The fields are drying out and the grass is getting greener, which means the spring youth soccer season is ready to go.
If you or your child is already on a team, contact your coaches regarding mid-week practices.
If youre not on a team, its up to the discretion of the coaches to determine if there are any open spaces.
"Some of the coaches already have 30 to 35 players, and they dont have room for any more," says Bob Calladine, the head of the Whistler Youth Soccer Club. "They can always try, wed hate to leave anybody out."
There are teams for kids in Kindergarten right up to Grade 11 a total of 227 kids at last count. Calladine estimates that up to 25 per cent of students at Myrtle Philip Community School and Whistler Secondary School are on a team.
Coaches and parents are also invited to a meeting at Whistler Secondary on Wednesday, May 15, between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. to discuss insurance issues and the planning of a European soccer camp in July.
While its not on the agenda, Calladine is also keen to discuss the possibility of asking the council to create some new playing fields.
"Theres rugby, ultimate, adult soccer, baseball, plus all of these tournaments in town, so the fields are well used. The kids get priority over the adults, and there are a lot of adult soccer players that are travelling to Squamish so they can get some more practice time in. I think we might be ready to look into the possibility of creating more playing space, because once spring starts its tight."
The Whistler teams are part of the North Shore Soccer league, but will play most of their games against teams from Pemberton and Mt. Currie. Before the fall league ended, teams were typically competing two out of three Saturdays.
Saturday Schedules:
Grade Field Coach Phone
10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Grade 1 Upper Field 9 Eric Gerlach 604-932-7168
Grade 2 Lower Field 8b Pat Thompson 604-938-1617
Grade 3 Lower Field 8a Peter Shrimpton 604-932-4848
Grade 4 Upper Field 10 Dave Robson 604-938-0300
Grade 5 Lower Field 7 Doug Fairly 604-938-0139
Grade 8 High School Bob Calladine 604-932-6288
Noon to 2 p.m.
Grade 6 Lower Field 8 Roy Atkins 604-938-1335
Grade 9 High School Bernard M. 604-932-4946
2 to 4 p.m.
Grade 10-plus Lower Field 7 Andree Janyk 604-932-2461