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...with the Alberta Soccer Association
Issue 23 June, 2013
Important Dates Select Team Training Camps July 8—Aug 9, 2013 Senior SoccerFest Aug 30—Sept 2, 2013 Prairie Invitational July 23-28, 2013 Tier I to Nationals Aug 22-25, 2013
ASA Releases Strategic Plan The Alberta Soccer Association is pleased to release its 2013-2016 Strategic Plan.
which support and contribute to the overall philosophy and vision of the soccer community in the Province of Alberta. They are:
For the ASA to be successful in its vision for the future the Association will need a compre1. Programs and Services (Technical, Referees, hensive road map on “how to get there” – a pathCompetitions) way to success. This Strategic Plan for the 2013- 2. Governance and Leadership 2016 timeframe was developed with a long-term 3. Financial Stability vision in mind, and charts a course for success that is based on member surveys, a SWOT analy- 4. Organizational Development and Partnerships sis, as well as best practices among sports organi5. Image and Communications zations across Canada. The Strategic Plan is the critical first step in setting organizational goals, priorities and timelines. It also provides guidance to staff in developing business and operational For a Full Copy of the Strategic Plan, please visit plans, which support budgeting recommendathe Governance Section on tions and accountability. www.albertasoccer.com The ASA has identified five Strategic Priorities
Getting on Board with LTPD Subscription/ Submissions To sign up for ASA’s monthly newsletter or to submit a story, email communications@albertasoccer.com
A recent Survey conducted by the ASA showed that 41% of people in the Alberta Soccer Community have never heard of the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) model that provides the guidance for all of Alberta Soccer’s player and coach development programs. LTPD is a Canada-wide initiative that is a program for soccer development, training, competition and recovery based on biological age (physical maturity) rather than chronological age. It is player-centered, coach-driven and supported by administration, sport science and sponsors alike. Alberta Soccer has already implemented a number of programs that are guided by the LTPD plan including: District Outreach Program for Parents and Coaches (ASA Provincial Coaches travelling to districts to help teach LTPD principles) Community Coaching Courses Mini Stars Program (skill development for children in the Learn to Train stage (8-12 years old) A number of programs are also in development phases included but not limited to the following: High Performance League LTPD Implementation with CSA—Technical Leader Workshops, LTPD Messengers Competition Review Workshop—first quarter of 2014 with CSA REX Centres-geared towards Train to Train Stage in partnership with FC Edmonton Exploration of CSA Skills Centres Canada Wide—Learning to Train Stage
@AlbertaSoccer
For more information on LTPD, please visit:
Two Alberta Teams named BMO Team of the Week The ASA is proud to have two Alberta Teams win BMO Team of the Week. Calgary Blizzard Bayern U10 Girls and Scottish United U12 Girls have both taken home the honour this summer. We caught up with the teams to get their story. Blizzard Bayern is a girls U10 Tier A Team within Calgary Minor Soccer that was formed in September. In a short period of time, they have formed a formidable squad which has been a competitive force in a number of tournaments in Alberta as well as in the USA. The team currently sits in second in Calgary’s U10 Tier A Division. The girls display team pride whenever they play, exemplified by team cheers, posters or songs. five team cheers, several team posters and team songs. The girls formed such a strong social bond that sleepovers, play dates and other social events are very common for the team. The Bayern girls display such a high level of confidence and drive because they understand that their practices, team techs, SAQs will increase their technical ability and systematic understanding on the pitch. Coupled with the mentorship program with Blizzard Celtic, this has created such a positive 'little sister'/'big sister' environment that has allowed them to grow into strong leaders. The team is also committed to its community. It hosts quarterly bottle drives in a Calgary neighborhood and has assisted in the past in teaching the younger children below them in the program. Blizzard Bayern exemplifies everything a BMO team of the week/month should represent: dedication, success, growth, confidence, skill and most of all, fun! (By Jens Lipper, Coach of Blizzard Bayern)
