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Registration  is  now  open  for  another  successful  ASA  Mini  Stars  program!    The   Mini   Stars   offers   players   in   the  Learning  to  Train  stage  of  the  LTPD   model   (10-­‐11   years)   a  winter  coaching  program  that  is   delivered   by   ASA   staff  coaches.   The   program  enhances   the   participants’  talents   with   players   of   similar  ability.      The  Mini   Stars  program   focuses  on   individual   and   small   group  technical   development.     Each  program   is   followed   by   an  Edmonton-­‐based   Mini   Stars  showcase   weekend,   where   all   players   from   various  centres  are  invited  to  play  in  mini  games.      Due  to  the  special  atmosphere  the  Showcase  created,  last  year’s  event  proved  a  great  success  from  the  perspective  of   players,   coaches   and   parents.   Although   no   medals  

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were  distributed  and  results  weren’t  recorded,  the  games  mattered.   The   Showcase   focused  on  encouraging  players  

to   attempt   moves   and   make  decisions   they  may   not   have  previously   been   comfortable  doing   in   competitive   club  games.    This   year,   the   ASA   has  extended   the   program  beyond   Alberta’s   main  centres,   including   Red  Deer,   Grand   Prairie,  Cochrane   and   Airdrie.  Other   districts   are   still  

being   sought,   so   if   you   feel  your   district   has   the   capacity   to   offer   an   ASA  

supported  Mini  Stars  program,  please  contact  Ian  Skitch  at  northcoach@albertasoccer.com   or   John   Clubb   at  southcoach@albertasoccer.com  for  further  details.    Parents  and  players  wishing   for   additional   information  or  to   register   for   the   Mini   Stars   should   visit  www.albertasoccer.com  

Inside  this  Issue:  Mini  Stars                      Pg.  1  Referee  program  update                Pg.  1  Learning  Facilitator                    Pg.  2  Guinness  Record                    Pg.  3  ASA  Showcase                      Pg.  3    

Important  Dates:  Danone  Cup           Oct.  6  (Edm)/Oct.  7  (Cgy)  LF  Application  Deadline       Oct.  12  SGM/Planning  Meeting       Oct.  27  Technical  Meeting       Oct.  28  (Edm)  District  Head  Coach  Workshop     Oct.  28  (Edm)  

2012/13  Mini  Stars  Kick-­‐off                          By:  John  Clubb  

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Referee  Program  Update                          By  David  O’Neill    It  seems  strange  to  be  instructing  indoor  soccer  referee  courses,  when  the  temperature  outside  is  in  the  high  twenties  –  but  this  is  something  we  have  grown  used  to   in  Alberta  over  the  past  few  seasons.  And  yes,   indoor  soccer,  and  all  of  the  other  wintery  activities  we  pursue  are  just  around  the  corner!                    Before  we  leave  summer  behind  though,  we  have  a  few  outdoor  items  to  cover.  On  consecutive  weekends  at  the  end  of  August  and  beginning  of  September,  two  provincial  competitions  that  lead  to  Nationals  were  held  in  Edmonton.  Youth  Tier  1  (August  23  –  26)  and  Senior  Provincials  Challenge  Cup  and  Jubilee  Shield  (August  31  –  September  3)  made  for  two  busy  weekends  of  soccer,  and  with  all  other  levels  of  Senior  Provincials  also  being  held  on  the  Labor  Day  weekend,                                Cont’d  on  pg.  2    

  Issue  21  –  September  30,  2012  

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The   Alberta   Soccer   Association   is  seeking   applications   for   “Learning  Facilitator”  positions  in  2013.    Learning   Facilitators   (LF)   play   a   key  role   in   the   new   Coaching   Pathway.  They   take   on   the   responsibility   for  developing   coaches   wanting   to  enhance   their   own   experiences   and  qualifications   through   formal  training  &  certification  programs.    The   ASA   Technical   Department   is  looking   for   LF’s  who   understand   and  support   Long-­‐term   Player  Development   (LTPD)   -­‐   the  underpinning  principles  of  player  and  coaching  development  in  Canada.    Since  rolling  out  the  LTPD  Community  Coaching   Stream   in   January   2012   (in  accordance  with  the  Canadian  Soccer  Association   and   with   the   support   of  the   Coaches   Association   of   Canada),  the   ASA   Technical   Department   has  worked   to   raise   standards   and  improve   the   delivery   of   coach  education  across  Alberta.  The  quality,  

