Since 2006, Sundays in the late spring and early summer have been soccer days for the ladies in the Sea to Sky Women鈥檚 Soccer Association (STSWSA).
Women from 麻豆社国产to Pemberton hit the field in all three communities on a rotating basis and while no scores are recorded, co-president Roz Partrickson said everyone knows who wins and loses.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 keep track of scores 鈥� it鈥檚 only in our head,鈥� she said, noting that the practice brings about a whole new element of competitiveness. 鈥淏ut if you ask any of the girls, we all know who won and how many goals were scored.鈥�
Patrickson explained that the league came about from the desire of Sea to Sky Corridor women to continue playing soccer, but avoiding the sometimes-lengthy drives to Vancouver. Teams in Pemberton, Whistler and 麻豆社国产have competed in the league ever since, with each town hosting games on a weekly basis.
The make-up of the league has remained steady ever since, with a combo team joining the fray each week made up of players from all three towns who want to play an extra game each Sunday. Patrickson said the level of play has really increased in the past three years.
鈥淭he calibre of play for us has really gone through the roof the last couple of years,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got so many good athletes in the corridor and we got a lot younger and have also been attracting so many younger players. People from all over the world come to live here and it makes for some great soccer.鈥�
The season lasts 10 weeks and each team has a weekly practice that anyone from the league is welcome to attend. Pemberton hits the practice field on Tuesdays, Whistler on Wednesdays and 麻豆社国产on Thursdays at Don Ross field. Sunday games in 麻豆社国产occur at Quest University field.
One way the league gives back is with its yearly soccer scholarship awarded to a corridor female with a future in soccer. The STSWSA has given out $500 for the past five years and in 2013 Squamish鈥檚 Hannah Rizun was the recipient. Rizun recently completed her first year with the UNBC Timberwolves. Patrickson said the league will decide the 2014 winner in the coming weeks.
Once the season is done, the league stays connected with drop-in indoor games in Pemberton. Patrickson said interested players can still register for the 2014 season, which runs until the end of June but they will be charged the full $90. However, she urged all potential players to check out the league for 2015.
鈥淲e welcome anybody and all caliber of play but we do have a pretty high skill level,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking for new people to join us but one of our goals is to help women referees get some experience as well.鈥�
For more information on the league, visit www.seatoskywomenssoccer.com.
