INNISFAIL – It’s almost time to hit the soccer fields.
The Innisfail Minor Soccer Association (IMSA) kicks off its season on May 1.
“Typically we start at the end of April, but because of the weather this year we’re starting the season on May 1 and it will run until June 21, weather permitting,” said Bobbie Nelner, vice-president of the association. “It’s about an eight-week season.”
They incorporate the north field behind Innisfail High School and the south field behind the Innisfail Middle School for practice twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
While registration has closed, the non-profit association is still finalizing teams and looking for volunteer coaches and assistant coaches for this season.
“We’re still trying to get coaches to volunteer,” said Nelner. “If we can get enough coaches we will have eight U-5 teams, eight U-7 teams and four U-9 teams. Unfortunately we are still short some coaches.”
IMSA usually has U-5, U-7, U-9 and U-11 teams but this year there’s a change.
"We did not have enough participants for U-11 this year so we’ve added them in with the U-9 teams so they still have an opportunity to play,” she said.
U-9 teams and younger ones play as a house league, said Nelner, adding the association is part of the Central Alberta Soccer Association (CASA).
“We’re on the field two days a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (6:15 p.m. for U-9 teams). The first half of the evening is a practice and the second half is a game,” she said.
“This year our teams are a little bit bigger. We have about eight to 10 players on a team from U-5 to U-7,” said Nelner. “The U-9 teams are a little bit bigger because they play more players on the field at once. I believe we have about 11 to 13 players on each of those teams.”
“The biggest object of our league is just to have fun,” she added. “Especially the younger ones. We let them have fun, kick the ball around and have a great time.”
For more information or to volunteer or coach, visit Innisfail Minor Soccer Association on Facebook, or visit www.innisfailminorsoccer.com, email them at [email protected] or call Nelner at 403- 848-3855.