The Edmonton Scottish U12 Girls team had a very rough start to the 2012-13 season. Their team manager Gina Mancini passed away from a heart attack at the age of 42 on the day after tryouts. "Mama Gina" was a loving and caring loud Italian mom to the girls. Losing Mama Gina was a huge loss to the whole team. Because the team consisted of girls that have played soccer for many seasons, they were a strong group who helped Fabiana make it through the loss of her mother. With the support from teammates and the coaches Fabiana had a strength in her that shone brighter than ever before. A trophy and nomination program was created as a legacy for Gina Mancini called the "Mama Gina - Trophy of Hearts". With the help of BMO, our Scottish United Girls soccer team can continue this legacy. This outdoor season, each player on EVERY Scottish United team will have the opportunity to nominate someone "outside" their team for doing something wonderful, something from the "heart". This could be a teacher, aunt, cousin, friend, someone who the player feels deserves to win. There will be 14-16 winners of this trophy- each season. The idea behind this trophy was to show 2 young kids how important their mom was to us and that she will not be forgotten. The BMO prize may be exactly what we're looking for to continue the legacy of Fabiana's Mother. To vote for these teams to win the BMO Grand Prize, please visit www.bmosoccer.com between August 5–19
Alberta Major Soccer League gets Digital for 2013 The 2013 AMSL season got off to a flying start on May 22, 2013 with a renewed commitment and enthusiasm for the league by all of those involved. The league’s high quality goes without saying and the 2013 season will aim to get others to take note. Media—traditional and new-will be instrumental in raising the profile of this league. The league already had its own website established last year, but given the demographics of the league, the ASA wanted to try a more mobile approach including the Digital Ambassador Program and a new iPhone app for schedules, scores and standings. The “Digital Ambassador Program” was created whereby each team has a Digital Ambassador who promotes and engages the general public about the league via Twitter. There has been an overwhelming response to the program, and for those who are following our Digital Ambassadors, they will notice the up to the minute score updates, pic-
tures from games and practices, and the general happenings around the league. All of our Digital Ambassadors our listed on the AMSL website (www.albertamsl.com) so follow now! The League itself has seen the resurgence of a number of teams including the Lethbridge FC Men’s Team and the Red Deer Renegades. Edmonton Green & Gold and Edmonton Victoria top the men’s and women’s league respectively one month into the season but we expect the race to the top to be as tight as ever this season. With multiple rain outs and players leaving for the Universiade, results and standings have without doubt been affected. We are hopeful that the sun makes a return for the remainder of the season. If you haven’t been able to get to an AMSL game yet this year, make sure you get to at least one, this league has definitely raised its game!
FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association announced the host cities for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s Wold Cup on June 2 in Toronto. Edmonton, along with Montreal, Toronto and Moncton will serve as host cities for the Tournament. The schedule has yet to be announced but all matches in Edmonton will be played at Commonwealth Stadium. Stay Tuned to the Alberta Soccer website for updates!
Canada Women’s National Team to Return to Edmonton! Edmonton and Commonwealth Stadium will host the Canada Women’s National Team on October 30 versus Korea Republic in a friendly match. Tickets go on sale publicly July 3 and are available at three different prices: $15, $25, and $35 via ticketmaster. Group Discounts and Family Discounts are also available. Information is available at www.canadasoccer.com
Alberta Soccer Association is Looking for a New Tagline!
AMSL Up Close Andrew Malcolm (@Malcs10) - Lethbridge FC How Long have you been playing in the AMSL? 7 years What is the greatest thing about playing in AMSL? Being able to play at a high level all summer with a great group of teammates. The league is full of tremendously talented players which makes every week and every game a challenge. What would you like to see for the future of AMSL? I would like to see the league grow in popularity. There are so many people interested in soccer in Alberta that don’t know much about the high quality of action that the AMSL provides. It would be great to for Alberta Soccer if more and more youth players used the AMSL as a learning tool or motivation to someday play in the league. What piece of advice would you give to kids who aspire to play in AMSL? Keep training hard, pushing yourself day in and day out, and realizing everyone isn’t going to be the superstar... focus on what your strengths are and how they can contribute to a successful team. What can soccer fans look forward to in the 2013 Season of the AMSL?
A very competitive league that will result in extremely tight standings and all teams will be battling and leaving it all on the field to get the points. Why did you sign up to be a Digital Ambassador for your team and the league? I have been involved with LFC and the AMSL for a number of years and realize the great potential of the league, so any opportunity to gain some momentum and support I think is huge for the league, Alberta Soccer, and soccer across Canada. What’s one cool thing people can look forward to with your Tweets? Lots of shout-outs for teammates and for supporters in our small community. Follow @Malcs10 and @LethbridgeFC!!!
“The Governing Body of Soccer in Alberta” ...Yes, we all know that’s what ASA is...but, what do we do, how do we inspire, what makes us unique, and what do we aspire to be? Create a Tagline for the Alberta Soccer Association!
