The registration deadline for the upcoming season is March 31, and the 100 Mile House & District Soccer Association (OHMSA) is saying now is the time to sign up.
Parents of boys and girls aged five to 18 can download forms online or pick them up at Jean’s Place in 100 Mile House.
“Let’s not wait too long,” says Werner Heine, OMHSA director of communications.
“It really helps us organize [when people register early]. It helps us line up the coaches, teams and team sponsors.”
As of April 1, registrations will only be accepted if there is room on an existing team, and a late fee will apply.
Heine notes if the cost of registration doesn’t fit the family budget, give the administration a call.
“We have ways to help every kid who wants to play soccer, play soccer. We do not want to have somebody sitting on the sideline for [a financial] reason.”
The registrar can be contacted at 250-644-2135 or info@100milesoccer.com
Along with players and coaches, the local minor soccer association is looking for new referees.
Anyone 12 years and older can sign up, Heine says, adding officials serve an important function in the game, and there are a number of benefits to becoming one.
“You don’t have a game if you don’t have a ref. If the whistle doesn’t go, nobody plays.”
Learning the game can make you more confident and a better soccer player, he says, adding there are many opportunities for advancement, especially in the female ranks.
“Female soccer is really overtaking boys’ in recent years. Right now, in the country, we have more girls playing, which means there are a lot of girls’ games.
“But the female referee numbers are lagging compared to the boys. If someone wants to excel, there are opportunities.”
There’s a mentoring process for beginners, and according to Henie, the organization has zero tolerance when it comes to parents and coaches verbally abusing officials.
He also talks about young referees going off to college or university and using soccer to help pay the bills.
“It can help that way. But you have to start somewhere.”
There’s an entry level clinic scheduled for beginners aged 12 and over at the 100 Mile Community Hall on April 25-26, and one for referees 14 and over in Williams Lake on March 21-23.
Anyone interested should contact Heine via e-mail at heine2@shaw.ca.
Provincial tourney
The British Columbia Soccer Association recently approved 100 Mile House’s bid to host the 2015 U13-U15 Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Provincial Cup, during which 24 teams from around the province are expected to compete.
100 Mile House is looking to field a host Under-15 team, and the local soccer organization is currently targeting players from Under-11 and Under-14 to compete in the tournament slated next summer.
Heine says hosting the tournament is a big deal for the local community.
“It’s the highest level of youth soccer. We definitely want to have one [team]. But if there’s more interest from players in the younger age groups, we certainly will work with them.”
Heine explains the association wants to get a sense of how many youth want to play so they can go about lining up coaches and organizing tryouts for next summer.
“There’s an incentive to play in front of the home crowd. The soccer park will be full [for the provincial cup].”