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professionalism  and  enthusiasm  of  our  LF’s   are   key   factors   in   our   ongoing  efforts  to  get  to  the  next  level.      The   Learning   Facilitators   will   be  selected   based   on   the   following  criteria:  

• Coaching   qualifications   and  experience   (min.   Provincial   B  License  required)  

• Background  in  Coaching  Education  and  Facilitation  

• Teaching  qualifications    • Geographic  needs  • Ability   to   show   availability   and  commitment  

• LTPD  knowledge  • Completion   of   the   MED   Online  Evaluation  (www.coach.ca)  

 All   applicants   must   submit   a   soccer  resume   highlighting   coaching  background  and  supporting  documents  (I.E.   Certificate,   Diploma)   along   with   a  completed   application   form   and  calendar   of   availability.   If   you   are  associated   with   an   ASA   Member  Organization,   a   letter   supporting   your  

Learning  Facilitator  Position  

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application   from   your   Club   or   District  President  is  preferred.    Appointments   are   for   a   12-­‐month  period   (November   -­‐   October)   and  candidates   must   re-­‐apply   annually.  Successful   applicants   are  compensated   per   course   on   an  honoraria  basis.      Those  interested  should  consider:  

• The   ASA   Community   Stream  Coaching  program  generally  runs  from  early  January  to  the  end  of  June,   primarily   on   weekends.  Applicants  must  show  availability  during  that  time  and  be  prepared  to  deliver  a  minimum  number  of  courses.    

• Selected   LF’s   are   required   to  attend   the   Learning   Facilitator  Workshop   on   November   24-­‐25,  2012   at   the   Commonwealth  Fieldhouse  in  Edmonton.  

 Interested   applicants   must   apply   by  October  12,  2012  

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Cont’d  from  pg.  1  this  was  a  challenge  for  the  pool  of  available  referees.  All  of  these  games  were  covered  by  a  referee  and  two  assistant  referees,  and  the  games  leading  to  Nationals  also  had  4th  officials  appointed.  This  meant  that  over  the  two  weekends,  686  positions  had  to  be  filled  in  the  games  by  officials.      Another   twist   thrown   in  was   courtesy  of  Mother  Nature,  who  provided  a  nice  2.5  hour   thunderstorm  at   the  beginning  of   the  Youth  Tier  1   competition,  which   cancelled  almost  all   games  on   the  opening  day.   Some  hasty   rearranging  was   required,  which  involved  officials  on  the  second  day  doing  more  games  than  originally  planned  in  many  cases.  The  following  officials  stepped  up  on  both  weekends  and  officiated  more  than  the  average  number  of  games:    Alex  Morretti,  Bill  Campbell,  Ebenezer  Enninful,  Emilio  Mundula,  Frank  Addessi,  Goran  Filipovic,  Hugh  Netzer,  Jon  Atkinson,  Klara  Davies,   Kurtis   Nozak,   Lance   Phillips,   Lorenzo   Antonello,  Maria  Marshall,   Natalie  Maheeden,   Noel   Kelly,   Paull   Cameron,   Pedro  Muller,  Sohrab  Ghafari  Far,  Warren  Wall.  A  big  thank  you  to  those  referees,  as  without  their  help,  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  cover  all  games.    Congratulations  go  to  the  following,  who  officiated  in  Gold  Medal  games  (All  other  tiers  were  ‘round  robin’  format,  and  did  not  actually  have  Gold  Medal  final  games):  

Challenge  Cup  (Senior  Men)  –  Sheena  Dickson,  Mike  Barwegen,  Brad  Tannahill,  Bruce  Primeau.  Jubilee  Shield  (Senior  Women)  –  Adam  Smith.  Alex  Morretti,  Lance  Phillips,  Bruce  Primeau.  Tier  4  Men  –  Damir  Kostic,  Goran  Filipovic,  Noel  Kelly.  Tier  4  Women  –  Jon  Atkinson,  Lorenzo  Antonello,  Jon  Addessi.  U14  Boys  -­‐  Ebenezer  Enninful,  Alex  Morretti,  Melissa  Sargent.  U14  Girls  –  Owen  Procter,  Jon  Addessi,  Lance  Phillips.  U16  Boys  –  Mark  Pasternak,  Sohrab  Ghafari  Far,  Hugh  Netzer,  Al  Jaworsky.  U16  Girls  –  Sheena  Dickson,  Sunny  Marshall,  Natalie  Maheeden,  Hugh  Netzer.  U18  Boys  –  Brad  Tannahill,  Lance  Phillips,  Jon  Addessi,  Owen  Procter.      

