The Athabasca Soccer Association (ASA) competes in the Tri-County soccer league, but due to lack of teams in the surrounding communities, the older Athabasca teams are competing in Edmonton this season.
All U6 and U8 teams play in house, according to Russ Strathdee, the manager of the ASA.
The U10 and U12 teams play in the Tri-County league in the north division.
“They play north division, and at the end of the year, there may be a playoff for them to play in,” Strathdee stated. “U14 boys will play in Tri-County this year because there are six other teams for them to play against.”
The U14 boys will play 14 games in the season and will finish in June.
“We will try and get them to provincials,” Strathdee stated.
The U14 girls from Athabasca are playing in the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association league (EMSA).
“The U14 girls don’t have a (local) league because there is only one other team in the area of 13 communities,” he explained. “And because we were unable to make a league in it, we looked at different options.”
The Edmonton league seemed like a good option.
“They will be playing twice a week in Edmonton,” he said.
Strathdee stated the U16 teams share a similar storyline with the U14s.
“There is no one to play,” he said. “We did split the U16 boys; they play in EMSA as well, once a week.”
The U16 girls were divided into two teams.
“One is a tier-three team, and they will play until the end of July in EMSA,” he explained. “The tier-four team will play ‘til the end of June in EMSA.”
The U18 team has decided to play in a tournament league.
“There are four tournaments they are going to attend, both the girls and boys,” he said.
The brand-new soccer fields at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex will be ready for this season.
“The U14 boys will be playing their home games on the soccer fields. All the teams will practise on the soccer fields,” he said. This includes the teams playing their games in Edmonton. “And U18 will try and arrange exhibition games.”
The U12 teams will play all their games on the new soccer fields.
“I think the way soccer is going, I think U14 will always be a struggle,” Strathdee said. “The U16, I don’t think we will have a team in a (local) league for some considerable amount of time.”
Strathdee stated the association is trying to build up the younger teams.
“We are hoping the U16s (playing in Edmonton) are an interim thing for the next two years, then have them come back to Athabasca,” he said.
