Football Champions

(SOCCER - NL) Newfoundland & Labrador Soccer Association

Sun May 2, 2010 - "Great pride in the obvious respect that Canadian Soccer has for the sport within Newfoundland and Labrador" is the view of provincial youth soccer vice-president Judi Kelloway of Burin as the 2010 season draws nearer. Kelloway should know what she's talking about since she's been responsible for provincial youth soccer for the past ten years.
"We will host two important national youth championships this year and this certainly demonstrates the sincere regard that our association has earned at the national level," she added. St. John's and Mount Pearl will co-host the national Under-14 and Under-16 girls all-star nationals in July and the Under-18 boys and girls club nationals in October.

"The 2009 season attracted about 11,500 youth players according to our registrations. We had 101 teams participate in 15 provincial championship tournaments along with 29 teams that attended the Under-10 Jamborees and 15 teams that attended the Under-8 Jamboree. It was a record season for youth soccer provincially.
"We will definitely surpass these numbers for 2010," she continued. "All age categories are back and we have added other boys and girls events in response to requests we've received from our members. Remember, the future of soccer is the expanding youth programs at the grassroots level."
"Our sport is very fortunate to have a very large number of excellent volunteer people making community programs possible. Overall, organizers, coaches and officials make it possible for the community programs to function and it's the community programs that are the back bone of the provincial structure."
She was quick to praise "the fine sponsors that we've had at the provincial level. Pepsi Cola has backed our youth programs for 29 years and is back this season with the under-18, under-16 and under-14 boys and girls programs. This is the fifth season that CBC has sponsored the under-10 category. We are very grateful to both."
Kelloway explained "naturally, our all-star and club teams will be participating in national and Atlantic championships this season. The provincial Under-14 and Under-16 boys boys play in Laval, Quebec. The provincial Under-14 and Under-16 girls play at home in St. John's and Mount Pearl. These championships are scheduled July 21 to July 26."
"Our Under-13 boys and girls are entered in the Atlantic championships which will be held in Corner Brook and our Under-14 boys and girls play in Halifax while our Under-15 boys and girls travel to Moncton."
"In addition, plans call for the Under-12 boys and girls to compete in the Laval International Soccer Cup Tournament."
The winning provincial clubs advance into nationals in October. The Under-14 boys and girls are in New Brunswick, the Under-16 boys and girls play in Vaughan, Ontario while the Under-18 boys and girls are set for St. John's and Mount Pearl.
She explained "our all-stars have been training all winter while the club representatives will be decided through the various provincial championships that are set for July and August."
"We certainly regard the results of these national championships as rewarding for the past few years."
Provincial action starts July 30 to August 1 with four tournaments. St. John's will host the Under-eight boys and girls jamborees with the Under-18 boys and girls "B" championships to be held in a location to be named.
Paradise will host the Under-16 girls mega tournament and Conception Bay North will host the Under-16 boys mega tournament August 6 to August 8.
The Under-12 mega tournaments will be played August 19 to 22 with the boys in Gander and the girls in Conception Bay South.
The Under-14 boys mega tournament will be held in Mount Pearl and the Under-14 girls mega tournament will be held in Corner Brook August 12 to August 15. The Under-14- A boys tournament will be held in St. John's August 20 to 22and the Under-14 girls A championship is set for Conception Bay South on the same dates.
A real busy weekend, August 20 to 22 will also have the Under-16 A boys and girls tournaments in Mount Pearl while the date also applies to the Under-18 girls A in Corner Brook and the Under-18 boys A in St. John's
Mount Pearl will host the Under-10 boys and girls jamborees August 27 to 29.
"There is no doubt that 2010 is shaping up as a very, very busy few months for youth soccer at all levels," Kelloway added.

(Original Story)

Submitted By: Newfoundland & Labrador Soccer Association
Source: Soccer NL - www.nlsa.ca