February 26 - Member Update
February 26, 2021
In case you missed it - Return to Soccer Stimulus Strategy
Last week we released details on SSA’s comprehensive Stimulus Strategy. Approximately $700,000 has been allotted to this strategy to help position Member Organizations to Return to Soccer. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity! Read more here, and ensure you renew on time in order to be eligible!
Techne Futbol Update
Techne Futbol is an app that works on iOs, Android and Google and will be made available to any interested players from a participating Member Organization at no cost for the months of March, April, and May. The app can help Member Organization’s engage with current and attract future participants by engaging them through a variety of technical soccer activities that can be completed at home.
If you are interested in participating (opt-in for Member Organizations) please email Rahim Z Mohamed dos@sasksoccer.com for a detailed information sheet. Members of the Techne Futbol team presented this past Thursday, please see recording of the video here.
SSA will run weekly leaderboards with prizes for participants and a monthly Member Organization prize, more details to follow.
Rafflebox Reminder
Thank you for all those that expressed your interest in Rafflebox so far. We are gaining momentum and would love to hear from more organizations.
Rafflebox is a province wide 50—50 style online fundraiser, that will directly benefit those member organizations that opt in to use it. We were pleased by the interest we received on the Member call and are moving forward with the setup of the lottery.
We have planned this as a direct Member, Club, Team and Participant benefit. SSA will do the work to manage the raffle and sellers will receive 35% of total sales. 50% will go to the winner and the remaining 15% will cover the costs of the raffle and all related marketing.
Purchasers will be able to select your Member Organization/Club or Team from the online platform and the proceeds from those sales will go directly to you.
Declare your interest! Our goal is to launch at the AGM and be ready to start selling by April 1, but to do that we will need your support. For members that may wish to participate, you may still confirm your interest by completing this agreement form and returning it to ea@sasksoccer.com as soon as possible.
REMINDER of Required Steps to Return to Soccer
For those organizations that have not returned to soccer since the pandemic began, we want to remind you that there are steps that must be completed prior to your return to reduce the liability exposure for your organization, and most importantly, to ensure a safe environment is being provided to all participants.
Step 1. Review the SSA’s Return to Soccer Plan and the Government of Saskatchewan’s Re-open Plan Guidelines for Sport
Step 2. Create a Return to Soccer Plan (RTSP) for your organization and have your board/organizing committee approve it.
Missed out on our ‘How to Create a Return to Soccer Plan’ Webinar this past week? Don’t worry, we’ve scheduled more times! Pre-registration is required.
| Thursday, March 4 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Register Here |
| Tuesday, March 16 - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Register Here |
| Tuesday, March 23 - 8:00 PM- 9:00 PM - Register Here |
Step 3. Once your RTSP is complete, you are ready to complete the Canada Soccer Online Assessment Tool
Step 4. Once the tool is complete, we will follow up with you. Based on your risk score, either start your return to the pitch or revisit your plan and make revisions to reduce your score.
This can be an overwhelming time, and we are here to support your organization through it. Returning to soccer safely will take work and it is important that your organization does your due diligence to mitigate risk and ensure you adhere to provincial health guidelines. Your participants will appreciate your efforts and it will all be worth it when you see their smiling faces back on the pitch.
Saskatchewan’s own Chantal Boudreau was back on the pitch recently in Florida for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. Chantal was appointed as a referee for 2 very important games. The first appointment was US vs Brazil (top 2 teams in the final SheBelieves Cup 2021 standings). After a great performance in her first game, Chantal also shined in her second appointment which was the final game of the tournament US vs Argentina. In the final, Chantal was very involved and required to make several correct decisions that resulted in goals such as this one. We are very proud of you Chantal!
“It was wonderful being able to get back onto the pitch after so many months off. Going down to Orlando, the organizers took every precaution to make sure that the players, referees, and staff were safe with covid testing on a regular basis. It was a great tournament to be part of and an excellent start to the 2021 season for all involved”. - Chantal Boudreau, FIFA Assistant Referee
March 8 is International Women's Day, a global day of recognition celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and girls, and raising awareness of the work left to be done.
