The Battlefords United FC U17 team pictured here when they were last able to play games pre-pandemic, back in 2019. (Submitted photo/Kelly Villeneuve)

By Martin Martinson

Reopening Step One

Local soccer programs could begin games next week following provincial announcement

May 25, 2021 | 4:27 PM

The Battlefords’ minor soccer programs could begin playing games as early as next week, following Tuesday’s announcement from the province that outdoor sports have been added to Step One of Saskatchewan’s Re-open Roadmap, which will take effect May 30.

Both Battlefords Youth Soccer and Battlefords United Football Club (BUFC) began practicing earlier this month, with a focus on strictly skill development through drills and training in small groups, as was the case for the entirety of the spring soccer season last year in the community.

Executive Director of Battlefords Youth Soccer Inc. (BYSI), Kelly Villeneuve said while those practices are certainly valuable, there is great excitement around the league and its players that games will be allowed to take place, sooner rather than later.

“Everyday the kids are out there with the coaches, they always ask when they can play games, so I know they’re really ready and excited to go and play again in-game,” Villeneuve said.

“Those practices and skill [development] is something that the kids all need, but really the reason they signed up this season is to actually play the game of soccer, so I know the kids are going to be extremely happy, as well as the parents.”

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Villeneuve added that with May 30 just around the corner this weekend, they are expecting to hear word from the Saskatchewan Soccer Association in the coming days authorizing them to officially kick off game-play in the community next week.

“As soon as we get the email from the Sask. Soccer Association giving us the go-ahead, we’ll switch to games the week of that information,” he said. “We’ve always relayed that message to the parents, that as soon as we are able to play games we will automatically shift to begin playing games in the schedules we have.”

Head coach and competitive coordinator with BUFC, Kat Huxley said following much uncertainty surrounding a return to play dating back to last year, Tuesday’s news came as a real positive for the local soccer clubs.

“It’s just really great news and I’m excited for the players to be able to play games against each other again,” Huxley said.

“I know as soon as [the announcement] was released this morning my phone started blowing up with calls and texts and comments of people making sure that I had heard the news, so to think about our kids playing as soon as Monday—in a week—that is very exciting.”

While outdoor sports such as soccer and baseball will be able to begin playing games as of May 30, the restrictions surrounding indoor sports are still part of Step Two, which is tentatively set to take effect June 20.

For more on Tuesday’s announcement from the province, click here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1