Our Mini Director for 2014 is Danielle Erikson. Kristin Ward is our Youth (U12-U18) Director for 2014. Our Mini Director will organize some games for this group of kids (youth level games are organized by LDSA).

Todd Ree is the 2014 Technical Director. Coaches, please feel free to contact him with your questions in regards to rules, strategies and/or drills.

LDSA needs registration forms from each team so they can register all our teams with both LDSA and ASA: our Registrar will fill it out (see ASA Player/Team Registration Form on the bottom of this page) and have the managers proof it before submitting it to LDSA.

VSA Policy for Team Selection (Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, Parents)
Teams will be selected by a "Team Selection Committee" composed of the Executive and other members of the Board (namely the Youth Director, the Mini Director, the Technical Director, the Field Director and the Director of Officials when possible; other Board members may fill in as required).
 
At the Mini level, teams within each age category will be split equally according to: 1) birth year; 2) gender; and 3) coaches and managers can be on the same team as their child. In an effort to create equitable and balanced teams, skill level may be taken into consideration if it is known. Also, if numbers warrant there may be teams made of all one gender.

At the Youth Level, teams within each age category will be split according to: 1) gender; 2) skill level; and 3) coaches and managers can be on the same team as their child. Mixed teams will be at the discretion of the coach as this person is ultimately responsible for the safety and wellbeing of each player.

In cases where team viability depends on players moving up, please see "VSA Policy for Players Moving Up".
 
VSA Policy for Players Moving Up (Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, Parents)
Vermilion Soccer Association, as a Tier IV soccer association, believes that it is deleterious to player development and team spirit to move players unnecessarily and will not do so lightly.

1. All players will play in their appropriate age categories unless: 1) there is an excess of players in the lower age category; and 2) an insufficient number of players in the next higher one. What constitutes an "excess" or "insufficient" number of players will depend on:

a) LDSA/ASA and CSA guidelines which specify minimum and maximum team roster sizes for each age category:

• LDSA requires a minimum of 11 players on a youth roster.
• ASA/CSA direct the maximums: 1) at U12, CSA recommends no more than 15; however when this is challenged they will accede that up to 20 players could be rostered (this is discouraged at all levels - LDSA, ASA and CSA - as playing time is minimal with this many); 2)  U14+ is based on ASA Rules of Competition which state that rosters can be as large as 25, but you can only dress 20 for a game (rostering 25 is discouraged as the idea is to get people playing the game - you would need permission from the district to submit a roster of 25).

b) what is determined by the "Team Selection Committee" to be an appropriate team size for the circumstances facing our club.

2. If, according to the above criteria, a player is to move up, they will be moved according to one or more of the following criteria, in no particular order: 1) seniority (number of years in soccer) 2) skill level; 3) second year players will be moved before first year players in the same age category; 4) the player must want to play up and the parent or guardian must support this decision; 5) the coaches involved must be consulted and in agreement.

Youth Managers, please check LDSA's website for the League Schedule, and return to it frequently as changes may be made. The LDSA game sheet can be found here; please fax in to Paula after each game.

The Vermilion Soccer Association has a policy of paying for one out-of-town tournament for each of our teams, in addition to paying for entry into the Lakeland Cup for teams at the Youth (U12-U18) level. At the Youth level, the out-of-town tournament normally covered by the association is the Camrose Night Classic; registrations for this tournament must be submitted early, so the club takes care of this. As for the minis, please let your Mini Director know which out-of-town tournament you would like the club to pay for, and our Treasurer will then issue cheques to the various communities. 

LDSA has listed all of the tournaments for the upcoming 2014 outdoor season, including dates, ages, contact information and registration forms.

The Lakeland Cup is the league playoff tournament for the youth level (U12-U18); teams are seeded based on their league play and winning teams are eligible for Tier IV Provincials. Please read carefully the rules and policies for LDSA League Play, including the Lakeland Cup, well before the event.

Game Sheets can be found here.

Team pictures are organized by the Team Picture Coordinator; for 2014 this is Chris Cartier. She will email out the Player Order Forms and a Manager Form (all 2013 copies are at the bottom of this page); please have all forms collected and filled out, and all money collected PRIOR to your picture time. Place the money (CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDERS ONLY - NO CASH) and order forms in a sealed envelope with your name and team name on it, and then give this to her with the packaged order column filled out. Please include any missing players names on the manager form, as well as players who are not placing orders. Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Managers are all encouraged to be part of the pictures.

COACHES, PLEASE COME TO THE PRACTICES run by Challenger Sports during the week of May 5-8, 2014 (Your team's schedule is posted here). You are still required to help supervise your team and will likely pick up some great tips yourself! Please note that these are meant to be additional practices and that you should still run your team's regular practices. We will also be offering a coaches clinic from Challenger Sports on May 4, 2014 from 12:00-5:00 pm (location TBA). 

We will be hosting a CSA Coaches Clinic for 2014 - please contact Todd Ree ASAP! Please note that the Canadian Soccer Association has developed a new Long Term Player Development Program, and with it a series of new Coaching Coarses. Coaches, please read the LDSA Coach Code of Conduct.

We have some agility nets and cone packages! They can be signed out for practices at the Shack.

Alberta Sport accepts applications for The Above and Beyond Grant. This grant provides support of up to $2000 to coaches and officials to pursue educational or developmental opportunities.  Specifically, the grant is intended for a coach or an official that is in a unique situation (apprenticing, geographically isolated, disadvantaged) and who is experiencing extraordinary circumstances.