Rejoice, rejoice, soccer is back! Time to erect nets, lace up trainers and boots, charge out into a field and pretend you are Messi, Ronaldo or Rooney. Or if you are into ancient history, Pele, Maradona or Best.
Such sentiments may seem wildly misplaced in Canada, but soccer is still the world’s most popular game and it is, believe it or not, catching on in communities like Barrhead … in tentative, baby-like steps.
Perhaps this year’s World Cup in Brazil will inspire a few more youngsters to take up the beautiful game. Perhaps the baby steps will become something close to strides.
More than likely Barrhead soccer will continue its current trend.
“In the last five years the number of kids playing soccer has been going up,” said Mike Nanninga, from Barrhead Minor Soccer Association (BMSA).
“Not by a huge amount, probably by five or ten kids every year.”
Compared to other sports like hockey, soccer is cheap, said Nanninga. And that is a big drawing card, particularly in the big cities. All that is required is a ball, nets and, in Barrhead’s case, $45 to $50 for registration fees.
This year 171 children, 40 per cent of them girls, registered for BMSA’s 2014 season, which runs from Monday, May 5 to Wednesday, June 25.
If that number seems very low compared to previous seasons, there is a good reason.
The Town of Barrhead Recreation Department has taken over soccer for two to six-year-olds with its new MiniKickers Program, being held in association with the Challenger Soccer Academy (see separate story on this page). There is even talk of the Town assuming total responsibility for soccer next year.
For this year at least, the BMSA is left to deal with seven to 13-year-olds – a development the association welcomes since it eases the considerable administrative burden.
Each year the association struggles to find enough coaches and 2014 is no exception.
“Looking at the numbers we need two coaches,” said Nanninga, speaking on registration night on Thursday, April 10. “We would like to hear from anyone interested. All you need is a little knowledge of the game. I knew nothing when I started and I coached for one year.
“You can go online and learn about soccer, there is so much stuff out there.”
Anyone willing to coach or join the soccer association should contact Amanda Fauser at 780-284-8898.
Soccer games and practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., with the players wearing T-shirts provided by the Freson Bros.
There will be six teams for the nine to ten-year-olds, who will play at Beaver Brook, near the Japanese Gardens.
Six teams are also planned for the seven to eight-year-olds, while there will probably be only two teams for the 11 to 13-year-olds. These age groups will play at Cecile Martin Park and the Barrhead Composite High School field.
“Generally the first half hour is practice, then the next half hour we have a game,” said Nanninga.
The games provide good entertainment. The natural tendency, said Nanninga, is for children to become more competitive as they get older.
Nanninga said there would also be free drop-in soccer for 14 to 17-year-olds between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Over the last two years the drop-in sessions have occasionally proved quite popular.
“It’s not really organized,” said Nanninga. “We don’t need any coaches for it.”
Even if the Town limits its role in soccer next year, Nanninga is unlikely to remain with the BMSA.
His children’s interests lie outside soccer. And his personal devotion to the game is wafer-thin at best.
“I watch it on Sportsnet every now and then, but no I won’t be watching the World Cup,” he smiled.
Would it make a difference if Canada were playing? He hesitated, before confessing: “No, it wouldn’t make a difference. It’s just a busy time for me.”
It seems that June 25 will not only be soccer’s wind-up, a traditionally festive occasion with food and drink provided by Freson Bros. It will also be Nanninga’s farewell. It could also be a farewell to the association in its present form.
For more information contact [email protected]
