Nicole Lindsay of Edmonton started her soccer playing days with McLeod Community League.

Here is what she is up to now!

Canada's youngest elite players are getting their first taste of the national program. The best female players born 1995 and 1996 - as young as 14 and 15 years old are taking part in an 11 day camp in Sunrise, Florida. The Canadian U15 camp runs July 30 to August 9th under the supervision of coach David Benning.

"The creation of the U15 program has allowed these players to experience the maturity level required to train and compete before they take that next step towards international competition", said coach Benning. Coach Benning and his staff selected players from across the country, identifying players at the National Training Centres and events like the BMO Championships (Nationals) Nutrilife All Stars. In fact, 348 different players took part in the last two U14 Girls select competitions at Laval 2009 and St. John's 2010.

"It is an honour to play for Canada', said centre midfielder Nicole Lindsay (currently playing for SE Storm of EMSA). 'There are no words to express how grateful I am to the people here giving me a chance to show what I have.'

Way to go Nicole!

In 2009 we had 26 indoor teams representing over 500 players, and we are anticipating an increase for the 2010/2011 indoor season, which is set to commence on October 16, 2010.

Registration Dates and Times

Registration will take place at the McLeod Hall (14715 59 Street) on Monday, September 13th and Thursday, September 16th from 6-9pm each night. Please note that the registration dates have changed and these are the correct dates.

Age Categories and Fees

We are happy to announce that we have been able to lower our fees for the second year in a row!

Memberships, volunteer commitments, and player cards

You will require a community league membership to register, and memberships will be available for purchase at registration. The membership year runs from September to August, so any 2009/2010 memberships will expire at the end of August and you will need a new 2010/2011 membership. The membership fee is $25 family, $15 single. You are also required to fulfill a volunteer commitment per player to a maximum of two commitments per family. A $100 deposit per player (maximum $200) will be required at registration. Payment may be made by Interac (Debit), Visa, or Mastercard. Please remember no cheques.

All city-wide players (Xtreme) and U16/U18 (born 1993 to 1996) players must have player cards, which will be available at registration. Coaches for U16 and U18 must be carded as well. Please bring a Birth Certificate, AHC card (with full name), passport or Driver's license. Please bring the player with you so that we can take their picture - otherwise you will need to bring him/her to the South Soccer centre and potential line-ups for photos. If you have a current card and re-do your card, you will be charged $20 by EMSA.

Volunteer commitments available include:

• Registration and Equipment
• Polar Cup
• Sale of Water Park tickets
• Bingo Workers
• Waive commitment

Because uniforms continue to not be returned, we will be implementing a $75 uniform deposit for U10 and up. Last season one of our coaches found a McLeod boys jersey for sale at Value Village! Please don't donate uniforms to charity! Lost uniforms cost the community league money (we need to buy replacements) and cause your registration fees to go up! A $75 cheque will be required with all registrations post-dated for March 1, 2011. Your coach will return your cheque to you at the end of the season once your jersey has been turned in. If the jersey is not returned, your cheque will be cashed.

Please check your closets, corners, bags and under beds and return all uniforms to your coach or at registration. Please note that U6 players (Timmy's) keep their jerseys. Uniforms are for games only - not for practices, school, or shopping.

Refund Policy

• If trying out for a club team or if you are pulling your child please let us know as soon as possible by emailing soccer@mcleodcommunityleague.ca
• Community memberships are not refundable
• Registration fees will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee if we are notified prior to the start of the season if your child has made a club team or is not playing. Refunds will be prorated up to and including November 15, 2010. No refunds will be provided after November 16, 2010.
• Once you have registered, you will be required to fulfill your volunteer commitment whether your child is playing for Club, McLeod or not playing at all, as registering your child means a position on a team is being held - no exceptions.

Tournaments and Pictures

Please note that we are no longer paying for tournaments. Teams wishing to enter tournaments need to pay for it themselves. Pictures are included in the registration fee.

Pads and Piercings

Shin pads are mandatory for everyone and socks must cover the shin pad. Players must have black socks and black shorts (socks, shin pads, and shorts are for sale at registration). No piercings are allowed and no taping of piercings.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact soccer@mcleodcommunityleague.ca. Thanks and see you at registration. As in the past, you will receive a quicker response by email.

Our Baseball Program continues to grow. It is focused on skills development and the enjoyment of the game of baseball. Coaches are NCCP qualified to the appropriate level and have completed the Respect in Sport module as mandate by Baseball Alberta.

Brad Trefan Baseball Director

The Hollick-Kenyon Park Society has taken your feedback and has a created a design for the new park and playground, so now it is time to really get the fundraising going strong, and let the community see what the new site will have to offer.

We will be having a BBQ fundraiser at Matt Berry Park (59A street and 160 Ave - behind Northeast Christian School) on September 11, 2010 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The afternoon will include a BBQ, bouncy houses, as well as great things to do for the entire family. Come by to see the plans for the park, show your support by bidding in our silent auction, and help us reach our goal to have the playground built in the spring of 2012. Thank you for your support!

-Hollick-Kenyon Park Society

The Hollick-Kenyon Park Society now has a web site at www.hollickkenyonpark.ca! Please visit to get updates on the park's progress.

As the new Program Director for McLeod, I think it’s important that we all work together to make a better community. I invite your ideas and suggestions for programs you’d like to see in the community—for everybody from children to seniors. I welcome all suggestions! Please call me at (780) 399-5605 or email me at programs@mcleodcommunityleague.ca I look forward to hearing all your suggestions!

-Shauna

McLeod Program Director

• Little Tykes Program (PDF)

• 2009 Soccer Intro Letter (PDF)

An Open Letter to Parents and Coaches of Youth Soccer Teams

Ever wonder what it is like to be a teenager in the middle of a field being criticized loudly, with foul language to boot, over your performance, when you're doing your best? Would you yell at your child like that over a missed kick, a missed goal? Would you put up with a coach who continually berated your child's lack of decisiveness, drive, decision making, and ability as a soccer player? As a coach, would you like to have the parents on your team yelling at you over the team roster, tactics, performance, win / loss record?

The answer is probably not.

Then why is it open season on youth referees? Ever wonder what that brutal comment, so easily shouted across 50 yards of grass will do to their confidence? It may be humorous, but stinging. It may be absolutely right, but does nothing for their self-esteem. We probably train about 800 referees each year in the Edmonton area, but we still have a shortage. We have a huge dropout rate, probably around 98%. Most of it due to the abuse heaped on the kids' heads. Those that survive are the hardened lot, who don the body armour each time they venture out to officiate in a game, who become so shell shocked that no amount of mentoring or coaching is ever going to change their view of the world.

Those of us that try and help them improve their knowledge and skills find it tough penetrating the outer shells, to try and have them put a more human face to their referee skills. It really bothers me that when I do games involving problem coaches and parents, I have fewer problems, probably because I'm an adult. It is strange that we put so much effort into coaching our kids to play the game, yet so little effort into coaching our officials. But then, it wouldn't be much fun to actually work to help the referee, when we could stand on the side and heckle.

Maybe it's time that just once, in one game this season, we back off, maybe take the time to go to the youngster after the game and say thanks. Maybe we offer a little help to those organizations trying to retain , improve and mentor these youngsters to become better at what they do. Hey, if we can do it at one game, let's try for more. Maybe we will start enjoying the games, seeing more youngsters getting better at the job of refereeing the games.

Give the kids a break - they are doing their best.

Shaun Hammond ASA Referee, Instructor & Assessor