Merry Christmas from the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association
Merry Christmas from the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association
Christmas Hours
NLSA Technical Offices: December 24 - 9am - 12pm, December 25-January 3 CLOSED, January 4, 2022 Regular Hours
NLSA Administrative Office: Closed December 17 to January 4.
President's Message
As we wrap up another year, its time to reflect on and give thanks for the past year and all who helped make it possible.
As we navigated a second year of COVID 19 protocols, clubs and leagues were able to expand their program offerings and have successful seasons at the local and provincial
level. In fact, player registrations approached pre-pandemic levels, as we gained further experience in managing COVID protocols, and finding creative new ways to deliver
programming.
For our staff, that meant continuing online and in person training. Here are just a few
highlights:
* More than three hundred (300) individuals participated in community-coaching courses or clinics delivered by NLSA staff
* Ten (10) goalies completed the Goalkeeper Diploma course
* Sixty-five (65) coaches completed the Active Start Program (online)
* Seventy - Eight (78) coaches completed the Fundamentals program (online)
* Thirty (30) coaches completed the Learn to Train program (online)
* Sixty (60) coaches completed the Soccer for Life program (online)
* Twenty-one (21) coaches attended and completed the online C License Course
* Four (4) coaches attended the National B part 2 course
* Four (4) coaches attended the Canada Soccer Youth license course
* Mark and Connie Marshall were selected as national master coach developers for Canada Soccer’s coaching education program
* Two hundred forty (240) players attended the 2025 Canada Games trials.
* Five Hundred (500) players from across the province attended 2021/2022 Provincial Program tryouts. There are boys and girls provincial teams from U12-
U16 teams.
Our partnership with the Vancouver Whitecaps continues with in-person and virtual training. Ellie Power from St.John’s Soccer and Grace Nolan of CBS Soccer attended a
national scouting event in Vancouver, with strong performances.
Two clubs have completed Quality Soccer Providers application for Canada Soccer Club License Quality Soccer Providers and another two clubs are still working on their
applications.
Additionally, we continue to make progress in development of officials, with 137 new referees put through the small-sided games clinic, and 36 referees upgraded to District
Level officials. In all, there were 273 referees registered for the 2021 season. Chantal McDonald and Brooke Andrews were chosen by Canada Soccer to attend the
Canadian Soccer Women’s Referee Seminar; and Chantal McDonald and Martin Batterson participated in the U-Sport championships as Assistant Referee and Assessor. Martin has also assessed six CPL games to date this season During the year, a Long Term Match Official Development Advisory Team was appointed to review the referee program.
Finally, it was my absolute pleasure to finally be able to join the 2019 and 2020 Hall of Fame laureates and award winners in November, for an in-person celebration of their
careers and honors. I don’t think I have smiled so much in a long time. In April, we will induct our 2021 laureates: Blair Aylward, Jeremy Babstock, Scott Bishop, Richard Kelly, Debbie (Hunt) Shortall, and Jeff Warren. Congratulations to the Classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021. You continue to inspire the current generation.
Thank you to everyone who made soccer possible in 2021 - from our NLSA staff and Board of Directors, to all the associations, players, officials, committee members,
volunteers, spectators and parents, media, sponsors, SportNL, public health and all levels of government.
From our families to yours, however you celebrate the season, may you have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, and best wishes for a happy, prosperous and
soccer-filled New Year! See you in 2022.
Doug Redmond
President