Criteria:
Alesha Weicker (@aweicks8) - Northwest United How long have you been playing in the AMSL? I’ve been playing in this league for close to 10 years now. What is the greatest thing about playing in AMSL? The greatest thing about playing in the AMSL is that you get to play teams all over Alberta. My favorite parts about playing in this league would have to be the road trips. Travelling down to play in Red Deer, Calgary, and Lethbridge with your teammates that you normally only see on the training pitch and getting to relax and hang out with them off the field helps bring the team closer together and makes the group more enjoyable to play with. There is also a sense of professionalism to this league that separates itself from the local leagues within the province. What would you like to see for the future of AMSL? I would like to see more than just my mom coming out to watch the games. In all seriousness, it is great soccer and I wish we had more of a fan support. There are ex national team players, ex college and current college stars, as well as future up and comers in this league that make the game entertaining week in and week out that many soccer fans miss out on. What piece of advice would you give to kids who aspire to play in AMSL? Lately with our games, my biggest advice would be to buy a rain jacket. I would also add that if they have the goal and
desire to play in the AMSL, to work hard on their individual skills of the game because the AMSL is growing to be a more technically skilled league. What can soccer fans look forward to in the 2013 Season of the AMSL? They can look forward to very competitive soccer matches, quality goals, and top notch defending from all teams involved in the league. No team is going to run away with the league this season and there are going to be some very close games that will be decided by one goal. On any given day, an underdog team can beat a top team. That’s what makes the league so exciting to play in and be a part of. Why did you sign up to be a Digital Ambassador for your team and the league? I was volunteered to be a Digital Ambassador for my team and the league because it’s a quality league that often goes unnoticed and underrated. If I can bring a little attention to this league by just typing a 140 character message, then it’s the least I can do. What’s one cool thing people can look forward to with your Tweets? Some cool things people can look forward to with my tweets are inside looks at what our team is about along with some good jokes, funny pictures and updates on everything else going on in the Northwest world.
The slogan must be written in clear, concise English and reflect the vision and mission of the ASA. We are looking for a short, catchy slogan that is easy to understand and appeals to a wide audience. The Selection committee will evaluate entries based on originality, creativity, and relevance to the ASA vision and mission ASA reserves the right to refuse any slogan they deem inappropriate. By entering the contest, the winner grants the ASA exclusive rights to the winning slogan for use in any format The contest is open to all, with the exception of those involved with the contest (ASA Staff and Board of Directors).
Submission of entries: July 5 to September 10, 2013 The 5 best entries will be up for a public vote Online voting for the winner: September 15 to September 30 Announcement of the winner: October 6, 2013 Prize: 2 Tickets to October 30 Canada Women’s National Team Match in Edmonton Submissions to: communications@albertasoccer.com
Young Calgary Referee’s Perseverance Pays Off By David O’Neill Kevin Tupper, a young up and coming referee from Calgary is heading overseas in late June to referee in two international tournaments in Portugal and Spain. Kevin has big ambitions for his referee career, and will be using the experience gained in Europe to help him achieve those ambitions. We recently spoke with Kevin to find out how he found out about the tournaments and what experience he hopes to gain. How did you find out about the tournaments? “I found out about the tournaments through the Calgary & District Soccer Referees Association (CDSRA), and also through online advertising by the Tournaments Abroad service. I then contacted the tournament director in Italy, who seemed very keen to have more Canadians involved in the tournament.” How long did it take to apply and be accepted? “I applied in June, and by July I was on the short list for the first tournament (Iber Cup in Portugal). I was accepted by the end of the summer, and I then asked about the second tournament in Madrid, Spain. They were very good about replying promptly to all communications. Is there anybody in soccer refereeing who inspires you as a role model? “I think we have a great network of referees in Calgary, almost too many to count, who are always willing to offer little bits of advice here and there to help you. Drew Fischer, with his MLS achievements, the CDSRA and also Brian Wilkens of CMSA are all great
motivators and educators for the game. What has been your best referee experience to date, other than these tournaments? “I won the CMSA Youth Referee of the Year, but the opportunity to be a part of high level matches in various competitions and tournaments is always a good experience”. What kind of ongoing training do you do? “I have been continuing to work with the CDSRA in their monthly classes, and I have also looked for individual training from some of the senior referees in Calgary. How do you handle any negative comments in the games? “In minor games, it is easy to tune out some of the comments from the sidelines. In senior games, when some of the comments come from players, they do warrant a response, and I am usually fine in offering replies, as long as it is done with respect, and without taking things personally”. What is your ultimate goal as a referee? “I would like to referee at the National level, but really for refereeing the sky is the limit. There is a wealth of opportunity out there, and we need another Canadian FIFA referee, so having started at a young age, I am hoping I might have the time to achieve that level”.
Other traveling Referees Gabriel Loas (Calgary), has been appointed to the CSA All Star Boys competition in Laval QC, July 16 – 20. Mike Stacey (Big Country), is combining a family vacation with an invitation to referee Victoria Highlanders versus Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team, in a PCSL match in Victoria BC, on June 29th. Alberta Soccer wishes them both well for their travel and games, and will follow up with them on their return for future newsletter articles.
Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games
Alberta Soccer congratulates Kevin on his outstanding achievement, and will follow up with him on his return from Europe for a future newsletter article.
Provincial Referee Upgrade Course By David O’Neill A group of thirteen referees from around the province attended a Provincial Referee Upgrade Clinic, May 2526 in Calgary, AB. This was the first course of its kind since 2008, when the Canadian Soccer Association centralized the course and held it annually in Ontario. The CSA course is mainly for referees who have ambitions to be appointed to the National list of officials, but the provinces have other officials with the potential to be Provincial level, and who would referee within the province only. For this reason, CSA give provinces the option to run their own course, modeled around the centralized course material. The Alberta course was instructed by – Richard Sansregret, Garth Elgie and David O'Neill, all CSA National instructors, who have attended several FIFA Futuro courses over the last four years. Sansregret will be attending his third Futuro course, to be held in Kingston Ja-
maica, later this summer. The Provincial course combines theory and practical training, and is comprised of the latest educational material from CONCACAF and FIFA. Upgrade candidates have two years to complete the assessment and fitness components of the program, and if successful will qualify as Provincial class referees.
Mike Carson, Allan Johnston, Alison Sinclair, Melissa Sargent, Cody Bonkowsky, Anna Kopec, and Jessica Makepeace all volunteered their time as Referees for the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games on the June 22— 23 weekend in Devon. These referees all showed their true passion for the game and had a lot of fun refereeing!
Registration for Summer Soccer Camps Soccer enthusiasts are being offered a great opportunity to play and watch soccer this summer in Alberta through a unique partnership between ASA and FC Edmonton. With the goal of nurturing young players and supporters with passion for soccer, ASA will be hosting special soccer camps in Redwood Meadows, Fort McMurray and Three Hills. Each camp will be provided with a numbers of tickets as prizes for an upcoming FC Edmonton game, all players need to do is go online and register for a coming soccer camp.
The soccer camps will provide a great learning environment with qualified ASA soccer coaches on hand to demonstrate some of the many moves that make soccer a fun and exciting sport to both play and watch. There will also be many additional competitions to keep everyone active and involved. For further information or to register on one of these camps please visit www.albertasoccer.com and follow the player link to summer camps.
Soccability Summer Dates Calgary 9:30—11:30 AM Sunday July 14 Sunday July 28 Sunday August 11 Mount Royal University Soccer Field
Edmonton 9:30—11:30 AM Sunday July 28 Sunday August 11 Sunday August 18 St. Joseph’s High School Register Now at www.albertasoccer.com and click on Player Tab and than Players with Disabilities/Soccability ***Summer Program features a pre-match game at FC Edmonton’s August 18 match vs Atlanta Silverbacks
Timeout with the Coach By Ian Skitch The ASA Technical Department hosted a Spring 2013 Pre “B” Assessment program over two weekends. The Pre “B” Assessment is the pre-requisite stepping stone for entry into Part 1 of the National B Licence program. Thirty-four candidates from around the province came into Red Deer to take part in the educational Part 1 component. Part 2 was regionalized at Cedarbrae Community Centre in the south & Lister Field at the University of Alberta in the north. This provided coaches the opportunity to be evaluated closer to home. Overall, between north & south, 40 candidates completed Part 2 – a very healthy number indeed. Clearly coaches have begun to engage in the process of licensing in larger numbers which is a very healthy & encouraging sign. As a result, the ASA Technical Department has begun to put together plans for another Pre B Part 1 & Part 2 for September of 2013. Dates & locations to be announced very shortly with registration anticipated to open on PTS TECH by early July.
Thomas (Airdrie Technical Director) during Part 1. In the north Len Vickery (University of Alberta), Graham Wood (SASA Technical Director), Chris Spaidal (Grande Prairie SA Technical Director), Liz Jepsen (University of Alberta) & Sergio Teixeira (ASA Regional Coach) led the evaluations of Part 2. The south was led by Matt Thomas, Troye Flannery (CSWU Director of Coaching), Karl Oram (ASA Provincial Coach), & Peter Malakoane (Rangers FC Technical Director). This talented group of leaders created a challenging yet supportive learning environment the candidates enjoyed & respected. Special thanks go out to the organizations, coaches, & players who supported the course with facilities & players for the candidates to work with – they were all fantastic!
