With soccer season approaching fast Stettler Minor Soccer Association (SMSA) is in need of some volunteers who will take on the roles of coordinators for U4-U10 and a house league coordinator for the upcoming season.
"Once again, Stettler Minor Soccer Association is looking for volunteers and referees," said Krista Stewart, SMSA travel team coordinator. "We have to hold our Annual General Meeting every October due to our bylaws and realize that not everyone may be in 'soccer' mode, but this year the board is made up of all travel teams parents and we were unable to find anyone to take house league positions."
Stewart said that the SMSA must have a house league coordinator for the U4-U10 age groups and coordinators for each of these age groups in order to run soccer for these young children.
"U4 means under the age of four, U6 under the age of six and so on and this is all determined by the year in which they were born, so children being born in 2013 can start playing soccer," said Stewart. "Our U4 program usually has roughly between 50 and 70 kids, while U6 and U8 are the big age groups with 60-80 and U10 usually drops back to around 50."
Without coordinators, 200 children would not be able to play soccer unless volunteers are willing to come forward.
"No position is terribly time consuming if all positions are filled," said Stewart. "The house league coordinator organizes sponsorship and ordering of t-shirts, besides organizing the wind up, giving equipment to each age group coordinator and corresponding with parents and coaches."
According to Stewart, each age group coordinator finds coaches, divides the children into teams, sets up an orange schedule and hands out equipment to the coaches.
"Volunteering in one of these positions is also a great way to get a feel for soccer as your child advances into the higher age groups, but all we have now is a U10 coordinator," added Stewart. "We also desperately need adult and child referees this year."
Alberta Soccer Association will be holding two referee clinics in central Alberta in the spring of 2016 and SMSA will shoulder the cost for volunteers to take this course.
SMSA also pays all referees and linesmen throughout the season for each game.
"There are weekend tournaments in central Alberta and volunteers will be asked if they would like to work at those games too," continued Stewart. "The longest game is 90 minutes and the pay for the longer games goes up accordingly."
Children must be turning 14 this year in order to attend the referee courses.
The games this season are from Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. every night.
"Lastly, we always need coaches for the younger age groups and luckily enough over the last few years we've had some awesome high school students and young people step up and help out with these age groups even though they have had no children participating," continued Stewart, who feels that volunteers would not need a deep well of soccer knowledge to coach the younger age groups, as SMSA have books available and older coaches who are willing to help and guide.
"Some of the most enjoyable times for me as a parent have been watching and listening to my children and their team mates on and around the soccer field," said Stewart. "Please, please take the time to allow yourself that same privilege with your son or daughter."
Registration for the upcoming soccer season will take place between Feb. 22 and 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Stettler Recreation Centre.
Contact Stettler Minor Soccer at their SMSA Facebook Page to volunteer, or get in touch with Krista Stewart at 403-741-9733 or Melaine Cheater at 403-741-7875.