January 15 - Member Update

On Tuesday, the provincial government extended the current Public Health Order, including the suspension of sport, for another two weeks until January 29^th.

 

We also received further information from the Business Response Team on a call with Sask Sport and other Provincial Sport Governing Bodies this week. Not surprisingly, we were informed if numbers keep increasing, we will see increased restrictions. This is an important reminder that we must continue to follow the guidelines, so that youth athletes may continue to have some form of recreation. Also, all the sport organizations on the call were notified that there would be no consideration of a return to play for at least 4 weeks, and that a return to play is unlikely to happen before the end of March.

 

We understand that the likely extension of sport restrictions until the end of March is disappointing news, however we appreciate the government being transparent with this information and we hope it helps in your planning going forward towards the spring and outdoor seasons. We hope you join us on next week’s member discussion where we will discuss how this impacts member organizations.

 

Furthermore, we made the following adjustment to the Return to Soccer Plan, based on new information we received yesterday:

 

Adults (19 +) are allowed to train individually (1 player with 1 coach). 3 metres of social distancing must be maintained between the coach and player, and masks must be worn at all times.

 

See page 5 of the Return to Soccer Plan for more information on current restrictions.

Canada Soccer has opened registration for its 2021 Coach Education Program. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all courses in 2021 will in an online format. In addition to Canada Soccer A, B, Youth, and Children’s Licence offerings, a new Youth Licence - Goalkeeping course has been launched in 2021.

 

“Providing coaches with a flexible learning environment in respect of public health protocols was a priority in launching the 2021 Coach Education schedule,” said Jason deVos, Canada Soccer’s Director of Development. “Building on the success of our pivot to online learning at the beginning of the pandemic, we’re confident that we can continue to expand the course frequency and specific coach offerings to ensure that we continue to serve the needs of players, families, coaches, and clubs from coast-to-coast.”

 

Following a year in which the total coaches trained in the licensing stream reached nearly 400, the Coach Education Program adds a new course for the third straight year. After the introduction of the Youth Licence for coaches working full-time with players aged 13-17 and the Children’s Licence for coaches working full-time with players up to the age of 12, the Youth Licence - Goalkeeping is for coaches working full-time with goalkeepers aged 13-17.

 

Canada Soccer is also expanding its combined Canada Soccer C/B Licence Program for National Teams players in collaboration with the Canadian Premier League and its clubs in 20201. The program will see up to five players per club eligible for the unique program designed to provide professional players with a Canada Soccer B Licence that respects their tactical acumen and provides them with the tools to develop players and teams.

 

For more information on Canada Soccer Coach Education Program, and to register for a course in 2021 please visit www.canadasoccer.com/coach

As part of SSA's commitment to providing quality service and value, we issue the Member Organization Satisfaction survey annually to hear from you and learn what we have done well this past year, and what we need to work on in the year to come! Please answer the questions as honestly and constructively as you can.  

 

The survey will take approximately 8 minutes to complete, and we ask that you complete it in full.

  

Deadline: January 19  

 

Click here for the Survey (Within the survey please choose 2020 as the year of completion). 

 

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, and as always, for your tremendous efforts this past year! 

In addition to the Member Organization Satisfaction Survey, the Individual Satisfaction Survey is critical to success at provincial and local levels. 

 

The Individual Satisfaction Survey has been sent to 19,000 members and it is our chance to hear from all participants. We would be most grateful if participants could take a few moments to complete the survey and tell us about their individual experiences in soccer this past year. 

 

We would ask that each Member Organization share the link with their participants to encourage their participation.

 

Deadline: January 31

 

Click here for the Survey (Within the survey please choose 2020 as the year of completion).

 

Your feedback will help us direct Saskatchewan Soccer's programs and activities to best serve our membership.

 

Sask Sport is partnering with Canadian Women & Sport and Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan to offer free virtual Women & Leadership workshops covering eight unique topics from January to March 2021. 

 

The workshops run 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday beginning Jan. 12.