The Carman Minor Soccer Association is excited for the weather to be a little nicer and for the start of the outdoor soccer season to get underway this season.
President Chelsea Kozak says there is a lot to look forward to this year. "It's really exciting, the weather seems to be in our favour here, so we're thinking about starting outdoor practice already next week, which is really exciting. We're looking forward to getting back out there, getting on the fields and seeing the kids getting to play the game that they love."
For Kozak, it's important that many different ages have the opportunity to play soccer for both fun and competitively. "We start with U4, which was a pilot project for us a few years ago and it's just done amazing. So, we have about 30 U4 kids, those kids are born in 2021. We have programs that go up through age all the way up to U17. Maybe the most exciting thing for us is that we have so many U17 players, the most we've had in years. Last year, we kind of struggled to put a team together but this year, we have almost the opposite problem, we almost had to make two U17 teams. At that U14 age, the kids start getting other interests but this year, seeing all the kids still wanting to be in the program is really encouraging."
Having her own daughter in the U4 program, Kozak says it's really great that they have that option to get them out there enjoying the game. "It's crazy to see them out on the field, but they're running around, having so much fun. They have great coaches that keep them engaged, and it's just a short season, but they all seem to really love it."
With there being such massive interest from all different ages, Kozak says that there are challenges but nothing they can't get through if they have the community support. "It's something that as an organization, Carman Minor Soccer, we try our best to include everybody and we never say no. Our numbers have grown crazy over the years, so we're kind of getting to the point where we're running out of space. So, we're looking at adding on to our soccer pitches in a different location. Soccer can be played in the same spot for all families. It's right by the ball diamond, so you have a kid in baseball and in soccer the same night, it's just convenient. Community members, all of our coaches are mostly parents and you can't have a soccer program without a coach. When you get into the older ages, it becomes harder to find coaches but this year, we have them all lined up, which is really amazing. We rely on parents, community members to step up and help us and this year is no exception. They've really stepped up to help us, we're very thankful."
Another need is referees and that's something Kozak is encouraging young people to look at is as great way to give back and make money. "The older ages, we do require refs, we're struggling to find them and anyone interested can reach out to us through email, CarmanMinorSoccer@gmail.com, it is a paid position. So if a young student or someone wants volunteer hours, they can reach out."
Kozak has loved the game of soccer her entire life, so she says being a part of a community that embraces and loves the sport, too, means the world to her. "I really do love soccer. I played all through high school and I'm really passionate about it. A big thing we're proud of is that it's very affordable, so everyone has a chance to play. We're really excited about the soccer season and we cannot wait to get going. We're getting emails asking when we're starting and I think that we'd be willing to go out with snow on the ground. It's a wonderful community and the area loves the game."