April 7 - Member Update
2022 Annual General Meeting Follow-Up
Thank you to those you joined us in Saskatoon for the 2022 Annual General Meeting and Member Sessions. The session packages and videos can be found on the SSA AGM page. Please help us serve you better by providing your feedback! Event surveys for attendees have been circulated and we ask for your feedback about the sessions/presenters and the event delivery.
2023 Annual General Meeting - Expression of Interest
SSA determines the location of the Annual General Meeting on a four-year rotational basis; Saskatoon, Regina, Saskatoon, Rural.
Currently, we are looking for an Expression of Interest from Members, from rural locations outside of Saskatoon and Regina, to support us in the hosting of the AGM. SSA covers all costs but would appreciate local support to ensure the event is a success.
If you are interested, please contact Steven Porter at ea@sasksoccer.com by April 21st. In your reply, we would appreciate a brief summary about appropriate venues for the AGM meeting & education sessions, banquet and accommodations, along with any other information that may assist us with our decision.
2022 Important Member Deadlines
Member Assistance Program (MAP) Grant: April 15
Check your emails for your MAP eligibility letters which will indicate the minimum amount of Population Base Funding (PBF). For assistance with your applications please ensure you review the MAP Easy Guide and pre-recorded MAP webinar which can be found on the SSA MAP grant web page.
NEW REQUIREMENT FOR MAP applications in 2022
Canada Soccer Club Licensing - Quality Soccer Provider (QSP)
As part of this year’s MAP Grant process, member organizations are required to hold QSP status or declare their intent to achieve QSP. Please ensure you complete your Club Licence declaration of interest form. QSP status is a process, and we are here to support you. For more information on Club Licensing please visit Sask Soccer Club Licensing.
If you have any questions:
MAP Applications - Eden Senger, e.senger@sasksoccer.com
Club Licensing - Markus Reinkens, m.reinkens@sasksoccer.com
Rural Adult Grant - Soccer and Futsal: Deadline to submit is April 15
Just one week left to submit your application for the Rural Adult Grant - Soccer & Futsal. This offers an opportunity for RURAL organizations to expand their engagement within the community to include adult participants.
For more information and to apply click here. Applications will be open until April 15!
Please Share These with Players & Coaches!
We are very excited to have Canadian professional player, Drew Beckie for a two-part series event. Drew will share his journey of becoming a professional player and share insight on what helped him become the player he is today. Open to players and coaches from across Saskatchewan - sessions will be delivered virtually!
Coach Education Workshop - An evening with César Meylan
We are very excited to announce that Canada Soccer’s Head of Physical Performance César Meylan will be joining us on May 3rd to share some of his experiences and expertise on preparing our Men’s and Women’s teams for international success. Open to registered SSA Coaches - this session will be delivered virtually.
It is time to Register Your Referees!
Preparations for the outdoor season are under way. Match officials represent a vital part of the game. Please encourage all returning referees to head over to your Member Organization’s RAMP portal and register if they have not done so already. Referees have a very important role in sport and having a trained pool of referees is vital to the success of your local programming.
What if not enough match officials are returning?
The time to recruit more participants and book a referee clinic is now. Head over to the Saskatchewan Soccer Referee Courses page for more information. Future referees are required to complete The Entry Level Referee Online Theory Module (accessible through the individual Ramp account) before registering for the one day “In Classroom/Practical component”. If your Member Organization has any questions, please contact Octavian at ccd@sasksoccer.com.
Community Referee Education Sessions
SSA will be offering Laws of the Game Refresher online education sessions to all Saskatchewan Soccer referees. Sessions will be approximately 1-1.5 hours and will focus on several exciting topics spread over the course of four sessions. We will explore and learn together on challenges, offside, handball, tactical fouls, dissent, and even rare situations that may occur based on the Laws of the Game. You are welcome to attend all sessions or just the ones that fit your schedule.
The next session will take place on April 25 with a 7:30 p.m. start time.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis. If you are interested, please register here. Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to access the session of your choice.
Referees are essential to the participant experience and advancement of the game. They deserve our respect and a supportive, abuse-free, environment. You can make a difference; always treat them well and thank them for their contributions every game!
The Female Referee Development Group online sessions remain open to all registered female referees. Register on Zoom.
SSA Staffing
We welcome back Jennifer Ellarma who has accepted the role as Interim Coordinator of Communications and Special Projects. Correspondence can be sent to j.ellarma@sasksoccer.com
Rahim Mohamed, SSA Director of Soccer, has also returned from supporting the Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team as the WCQ Operations Manager. Rahim played an active role in the team’s operations between January to March 31 as the Men’s National Team qualified for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as finished as CONCACAF Champions.
Canada Soccer has launched a new initiative - CanadaRED+ Fan Membership Program - that will create an engaging fan movement from coast to coast and build on the success of our National Teams as well as the four-year runway to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Reminder: Please direct all Membership and Registration related inquiries to Eden Senger until further notice.
Join our Team!
SSA is looking to hire an Administrator, Member Services located in the Regina area. If you know of a potential candidate, please share this opportunity with them.
News from Around the Province
FORZA Soccer Academy was recently approved as a Regular Member of Saskatchewan Soccer Association. FORZA’s goals are to develop youth and mini soccer players in the Arab and Muslim communities who otherwise would not play soccer due to language and cultural barriers. Forza will develop their skills and give them the confidence to further their soccer opportunities within the Saskatchewan Soccer Association system. Welcome FORZA!
Visit Everyone’s Game Resource Centre in our bi-weekly communication to find informational and inspirational articles, member interviews, and developmental opportunities.
Educational Resource:
How biological sex and gender affect concussion risk and management: Improving concussion care and prevention in girls, women, and female athletes has become an area of increased interest and importance for many coaches, team trainers and rehabilitation specialists. Read the full article here: https://sirc.ca/blog/gender-biological-sex-and-concussion/
SSA Calendar of Events & Deadlines
Recordings of past webinars and COVID-19 member calls can be found on our YouTube Channel.
See our full Calendar of Events on our website.
April 21: SSA Female Referee Development Group
April 21: EOI for Hosting of AGM requested to the SSA Office
April 27: Becoming a Pro with Drew Beckie* (Part 1 of 2)
May 3: Planning for Performance session with César Meylan*
May 4: Becoming a Pro with Drew Beckie* (Part 2 of 2)
*Registration for these events can be completed through your Member Organization registration platform
BE SAFE! BE THE SOLUTION!
As a reminder, please continue to take care of yourself, your families, and others.
| We encourage everyone to be fully vaccinated and get a booster shot as soon as you are eligible. |
| Wash your hands frequently (it is the single most effective way of reducing infection spread). |
| Practice other good hygiene habits: do not touch your face/eyes/mouth with your hands and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough (ideally with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow). |
| Clean and disinfect frequently touched workspace surfaces. |
| Stay home if you are sick |
 | Our sport is underway during the pandemic. It's a challenging time, but support from our partners allows us to offer opportunities for kids to play. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada. |
