(Submitted photo/Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association)

By Nolan Kowal

Kick off

P.A. youth soccer gearing up for busy outdoor season

Apr 23, 2024 | 5:00 AM

After a record setting indoor season, the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association is preparing for their outdoor season, which begins on May 1.

“We reached the maximum number, we had 914 players playing in indoor season,” said Dragan Ivkovic, the technical director of the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association. “That’s absolutely the highest number ever registered in Prince Albert. So proud that we’ve put Prince Albert as the biggest soccer club in the province three years in a row.”

“For the size of our community, that’s an unbelievable achievement.”

Ivkovic attributed the club’s success to the varying levels of play that they offer to the kids.

“We are trying to provide the kids with appropriate levels…we have different levels and they’re trying to accomodate all different skilled players and giving them a chance to develop,” he said.

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Dragan Ivkovic(right) signed a new contract with the PAYSA earlier this month. (Submitted photo/PAYSA)

The outdoor season runs May 1 to June 27. Ivkovic said they have about 1,100 registered players so far, with enough coaches and officials to accommodate them this year.

“That’s the biggest challenge with this number of players, especially when it comes to the coaches,” he said, adding that there has been a shortage of coaches intermittently in the past. “Our biggest challenge is to have enough coaches and referees for all of these games.”

Ivkovik said they try to have one head coach and one assistant coach per team.

“I’m sure before May 1, everything will be taken care of.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com