ASA Provincial Coach North Ian Skitch led the program & was skilfully supported by top coaches from across the province including Carole Holt (NAIT) & Matt
Ado Sarcevic, Red Deer City SA Technical Director Liz Jepsen, University of Alberta Pandas HeadCoach Troye Flannery, Calgary Southwest United Director of Coaching St. Albert SA Scottish SC Victoria SC
Provincial Training Program Selections Made The Alberta Soccer Association held their Regional and Provincial Trials in May and June respectively where provincial coaches were able to observe and make decisions on their final selections for the 2013 Select Team Program. The Provincial Training Program features age groups between U13 and U16 as well as Canada Summer Games Teams featuring players that were born in 1995/1996. Just under 300 very talented youngsters were selected to their respective age groups in the program and will now look forward to Training Camps and Competitions throughout July and August. Their names, clubs and hometowns can be found on the Alberta Soccer Website.
ASA Gets Social
In the last nine months, ASA has launched a number of Social Media Channels:
Check out our latest videos on our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/ SoccerAlberta
Check out the latest photos from ASA events and soccer events around the province: http://www.flickr.com/ photos/albertasoccer/
Finally, make sure to follow us on Twitter—we post a lot of real time updates on our feed and do a number of giveaways:
The following is the Upcoming PTP Schedule for the Summer
@AlbertaSoccer July 8—14 July 15-21 July 15—21 July 15—21 July 22—28 July 26—31 August 1—9 August 3—9 August 10—18
U15/16 All Star Teams Training Camp U13/14 Select Teams Training Camp U15/16 Boys CSA National All-Stars U15/16 Girls CSA National All-Stars U13/14 Boys & Girls Prairie Invitational Canada Summer Games Women’s Training Camp Canada Summer Games Women’s Competition Canada Summer Games Men’s Training Camp Canada Summer Games Men’s Competition
Edmonton Edmonton/Airdrie Laval, Quebec Thunder Bay, Ontario Calgary Edmonton Sherbrooke, Quebec Edmonton Sherbrooke, Quebec
Congratulations to all of the players selected and be sure to follow all of our Teams Results via our Twitter Feed @AlbertaSoccer
ASA Partners Up The Alberta Soccer Association, under its renewed strategic direction and clear vision has been working hard to partner up with like-minded companies/organizations who share a similar commitment to grassroots soccer in the Province of Alberta. We are proud to welcome four new Partners of the Alberta Soccer Association!
Booster Juice (Presenting and Fair Play Sponsor of the ASA Youth Provincial Championships)
Booster Juice has long been a supporter of grassroots soccer throughout Canada. Given their local Alberta roots, and their commitment to providing a wellbalanced, nutritional meal option for youth, Booster Juice is an ideal fit for Alberta Soccer programs. Along with being a Primary Partner of the Alberta Soccer Association, Booster Juice will be the Presenting Sponsor and Fair Play Sponsor for the ASA’s Youth Provincial Championships including Indoor, Outdoor and Futsal Championships.
Impact Canopies (Official Supplier of the Alberta Soccer Association)
The Alberta Soccer Association and Impact Canopies have entered into a new partnership through 2015. This agreement will position Impact Canopies as the Official Canopy, Flag and Banner Supplier of the Association over the two-year term. The Alberta Soccer Association is happy to announce this partnership given Impact Canopies clear commitment and enthusiasm towards the game of soccer, and grassroots soccer in particular. Impact Canopies is a trendsetter in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of instant canopies and instant canopy accessories. The Impact Branding Solutions include instant canopies, dome tents, promotional flags, table covers, signs, banners and more.
Sport Session Planner (Software Provider for ASA Programming)
The Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) has signed a partnership with Sport Session Planner (SSP) to use its software for all ASA programming. More specifically, the software will be used to develop sessions for the Provincial Training Program, Mini Stars, Grassroots Programming, and Coach Education Courses. SSP will help ASA to coordinate practical sessions with the Long Term Player Development documentation and sessions created by the ASA will be shared with coaches across Alberta.
House of Trophies (Official Supplier of the Alberta Soccer Association)
House of Trophies, based out of Edmonton was officially signed on to be the Official Trophy and Awards Supplier of the Alberta Soccer Association for the next two years. All medals, trophies, plaques and awards given out at ASA Provincial Championships, during the AMSL season and at the end of year banquet will be produced by House of Trophies.
Thank You to our Generous Partners!
The Alberta Soccer Association is pleased to announce that our website is in the process of being completely redesigned with the help of a local web design company. Pderas, an active web agency was brought on to complete the web redesign process in April and they are working hard through the summer months for a September launch of a new look and feel for the Alberta Soccer website. As the world becomes increasingly digital and mobile, the ASA understands the importance of having a user-friendly and mobile friendly website.