply.

While getting to your practice or game please be mindful of where you are parking, if you need to drive. If you are within walking distance, please do so. Please note bylaw will be out and they will ticket people who are illegally parked. Also please be mindful of all our soccer players who are entering and exiting the parking lot. 

Fields

Unfortunately, at this time there is a national paint shortage. No community in the Edmonton area can secure line paint. This being said no practice fields will be lined at this time. Games fields are our first priority and will continue to be until such time as we can procure paint.    

Fundraising

This year we did not add on a fundraising fee to your registration. In mid-May we will be participating in Raffle box which is a 50/50 draw done completely online. You purchase your ticket online and pay by Visa or MasterCard. We are asking for everyone to share on their social media and through email. Please share multiple times and over the course of the raffle box campaign. An email will go out once it's set up with the specific details. 

Arsenal Jamboree

June 18 will be our complete day of celebrating soccer on Taurus field!

9 am to 2:30pm:

 U3 - U7 Soccer Jamboree

3pm- 4:30: Exhibition game #1: team known VS U15 girls Arsenal tournament team

5pm- 6:30: Exhibition Game #2: we will be Inviting NSU and another premier teams to face off

6:30pm- 7:00pm- Opening Ceremonies

7pm- 8 pm- U9- U11 Arsenal All Star players

8pm- 9 pm- U13- U19 Arsenal All Star Players 

We will have a concession, bouncy Castles, face painting, 50/50’s, liquor basket raffle, etc. An email will go out closer to the date with concessions prices, prices on bouncy castle tickets etc. We will be looking for lots of volunteers to make this day a success.

Arsenal Summer Camps

We will be holding three summer camps (three weeks for July and Aug and four weeks for Sept) run by our U11-U19 program director/ Technical director Ryan Weise along with support from volunteer coaches over July, August and September. The age groups are from U9- U19. The cost will be $85.00 per July and August camp and $100 for the Sept camp. Go to our website www.fortsasksoccer.ca for more information.

One last thing, please remember that when you are on and off the field you are representatives of the Fort Saskatchewan Arsenal. This includes players, parents, coaches and executive committee members. Please let's be good sports and be respectful of the opposing teams, players and referees.

I sincerely hope that everyone has a great season!

Thank you,

Kelly Yanch 

President Fort Saskatchewan Soccer