Amherstburg Soccer Club hosts house league assessment day

By Ron Giofu

The Amherstburg Soccer Club (ASC) has taken a look at some of the house league talent that will be featured this season.

ASC held an “assessment day” last Saturday at the Libro Centre’s outdoor turf field where players from the U8 division all the way through senior co-ed showed their ability. Now that players were scouted and evaluated by volunteer board members and coaches, the players can be placed on house league teams for the 2023 soccer season.

Nick Cacciato, president of the Amherstburg Soccer Club, said the organization will use the information gathered during the assessment day to assign players to their teams based on ability so that they can attempt to have balanced teams.

Cacciato acknowledged one team went 0-12 last season and the board wants to try and avoid seeing that happen once again.

“It’s quite a good turnout,” said Cacciato, of the assessment day.

Approximately 300 players turned out for last Saturday’s event. The U4 and U6 age divisions were not assessed due to their age and stage of their development.

There were five players assigned per team with action being three-on-three with substitutions throughout the 20-minute games.

The players were assessed on all of their soccer skills, from dribbling and shooting to passing and every other aspect of the sport.

“We have had a great crew of volunteers that have stepped up to help,” said Cacciato.

The adult co-ed league were a tremendous help, the ASC president added.

“It’s a community oriented adult co-ed league for sure,” said Cacciato.

Cacciato emphasized how thankful he is to the volunteers that have helped, as he said he wants to see the ASC get more involved in the community and thus far it is working.

Enrolment in the ASC is up by over 60 players thus far, said Cacciato, adding that enrolment continues through the end of May.

The Amherstburg Soccer Club are still aiming to boost enrolment in the senior and junior co-ed divisions, he stated.

The “assessment day” was “a perfect day for soccer,” he said of the sunshine and calm conditions. The ASC hopes for more of that May 23 when the house league season begins.

“As soon as the town gives us access to the fields, we start playing,” said Cacciato.

The season runs though Aug. 12, when the Day of Champions will be played.