Pel茅 called it the beautiful game. It is the sport played by more people world-wide than any other, and it is the most popular participation sport in Canada. Its World Championship is being played this year in Brazil and it is expected that half the planet will be watching. And if your kids aren鈥檛 playing it yet, they are missing out.
Soccer is returning to Jasper again this May for five to 18 year olds and it is time again to sign up. Jasper Minor Sports, the 100 per cent volunteer organization that coordinates fun for Jasper鈥檚 youth, is looking for players and coaches to make this year鈥檚 soccer season the best ever. There is room at every age group, and there will be a lot of new things to get excited about this year.
As usual the kids will be divided by age this season. In the U6 group鈥攃hildren born in the years 2008 and 2009鈥攖he youngsters will get a gentle introduction to controlling a ball with their feet through ball familiarization, games and fun. Parents will lead these groups. You don鈥檛 need a strong background in playing soccer, just a lot of enthusiasm. And new this year, the children of group leaders in the U6 and U8鈥攂orn in 2006 or 2007鈥攁ge groups will receive free registration.
In the young age groups, girls and boys will play together, but when they enter U10鈥攂orn in 2004 and 2005鈥攖he girls and boys will get their own coaches. It is also in this age group that the children start to visit the Edson Soccer Tournament on Father鈥檚 Day at the end of the season.
From the U12 group onwards, players will be able to play in league games, usually with our next-door neighbours Edson and Hinton. They will also compete in tournaments as far away as the Camrose Night Classic. This is a fun tournament where most of the games are played in the night under the big lights. It is very popular with the older players and Jasper boys and girls have a good success record in this tourney.
New this year is also the newly created webpage for Jasper Minor Sports: www.jasperminorsports.org. Parents, as well as team players, can go here to look up everything they need to know about their soccer season: from 鈥渉ow to register my child?鈥� to 鈥� is my soccer practice canceled today?鈥� to practice plans and travel schedules, everything can be found on this site. Check it out and participate in our Soccer World Cup Challenge.
With soccer players from every corner of the globe living and working in Jasper, we have some amazing talent right here on our doorstep. Some have already stepped forward to work with the kids, and Jasper Minor Sports is looking for some more experienced, innovative and passionate soccer players to come out and coach at all age levels.
Soccer has caught the hearts of children, youth and adults all over the world. Come and participate in the beautiful game here at home.
聽Traudi Golla
Special to the 51暗网