This International Women's Day, we will be celebrating women leaders in soccer and applauding when equality is achieved on and off the field.
We want to celebrate the players, coaches, volunteers, administrators, referees, and parents that exemplify the involvement and leadership of women in soccer across Saskatchewan.
Help us by nominating a female leader that inspires you! Nominations will be open until March 3, midnight.
Nominate Someone Today!
Canada Soccer’s Toyota eNational Championships Finals Weekend Set To Kick Off
The eNational Championship Finals are set for this weekend! Twenty competitors are set to compete for two titles - XBOX Champion and PS4 Champion.
Congratulations to ITSJAMESBROWN (XBOX) and PUGINMYCEREAL (PS4), who earned their spots to represent Saskatchewan in last weekend’s provincial qualifier.
Competitors will compete in a best-of-three series kicking off with opening round matches at 2 p.m. ET each day. Quarter-Final matchups kick off at 3 p.m. ET with the Semi-Final slated for 5 p.m. ET, ahead of the best-of-five Final at 8 p.m. ET. All matches will be streamed LIVE on Twitch.tv/canadasoccer hosted by eSports personality Chuboi, along with Faizal Khamisa and Nicco Carderelly.
The two Toyota eNational Championships Winners crowned will receive a Canada Soccer Prize package including a custom Nike Canada Soccer jersey. Updates will be available via the official Canada Soccer National Championships Twitter feed @CanadaSoccerNC or by following #eNatChamps on Twitter and Instagram.
AGM Formal Invitation
The formal AGM Invitation was sent to SSA Member Organizations and Life Members on February 18th. Please watch for the full AGM Package to be posted on our AGM page on March 5th.
Reminder - Expression of Interest for SSA Board of Directors - Standing Committees
Saskatchewan Soccer Association is pleased to request an expression of interest from individuals interested in serving on SSA Board appointed committees. The Board's primary role is to govern, provide leadership and direction for the Association in pursuit of the Mission. The role of each committee is to provide advice to the Board to improve its effectiveness to manage the affairs of the Association. Volunteers on Board appointed committees provide external expertise to support the Board to achieve the strategic goals of the Association. Further details are available from ea@sasksoccer.com. Please share the Expression of Interest with all participants in your organization. Apply by NOON, March 15
Reminder - Expression of Interest to serve on SSA Judicial Bodies for Formal Complaints, Discipline and Appeals
Saskatchewan Soccer Association is pleased to request an expression of interest from individuals interested in serving on SSA Judicial Bodies for Formal Complaints, Discipline and Appeals as Case Managers, panel members or adjudicators. Individuals with a legal background or experience in managing judicial processes are invited to let their name stand for appointment. Further details are available from ea@sasksoccer.com. Please share the Expression of Interest within your organization. Apply by NOON, March 15.
SSA Player Pathway
Thank you to Member Organizations who had questions this past week regarding the SSA Player Pathway. SSA is responsible for the Provincial player pathway and alignment to the National pathway. To help provide clarification on what competitions reside in different streams of participation, a Competitions Designations chart was created back in 2019. Please see the competitions designations chart here.
As a part of SSA’s mandate as a member of Sask Sport and Canada Soccer, SSA is responsible for the EXCEL pathway within the province through a Regional EXCEL (REX) program for Boys and Girls . The Boys REX program is serviced through our partnership with Vancouver Whitecaps FC (VWFC) of the MLS and provides Saskatchewan male athletes with a direct link to VWFC Academy in Vancouver and a connection with the Canadian Men’s National Team EXCEL Staff. The Girls REX program is our SK REX which provides female players a link to the VWFC Super REX program in Vancouver and to the Canadian Women’s National Team EXCEL Staff.
We take great pride in the accomplishments of the athletes that are achieving their dreams through participation in the REX SK and Whitecaps programming both which welcome athletes from all areas of the province.
Online Coaching/ Referee Courses
Did you know that the SSA offers a large variety of Coaching and Referee courses online? To sign up, register through your Member Organization Ramp Registration Portal.
For more detailed information on Coaching Courses - Online Theory, click here.
For more detailed information on Referee Courses - Online Theory, click here.
Member Spot Light!
