The 2016 Soccer Festival is coming up this Saturday at the Esler Sports Complex.
Hosted by the Williams Lake Youth Soccer Association, the festival will feature multiple free events including a soccer camp, an active start coaching clinic, coach development, manager development, referee development and goalkeeping development.
The goal of the soccer festival will be to provide support, connections and continuing education for players, officials and coaches.
The soccer camp will be for players in two age groups — under-six to under-eight and under-nine to under-11. Players must preregister as spaces are limited.
The coaching clinic is for coaches in the under-four to under-six divisions and participants must also preregister.
Sessions on injury prevention, nutrition, ethics and management will be part of coaching development, while budgeting and managing a rep team will take precedence in manager development.
An on-field session to brush up on referee skills with a B.C. Soccer Association referee mentor will be the focus of referee development.
BCSA goalkeeping coaches will be on hand to instruct keepers during the day.
Free babysitting and lunch are available to those who preregister.
The following are the times of the various sessions being hosted throughout the day:
• 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Active Start Coaching Clinic
• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: under-six to under-eight soccer camp
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: under-nine to under-11 soccer camp
• 10 a.m. to noon: coaching/refereeing/goalkeeping development
• 12:30 p.m.: draw prizes
• Noon to 4 p.m.: equipment distribution
• Coach/volunteer draw prizes begin at 12:30 p.m. You must be present to collect a prize.
• Player prizes throughout the morning
To register contact WLYSA administrator Rob Tazelaar at 250-392-1103 for a registration form.