Saskatchewan Soccer approves academy membership

Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) broke new ground on Saturday when its membership moved to approve acceptance of private soccer academies as full, regular members of the Association, alongside traditional youth soccer clubs and associations. The SSA is the first jurisdiction in Canada to formally recognize private soccer institutions in this way.

The membership reforms, approved at the SSA’s Annual General Meeting in Swift Current this weekend, give a voting voice to all SSA clubs that register players, including many small soccer clubs around Saskatchewan who previously couldn’t vote as associate members.

“This is the culmination of two years of work in close consultation with our member organizations that simplifies our membership structure, and ultimately provides better choice and soccer opportunities for the players we all ultimately serve,” said Doug Pederson, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Soccer Association.

The decision is an important breakthrough for Canada Soccer’s Director of Development Jason de Vos, who is charged with developing youth soccer across the country.

“This is a truly pioneering decision that embraces the key stakeholders who develop our young soccer players,” said de Vos. “It is encouraging to see soccer clubs and academies acknowledging that they are all in the same business of developing players. Our sport is about teamwork, and our clubs and academies in Saskatchewan are truly playing like a team.”

The decision was part of a broader restructuring of the membership structure of the Saskatchewan Soccer Association. It means academies, clubs and member organizations, whether they are non-profit or private ownership groups are partners in growing the game, with an equal voice and vote as Regular Members of the SSA.

All Member Organizations including Academies will still be governed and managed by the conditions of their membership to the SSA. This may limit where they can operate, and what sort of programming they can offer. But this will be no different from how all regular members, club or academy are required to operate.

In fulfilling the provincial organization’s foundational mission to develop great people and connect healthy communities in Saskatchewan through lifelong participation in soccer, this move to recognize all member organizations equally is another strong step towards ensuring players have the power to choose their path in the game.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Ellarma, SSA Coordinator of Communications & Funds Development at 306-519-9093, or ccfd@sasksoccer.com.