The soccer season is officially underway and the Comox Valley United Soccer Club (CVUSC) has broken all previous registration records. With over 1,300 youth and over 200 adults scheduled to play this spring, the numbers highlight the fact that soccer has become the number one team sport in Canada.
This has been a growing trend right across the country for the past 20 years. According to the Canadian Soccer Association website there are more Canadians registered to play soccer than hockey. In fact in 2008 there were 873,032 soccer players compared to hockey’s 2009 figures of 499,695 registered players.
“Soccer has become the number one choice for youth for a number of reasons,” says Matthew Blecha, president of the CVUSC. “To begin with the cost of registration is reasonable at $70 to $85 depending on age group. Furthermore parents can outfit their child with equipment for about $80, half that if they buy used.”
One of the other reason why soccer has grown in the Valley, according to Blecha, is the fact that the club has introduced an Under 5 division which has become quite popular. Appropriately called the Bambinos, these children learn the fundamentals where the emphasis is placed on having fun. The children also receive a T-shirt and mini-soccer ball as a bonus for their participation.
In addition to the players, there are also 161 coaches who volunteer their time and share their passion for the game. "When you add up all the numbers,” says Blecha, “taking into consideration referees, parents, friends, other members of the family like grandparents, aunts and uncles, soccer impacts on a huge portion of the population in the Comox Valley.”
It is anticipated that this interest in soccer will continue to grow. This was evident during last year’s World Cup event and the renewed interest that has been created by the Vancouver Whitecaps who have broken into the major league scene. In addition Canada’s women’s team is now ranked sixth in the world and the Women’s World Cup will be held in Canada in 2015.
Anyone wishing to sign up for soccer or volunteer can get the details from the Comox Valley United Soccer Club website www.cvusc.org. While it may be late to play this spring, there is always the opportunity to get involved in the fall season.
– Comox Valley United Soccer Club