Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association players are lacing up their cleats for another season in the lakecity.
Rob Tazelaar, administrator for the WLYSA, said roughly 1,000 players are registered to play this year with the association.
“Our numbers are basically consistent with other years,” Tazelaar said, noting the mini division started playing last week with the other youth house divisions getting underway this week.
A shift from last year where the WLYSA utilized fields in the city,Tazelaar said all games will be played at the Esler Sports Complex this season.
As for rep teams, he said the WLYSA will field under-13, under-14 and under-16 girls’ teams and under-13, under-15 and under-16/17 boys’ teams along with both boys’ and girls’ under-11 and under-12 development teams.
“Rep teams are just getting rolling,” he said. “They will be taking part in the Cariboo Youth Soccer League (CYSL) with 100 Mile House, Quesnel and Prince George, as well as a couple other tournaments around the province.”
Several of the WLYSA’s rep teams will be travelling to Kamloops on the May long weekend for a tournament, while CYSL kicks off May 7 in Quesnel.
Other CYSL dates include May 14 in Williams Lake, June 4 in 100 Mile House, Prince George (yet to set a date) and a wrap up in either Quesnel or Prince George on June 25.
Another program the WLYSA offers is its Future Stars program for players in the under-nine and under-10 divisions, which Tazelaar said has 68 participants registered.
“That carries on May through September and it’s pretty much full,” he said, noting it’s for players who are looking for more field time.
The program is designed to help players advance their performance with a focus on fun, as well as developing life-long players.
“All in all we’re holding strong,” he said. “We have a lot of new registrants aged four, five and six. Our mini groups are huge.”
First games for the under-18 house division will be this Thursday, with the remaining groups playing Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 — all day — at the Esler Sports Complex.
“We’ve got a full schedule ready to rock,” Tazelaar said.