In honour of Black History Month it is our pleasure to share Odean Thompson's story. Odean is an active soccer volunteer, player, and coach. He dedicates his time to working in the SSA Diversity Advisory group and coaching with the Lakeland Rustlers Men's Soccer team. When talking to Odean his passion for soccer and community shines through!
Check out his story:
My journey throughout life has been interesting both academically and athletically. Throughout my years in high school, I was often encouraged to go for lower than my ability. However, through parental intervention, effective teaching, and coaching strategies I came to the realization that I could achieve more.
Such an outlook gave me the opportunity to attend a post-secondary institution and not only pursue a degree but also play CIS soccer at Brock and Nipissing University. Transitioning both academically and athletically was a challenge. However, consistency, perseverance and positive relationships propelled me towards being the first member of my family to obtain a degree.
Once completing my degree, I worked towards obtaining my coaching certifications which presented some challenging circumstances. Fortunately, the experiences gained coaching led me to being head coach for Team North Saskatchewan, assistant coach for NAIG U-19 and assistant coach with the Rustlers Soccer Program.
Through my coaching journey I hope to provide opportunities for all, while helping to motivate and encourage Afro-Canadian youth to maximize their potential, inspiring these youth to positively contribute to Saskatchewan Soccer and all of Canada.
Odean's favorite quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world."
February 20th marked the one-year countdown to the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games! Watch the One-year Kick Off to the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games here.
Saskatchewan Games also announce the United in Sport challenge which is designed to encourage Saskatchewan residents to be active in a fun and safe way to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Games.
Saskatchewan Games is challenging Saskatchewan residents to try as many activities as possible while challenging others via social media to compete and be active across the province.
Our province offers a wide range of great sports and activities that we can participate in—let’s show off all the active experiences that Saskatchewan has to offer!
How to participate in the challenge:
If you are challenged by someone, or want to start a challenge—show it! Take a video or photo of yourself participating in a safe sport or activity in your community, post it to your social media channels using the hashtags #UnitedInSport & #SWG2022 and tag the organizations or people who you want to challenge to show off how they are staying active.
Who can participate in the challenge:
This is a call out to everyone in Saskatchewan to get active! Individuals, sport groups, classrooms, community groups, teams, families—uniting us all and reminding us that it’s time to get in the spirit of the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games!
Invitation to Participate in International Research Study
Dear Sport Club President/Board Member,
Dr. Katie Misener, Associate Professor, and Kristen Morrison, PhD Candidate, at the University of Waterloo are working on a research project on risk management practices in community sport clubs. They are looking for board members of local sport clubs to participate in the Canadian component of an international research study across four countries (Canada, Australia, Germany, United States).
You are invited to complete an online survey to explore sport leaders’ perceptions of risk management practices in community sport organizations and the different ways that fraud can be detected and prevented in sport clubs. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete online. The study is anonymous (i.e., you do not need to enter your name or club’s name). The findings of the research will help improve the community sport sector by informing the design and development of risk management education and training sources for sport clubs to minimize their financial risk.
If you are interested in participating, please click on this link as soon as possible or by March 15:
At the end of the survey, you will be redirected to a separate survey where you will be able to request a summary of the results of the study and enter your name into a draw for one of five $100 gift cards to Sport Chek. The draw will be made on March 20.
Please read the attached information letter to provide your organization with more detail about what is involved in participation. If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me via the details listed below.
Yours in Sport,
Katie Misener
Dr. Katie Misener, PhD, Associate Professor
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
University of Waterloo
SSA Calendar of Events & Deadlines
February 27 and 28 - eNational Championships Finals
March 5 - watch for the AGM Package release
March 8 - International Women’s Day Campaign
March 15 - Membership Renewal
March 20 - SSA Annual General Meeting will occur ONLINE
March 31 - SSA Recognition Awards
April 17 - VWFC / SSA Coach Education Series Part 2 of 8
Every Friday - Canada Soccer Podcast
BE SAFE! BE THE SOLUTION!
As a reminder, please continue to take care of yourself, your families, and others.
| 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. |
| Maintain good general health (eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and move in moderation). |
| 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. |