   

 

 

Issue  21  –  September  30,  2012  

   

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On   Saturday,   October   6   at   the  Spray  Lake  Sawmills  Family  Sports  Centre   in  Cochrane,   the   following  events   will   take   place   in   support  of   the   Soccer   Quest   42   attempt  for  the  Guinness  World  Record  for  the  Longest  5-­‐a-­‐side  Soccer  Game:    ASA  MINI  STARS  (9-­‐12  year  olds)    10AM-­‐12PM    

Learn   keep-­‐uppy   with   ASA  Provincial   Coach,   John  Clubb,   and  develop   a   touch   for   soccer   with  coaching  tips,  games  and  prizes.    GOALKEEPING  FOR  GIRLS      12-­‐1.30PM    

Girls  come  and  pick  up  some  pre-­‐season   tips   on   the   art   of  goalkeeping   with   Michaela  Hatalova.   Michaela   is   a   UEFA   B  Licence   coach   with   Mount   Royal  University  and  Airdrie  Soccer.      SOCCABILITY:   A   soccer   program  for  players  with  a  disability                    2-­‐3.30PM    

Athletes   with   a   disability   are  invited  to  play   in  this  session  with  special   guests,   Drew   Fergusson  (National   Team   Coach   with  

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Canadian   Para   Soccer   Team)   and  Brennan   Nichol   &   Sean   Freeman  (National  Team  members).    POWERCHAIR  SOCCER:            3-­‐4PM    

See   how   the   game   is   played   and  meet   some   players.   Yes,   soccer  players  are  passionate  regardless.    COACHING  THE  GAME:  Grassroots  Coach  Seminar  Presentation:              12-­‐2PM    

John   Clubb   ASA   Provincial   Coach  South   will   present   “Tools   for   the  new   coach   in   grassroots   soccer”.  Drew   Fergusson   (Canadian  National   ParaSoccer   Team  Coach)  will   present   “A   Canadian   player’s  and   coaches   perspective   of  International  soccer”.    For  further  information  on  Alberta  Soccer   development   programs  please   contact   John   Clubb   at  southcoach@albertasoccer.com  or  587-­‐435-­‐5611.    Thanks   to   FC   Edmonton   and   the  CSA   for   providing   prizes   for   the  event!  

ALBERTA  SOCCER  SHOWCASE  Together  with  Soccer  Quest  42  

Attempt  at  Guinness  World  Record  In  support  of  ‘Right  to  Play’  

On   Thanksgiving   weekend   (Oct.   5-­‐7),  several  soccer  players  in  Cochrane  will  attempt   to   claim   a   second   Guinness  World  Record  for  the  Longest  5-­‐a-­‐side  Soccer  Game.  

Martin  Parnell  is  an  endurance  athlete  who   completed   250   marathons   in  2010   on   behalf   of   Right   to   Play.   His  World  Record  breaking  events  already  include   the   Longest   Netball   and  Lacrosse   games,   and   now   he   is   at   it  again.    

This   time,   Martin   is   working   with  “TriOil   -­‐   Soccer  Quest   42”   on  a   series  of  10  events  called  “Quests  for  Kids”.  

Martin,   the   Cochrane   Rangers   Soccer  Club   and   the   Cochrane  Minor   Soccer  Association  invite  support  from  within  the  broader  soccer  community.    

Federal   Minister   of   Finance,   Jim  Flaherty,   has   lent   his   support   by  encouraging   Canadians   to   donate  their   pennies   to   charity   before   the  one-­‐cent  coin   goes  out   of   circulation.  The   “Ton   of   Pennies”   fundraiser   will  help   support   the   World   Record  attempt.  

The  Alberta  Soccer  Association   is  also  involved   in   the   event   –   see   the  coinciding   article   (to   the   right)   for  more  information.    

For   additional   details   on   “TriOil   -­‐  Soccer  Quest  42”  please  visit:  http://righttoplay.akaraisin.com/soccerquest42      For   more   information   on   Martin’s  “Quests   for  Kids”  and  RIGHT  TO  PLAY  please  visit:  http://www.marathonquest250.com