Page 12 - Trending Magazine 2018 Fall

Growing the Game_Layout 1 18-09-18 3:17 PM Page 3

“The university program has gotten bigger because then I think we will retain those numbers as they
now we’re not happy with just getting a couple of wins move through their age groups, and then we can
in the season, we’re working towards getting the continue getting lots of kids at the younger age
banner and getting the championship,” he said. groups.”
Last year the team made it to the playoffs, but for The better competition will come as well when the
the 2018 season they have their eyes on winning it all. technical programming of the association continues
It’s a trickle down effect. When older players have to progress, Roziere said.
success it helps the game grow at all levels of play, “We’re already seeing a bit of an improvement.”
Rodriguez said. Organizers are looking to run year-round
“It impacts the youth because they see how we work programming in the Westman area, which will also be
hard for our goals and they want to follow in the steps helpful in getting people involved.
of the older people,” he said. “There’s so many kids I think looking for an option
Younger players can see a future with the sport now through those spring and summer months that maybe
in Brandon with the success of those older teams, said didn’t have that option before.”
Jesse Roziere, coach of the BU soccer team, and There’s quite a few kids who are involved with the
technical director for the Westman Regional Soccer summer program, including Avery Bournon, Kayla
Association. Macgranachan’s son. They were practicing behind the
They’ve set up a pathway of what it looks like for a Meadows School in Brandon on a toasty day in
youth soccer player in the region and what they can August. Parents sat on the sidelines while they’re kids
work towards, or where they can play right from ran around and kicked the ball. It appeared that they
three years old to senior men’s and womens, Roziere were having the time of their lives.
said. “It gives him something to do instead of just sitting
They have kids in their current programming who around at home watching TV or something, it’s
have gone through all the different levels. activity, it’s exercise for him,” MacGranachan said.
“We have some guys here that did start in the The four year old has been playing soccer in the area
systems we currently have with the Westman FC or for awhile now. Previously he played for a Timbits
in the community that are now playing at the team.
university level,” Roziere said. “There was so many teams, I couldn’t believe it,”
“They’re also helping coach and work with those MacGranachan said. “Just general soccer and stuff
young players.” that he started in, I was amazed at how many kids
Although soccer has already grown significantly in there were playing soccer.”
the area, there’s opportunity
for it to get a lot bigger then
it is now, Roziere said. There U7-8 Kids take part in the Westman Regional Soccer Association's
summer programming at Meadows School on a warm evening.
were around 1,200 kids
registered in the Westman
area this year, with 50 youth
teams from U10 to U18.
The main area of growth is
in the younger age groups,
with the number of kids
registered tending to drop
with age. The goal for them is
to retain the number of
players at the younger levels,
at each of the different levels
of programming with the
Westman Regional Soccer
Association.
“Once we get that
organizational structure, the
technical programming
setup and well organized,

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