The smaller they are, the more fun they have.
At least that was the case for the New Trends Snipers, a collection of three-to-four year old soccer players that had lots of fun learning the basics of the game this spring.
Led by coaches Albert Assaf and John Traynor, the little team met every week in May and June to get outside, have some fun and (sometimes) kick the ball around.
“It’s sort of like herding chickens,” laughed Traynor at the team’s last practice last week. With their young minds understandably wandering from time to time, the little kids made their coaches proud with the development they showed by the end of the short season.
As Assaf noted, many of the kids who had picked up the ball and ran with it in the first few weeks were kicking it around by the end.
“We were just trying to introduce the kids to the ball, and the game. Nothing serious,” he explained. “They improved from where they were.”
After a couple of months of practice, the team wrapped their season last week with pictures, pizza and cake.
The team enjoyed sponsorship and support from New Trends Hair Salon, 49th Street Grill, Extra Foods and Stonefish Rentals.
Though the team maxed out at 14 players, Assaf and Traynor received calls from over 30 parents expressing interest in the program. The coaches wanted to limit the size of this year’s team, but they’re hopeful the Athabasca Soccer Association takes notice and organizes some U4 fun next season.
“It’d be nice to see someone take it over next year. They have the kids to start at least two teams,” said Assaf.
“I think it’s an accomplishment that we started it and it’s been a success.”
