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The brand new 麻豆社国产Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) prospects program, aiming to develop young soccer talent in 麻豆社国产at an even younger age, is well underway.
This past April, the SYSA kicked off tryouts for the prospects program, which is the first step towards expanding the travel program to U10 and U11 players for the 2014-鈥�15 season. SYSA president Tim Sjogren said it was a logical next step.
鈥淲e decided to open it up to lower age groups because we鈥檝e found that the Vancouver-based teams are starting at younger ages,鈥� he said, noting that previously, U12 the earliest age for travel teams. 鈥淪ome of the Vancouver teams have been playing as a travel team since U10 and our competitiveness was not quite there.鈥�
Sjogren explained that the program for U10 players will simply be more opportunities for local players to hit the pitch.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l all play house league, but there will be a group of them that will train once a week and play in tournaments and exhibitions,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey won鈥檛 be on a travel team, but will play outside that.鈥�
The U11 teams will now be fully integrated into rep leagues in Vancouver and play a full travel program. Another change to the program is that the U12 travel teams will now be called 鈥渟elects.鈥�
Sjogren said interest in the tryouts was huge. He said there were a handful of boys and girls for the U10 teams and that he was impressed by the turnout for U11 girls and U12 boys in those groups鈥� respective tryouts.
鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely an appetite there,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have a great, active community and we may not havethe depth that the bigger regions have in terms of numbers, but we鈥檙e competing.鈥�
He pointed to the strong showing by the 麻豆社国产Fireballs U16 Girls team at the provincials of evidence of local soccer talent.
鈥淎s we grow as a club and program, we will be developing better talent and players and I expect us to compete at higher levels for years to come,鈥� he said.
There are also set to be some changes to the younger programs, with teams moving to even- instead of odd-numbered age groups for 2014-鈥�15. For the U6 and U8 teams there will be no goalkeepers and U6 will be three-on-three while U8 will be four-on-four. Throw-ins will also be eliminated for both age groups to speed up the game.听
Sjogren said the changes in the younger groups mimic what is going on in soccer overseas. He said the future is bright for the sport in 麻豆社国产and he hopes the SYSA can continue to help develop young talent.
鈥淲e鈥檙e changing lots of things and trying to be mindful of what鈥檚 best for everyone and the club in Squamish,鈥� he said.
