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Manitoba soccer will study big changes

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 02/8/2011 8:24 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Minor soccer could undergo sweeping changes over the next three years to emphasize fun, fitness, and skills development for younger children over scores, standings, and trophies.

"There’s going to be a need for a huge education component," Manitoba Soccer Association executive director Hector Vergara said this morning. "We’re ingrained with scores and standings and trophies."

Vergara said that the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association has struck a task force whose job it is to recommend how to implement changes by 2014 to meet Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development goals.

"The mandate is clear --- Sport Canada is concerned about the obesity of children and how it’s affecting the wellness of the country," said Vergara.

Vergara emphasized that nothing has been decided and nothing is being implemented yet. He said that the task force will consider the training of coaches, the lengths of indoor and outdoor seasons, the ratio of games and practices, and the significant differences in physical maturity among children in younger ages.

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