BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Benefits of Membership The Alberta Soccer Association (Alberta Soccer) is pleased to be the province’s largest individual sports association, reaching over 88,000 members last year. We take pride in our sport and focus largely on the development of the game in Alberta, particularly with players, coaches and referees. It is our responsibility to provide support to our Member Districts, Clubs and Leagues in order to sustain a unified soccer community that works together to achieve success. This document has been developed to provide an overview of what it means to be a member of Alberta Soccer and what benefits each member has access to. Every region of Alberta is now represented as a member of the Alberta Soccer Association and it is our hope that together, we will strive to embrace a vision where the Alberta Soccer Association is “a centre of excellence for the game, providing opportunities for all players to reach their full potential.”
Why should you be a Member of the Alberta Soccer Association? The Alberta Soccer Association is committed to providing the best programs and services to our members. Creating a “centre of excellence for the game” does not simply refer to the conditions we provide on the field but also off the field to our members around the province. We have compiled this informational document to create clarity and understanding in relation to all the benefits that are available to our members. Alberta Soccer strives to be a leader in soccer programming and governance within Canada and it is our hope that this path to success instills a desire for all soccer organizations across the province to become a member with the Alberta Soccer Association.
Our Mission To provide leadership for soccer excellence in Alberta by fostering and promoting: • A strong infrastructure for sound governance (administration and communication) • Quality programs and services (competitions, referees, coaching, player development and volunteers) to safeguard the sport’s long-term prosperity
Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com
Where do my Membership Fees Go? It is important that our Members realize where their membership fees go with respect to Alberta Soccer’s operations. Below, you will find a graph that outlines the percentage distribution of the Alberta Soccer Association’s Budget from the past year. Note: The chart below represents an average allocation of Membership Fees over the past three years. Year to year budget actuals are slightly varied dependant on the programming for that year, sources of revenue, etc.
Allocation of Membership Fees
Referee Development 8.2%
Player Development 25.6%
Administration 28.7%
Coaching Development 16.9%
Youth Competitions 11.6% Senior Competitions 9%
*Administration: Board of Directors Expenses, Planning & General Meetings, Salaries (eg. Executive Director, Accountants, Operations etc.)
Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com
Structure of Soccer in Alberta For both youth and senior players, your local soccer club or local community association is a member of the local district soccer association. The local district soccer association is a member of the provincial association (Alberta Soccer Association), and the provincial association is a member of the national association (Canadian Soccer Association). Finally, soccer is governed internationally by FIFA who appears at the top of this hierarchy. This structure creates an avenue for your input to be heard at all levels of the soccer hierarchy. Issues of dispute are to be addressed at the most immediate local level first with appeal capabilities to the Alberta Soccer Association and even in certain situations to the Canadian Soccer Association.
FIFA
Canadian Soccer Association
Alberta Soccer Association
District Association Local Club/Community Association Player
Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com
Overview of Alberta Soccer Member Benefits Player Development o
Grassroots Programming (Festivals, Summer Camps, District Outreach)
o
Mini Stars Program (U9-U12)
o
Programming for Players with Disabilities (Soccability)
o
Provincial Teams Training Program (U13-U15)
o
FC Edmonton-Alberta Soccer Regional Performance Centres (U14-U18)
o
Parent Education Program
o
Camp/Academy Endorsement (to ensure minimum standards)
o
Player Releases
o
Exposure to Canada Soccer National Teams Programming
o
Facilitating the Implementation of the Canada Soccer Wellness to World Cup Long Term Player Development Model
o
Harmonized Player Development Pathway (Grassroots to Professional Soccer)
Coach Development o
National Coaching Certification Program
Canada Soccer ‘C’ License (replaces the Pre-B Assessment)
Canada Soccer Provincial ‘B’ License
Community Coaching Courses •
Active Start (U4-U6)
•
Fundamentals (U-8)
•
Learn to Train (U10 – U12)
•
Soccer for Life (U14 – Adult)
o
Coaching Course Registration/Management Online Platform
o
Coaching Course Hosting Support
o
Learning Facilitator Training
o
Mentorship and Apprenticeship Opportunities
o
Women in Coaching Development Programs
o
District Outreach Coach Development Programming
Referee Development Program o
Referee Registration Online Platform
o
Alberta Soccer Referee Development
“Look Sharp Be Sharp” Program
Assistant Referee Additional Training
Twice Yearly Refresher Courses
o
Access to Referee Courses (Mini, Youth, District)
o
Canada Soccer Referee Development Courses Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com
District to Regional Upgrade
Regional to Provincial Upgrade
Nomination to National List
o
Free Fitness Testing (Cooper Fitness Test and FIFA HI Intensity Interval Test)
o
Referee Educational Resources
o
Support Network for Issues or Concerns
o
Assessment Program
o
District Referee Assistant Program
o
Referee Development Committee
Competitions o
Access for Clubs to Youth and Senior Provincial Competitions (Indoor, Outdoor, Futsal)
o
Access to Sanctioned Tournaments (in and out of province)
o
Travel Permits (Local, National, International)
o
Access to Alberta Major Soccer League
o
Access to Canada Soccer’s Youth National Club Championships
o
Access to Canada Soccer’s Senior National Club Championships
o
Access to Canada Soccer’s Western Masters and Classics
o
Access to Canada Soccer’s Prairie Invitational
o
Access to Alberta Summer Games, Arctic Winter Games, Western Canada Games, Canada Games
Governance o
Appeals and Discipline Policy (consistent application)
o
Governance Policies for oversight of the Sport in Alberta
o
Dispute Resolution Process
o
Voice and Vote at Annual Meetings (via Regular Member Association)
o
Operational Support
Insurance Program o
Commercial General Liability (bodily injuries and property damage for participants, spectators or other members of the public)
o
Sport Accident Insurance (injury in sanctioned game or practice)
o
Travel Insurance (injuries on and off the field within Canada)
Access to reduced rate out of country travel insurance
Communication o
Enhanced Alberta Soccer Website (launched October 2013)
Access to Members Only Section on Website Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com
o
Quarterly Copy of the Alberta Soccer E-Newsletter
o
Advertising/Promotion/Media Releases
o
Innovation in Communication and Real Time Updates (Social Media, etc.)
Sponsorship/Partnerships o
Member preferred access to discount and special service offerings
o
Special Promotions for Members from our Corporate Partners at Alberta Soccer Events and Programming
Special Events o
Annual Awards Banquet 
All Members can nominate or be nominated for Awards

Awards include honorariums for further development in some cases
o
National Team Player Events
o
Special Ticket Access to Major Events (eg. FIFA Events, National Team Games, etc.)
For more information on Alberta Soccer Association benefits, programs and services, please visit us online at www.albertasoccer.com or contact the office at 1-866-250-2200
Member Benefits |www.albertasoccer.com