Message from the President:

 2011, another great year for Castlegar Minor Soccer! While soccer might not be on your mind in the dead of winter, planning for the season is well underway. The executive of 2010 did a great job throughout the year, so please say “thanks” next time you see one of them.

Currently, there are several positions that need to be filled, including:U4 Coordinator, U6 Coordinator, U8 Boys Coordinator. Without a person in each of these positions, soccer for that particular age group can’t happen. The time commitment isn’t significant, typically one meeting a month Sept – March, and 2 meetings a month Apr-Jun. I try hard to keep them as short as possible.

Some of the other positions that need to be filled include:Field Coordinator, Risk Management Coordinator, and of course, coaches Because youth soccer (age 11 to 18) makes up about half of our league, it is essential CMSA has a strong and visible presence at the Kootenay South Soccer Association. Considerable discussion has taken place as to how we can best do this, and we now have two committed representatives for these meetings. 

Focus shifted in 2010 from the concession and change room to field improvement. It was felt that this had to happen first, and included such things as improved drainage on the northwest field, as well as leveling and extension of the existing fields. The drainage was better in 2010, and this fall the city leveled and put down roughly 3200 m2 of new turf, along with help from several CMSA parents and players. By doing this, we will have room for two regulation size soccer fields, suitable for provincial-level tournaments. To proceed with the concession and change room, CMSA will need to form partnerships with the city, service groups, and businesses. Such a facility will be valuable not only for soccer, but for the entire community, being used for various seasonal events, exhibitions, concerts, and tournaments, raising the profile of the city in a positive way. To enable CMSA to apply for provincial gaming grant money, we are currently in the process of changing our organization to a society. See you on the fields !!

                                                                                    Ralph Lunn, President, CMSA