Strong coaches play an integral part in the development of youth in sports on the field and off. (Submitted photos/Meadow Lake and District Youth Soccer Association)

By Martin Martinson

Coaches training program

Meadow Lake Youth Soccer puts emphasis on coaching development

May 13, 2022 | 3:00 PM

Class is in session this weekend for the next generation of youth soccer coaches in Meadow Lake.

Meadow Lake Youth Soccer is partnering with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) for a coaches’ training clinic tonight and tomorrow (May 13-14) at the Carpenter High School gymnasium.

Training for Active Start (U5) and Fundamentals (U9) coaching will run tonight from 6–9 p.m., with Learn to Train (U13) and Soccer for Life (all ages) coaching tomorrow running from 9 a.m. to noon.

The different age group courses cover guidelines for the types of skill development the players should be experiencing at each stage in their growth and development.

President of Meadow Lake and District Youth Soccer, Raelynn Gilroyed, said with a number of youth coaches as young as 16 coming out to attend the training and step into leadership coaching roles, it’s something extremely valuable to the program that will also be beneficial for those involved for years to come.

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“For our 16 year olds we still have another two years of them being able to coach and then hopefully they take that with them to wherever they decide to go in life,” she said. “If they decide to go to university in Saskatoon, they can enroll to help coach in Saskatoon. It is a really nice program that will follow them into adulthood and when have their own kids, then they can coach to help their kids’ teams.”

The emphasis on strong coaching development is something Meadow Lake Youth Soccer has taken seriously in recent years, as the program looks to continue to grow and expand in new ways. SSA training is required when attending more out of town and sanctioned tournaments.

“When I took over presidency, we really looked at revamping things and how we could bring a better program to Meadow Lake Soccer that allows coaches to feel confident in delivering a soccer program on their Monday and Wednesday practices,” Gilroyed said.

“Implementing this coaching training allows our kids to get the level of soccer they deserve and that they need in order to play safely, make it in tournaments and go places.”

Three taking part in this weekend’s coaches’ training sessions are also part of Meadow Lake Soccer’s newly-implemented Coaching Mentorship Program.

The program gives high school students interested in becoming certified coaches a schooling credit for coaching a U5 and U9 team, running practices twice a week, with Gilroyed on-hand as their mentor to provide guidance and support as needed.

This weekend’s practical in-person coaches training goes hand-in-hand with an online portion of the program rolled out by Sask Soccer Association outlined here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1