Soccer season to kick off soon
Don't wait or you'll be on a waiting list.
Registration for programs within the Fredericton District Soccer Association closes once and for all Saturday at 1 p.m., "and at that point, people would be put on a waiting list," said executive director Andrea Benoit, beginning her first summer in the post as the replacement for retired dynamo Paula Tomilson.
"In the past, late registrations have been accepted," Benoit said. "But because of some of the field closures, we're concerned if we grow any more."
Capacity was taxed last year at 1,915 players from the Under-4 boys and girls through to the Under-18 divisions. This year, there will be no Under-18 girls premiership team; and there's some question about the future of the Under-16 girls premiership team as well.
And the FDSA doesn't have access to the fields at Waterloo Row or Kimble Field due to ongoing construction in those areas; or the Raceway Fields which were used as part of the Sony U-18 soccer championships last season.
However, the Under-4 and Under-6 programs will be operating at Fredericton High School; and all other programs will have at least some access to the new turf field at UNB's Chapman Field. FDSA has rented the field from 5-9 p.m. from Monday through Thursday nights. They accommodate programs at three levels: Premiership, which is the top level, akin to AAA in hockey and playing in provincial leagues; Division 1, which is similar to the competitive level in hockey; and recreational.
Benoit has a meeting with Dave Sibley of the city of Fredericton today to finalize field times.
Benoit said FDSA could use another field just like the one at UNB.
"Certainly, it would be our dream to have a facility with a clubhouse," she said. "But everyone has to have a dream. Does it alleviate all the issues? No. Certainly, I don't think one turf field would meet the requirements that we have because we've grown so large. Would we take another turf field if we could? Yes. But we're going to benefit from having that field and we are maximizing our time."
The first time slot runs from 5-6:30 p.m., with a 6:30-7:30 p.m. time slot and another from 7:30-9 p.m. The later time slots are for the U-14, U-16 and U-18 programs.
Benoit said declining numbers in the Under-18 women's program forced the team to withdraw from Soccer New Brunswick competition this season.
"As the age groups get older, we're seeing that the numbers are declining," she said. "At that age, some of the girls have part-time jobs. The commitment at the premiership level is more than at the recreational level. And I think they reach a point where they have to make some tough decisions about their social lives and extra-curricular activities.
"It's a setback in our eyes, because we're trying to work to develop a Senior Women's league, So to have that gap at the U-18 level is hard."
The other premiership programs continue to operate, with David Rae in charge of the Under-12 boys program, newcomer Leanna Smith leading the Under-12 girls premiership program; Martin Hardy leading the girls Under-14 program and George "Boggy" Itoafa in charge of the Under-14 boys; Howie Myatt committed to the Under-16 girls - they're committed right now but have until mid-June to make a final decision on their fate; Estaban Mora leading the Under-16 boys squad and Steve Harris back in charge of the Under-18 boys team that represented the province at the FDSA's successful hosting of the national championship tournament last October.
Benoit signed on as the FDSA's new executive director only days before. She found the experience valuable.
"I'm into seven-day weeks," she said. "May is our busiest month of the year with registration deadlines. I'm enjoying every moment of it. It's a every moment of it. It's a huge learning experience and the learning curve is still very steep."
Benoit finds the assistance of Ashley Perrin, working in the office for the fourth year, invaluable. In addition, St. Thomas Tommies women's hockey captain Ashley Duguay has been hired as soccer co-ordinator/field liaison this season, working afternoons in the office and evenings at the field "making sure things are up to standard and being there if the coaches have any issues."
Ron Bertin takes over as the new president of FDSA, replacing past president Nick Guitard. The FDSA website www.fdsa.org contains complete information with regard to registration procedures, fees and scheduled nights of play.
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