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Canada soccer history

Sask soccer association

Sask soccer a history

Saskatchewan Soccer Association

The Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA) is the governing body for soccer (Association Football) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

History of soccer in Saskatchewan
The first officially documented soccer game in Saskatchewan took place in Prince Albert on June 28, 1889. In February 1989 the first soccer club was formed in Prince Albert,, and, due to the formation of other clubs in Regina and Battleford, on April 13, 1906 the Saskatchewan Soccer Association was formed. From 1905 until World War I, soccer in Saskatchewan, particularly in Saskatoon, prospered, with games played against teams from Scotland and England as well as against local teams. With many young men gone to fight during the war, participation in soccer dropped, with no provincial games played from 1915–1919. The game quickly rebounded after the war, experiencing a second decline again over the 1930's and 1940's due to the Great Depression and World War II. Soccer participation experienced two rises after World War II: the first in the mid 1950's due to a wave of immigration, and the second in the 1960's with the formation of youth organizations. This rise in youth organizations had a marked benefit on senior leagues, as youth could now graduate out of the junior leagues into the senior leagues. The expansion of the senior leagues also lead to the inclusion of Saskatchewan teams in the newly-created Western Canadian Soccer League, a milestone for Saskatchewan soccer in the 1960s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Saskatchewan soccer experienced continual expansion, primarily due to the prevalence of youth soccer groups and the development of women's soccer teams. The national media also played a part, as coverage of the Olympic Games and Canada's qualification for the first time in the 1986 FIFA World Cup was important in the development of the sport in Saskatchewan.

The Regional Training Centre was opened in Saskatoon in 1986 and it has been utilized for a number of teams, including the Western Canada Games team in 1987, the Canada Summer Games team in 1989, the Women's All-Stars and the University of Saskatchewan teams.

By the end of the 1980s, soccer was growing in popularity throughout the province. No longer strictly found in the main provincial centres, soccer was played in all sections of the province by a greater variety of players. Towns and cities began to discover the wonderful game of soccer, engaging in a love affair that would continue into the next century.

During the 1990s soccer became an all year round sport as multi-million dollar facilities were built throughout Saskatchewan. Soccer centres could be found in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton and Lloydminster.

More indoor soccer facilities were built in Warman and Moose Jaw in the first decade of the 21st century, and registrations increased to over 35,000 players participating in the sport of Soccer in 2012. The organization's staff has increased in size to ten full time employees making it the largest provincial sporting governing body in employees and participants.

The SSA operates the Saskatchewan Premier Soccer League: the highest level of amateur soccer competition in the province. Furthermore, it operates, in partnership with Lakeland College and the Meridian Youth Soccer Association (Lloydminster), The Rivers West Centre of Excellence.

The SSA is a member organization of the national sport governing body, the Canadian Soccer Association.

Members
The Saskatchewan Soccer Association regulates the following soccer playing centres in the province:

Regular Members

 * 14-40 Soccer Inc.
 * Battlefords Youth Soccer Inc.
 * Battlefords Senior Soccer Association
 * Carlton Trail Soccer Association
 * Estevan Senior Soccer Association
 * Estevan Youth Soccer Association
 * Kindersley Minor Soccer Association
 * Lloydminster & District Senior Soccer Association
 * Meadow Lake & District Youth Soccer Association Inc.
 * Melfort Youth Soccer Association
 * Meridian Youth Soccer Association
 * Moose Jaw Youth Soccer Association
 * Prince Albert Youth Soccer Associaiton
 * Prince Albert Senior Soccer Association
 * Regina Soccer Association
 * Qu'Appelle Valley Soccer Association
 * Saskatoon Adult Soccer Inc
 * Saskatoon Youth Soccer Inc.
 * Swift Current Soccer Association
 * Weyburn Soccer Association
 * Valley Soccer Association
 * Yorkton Soccer Association

Associate members

 * Astra Soccer Academy
 * Broadview Soccer
 * Canora Soccer
 * Carlyle & Moose Mountain Soccer
 * Eastend Soccer
 * Esterhazy Soccer
 * Grenfell Soccer
 * Kamsack Soccer
 * Kinistino Soccer
 * Kipling Soccer
 * Maple Creek Soccer
 * Meadow Lake Senior Soccer
 * Melville Soccer
 * Montmartre Soccer
 * Moosomin Soccer
 * Nipawin Soccer
 * Odessa Soccer
 * Phantom Lake Soccer Club, MB
 * Rocanville Soccer
 * Saltcoats Soccer
 * Saskatoon & District Referees Association
 * Shaunavon Soccer
 * Spiritwood Soccer
 * St.Walburg Soccer
 * Tisdale Soccer
 * United Soccer (Langenburg)
 * University of Regina
 * University of Saskatchewan
 * Vibank Soccer
 * Wapella Soccer
 * Wawota Soccer
 * Whitewood Soccer
 * Wolseley Soccer

David Newsham Award
The SSA recognizes participants (coaches, athletes, referees, volunteers, etc) on an annual basis who have shown exceptional service in sport of soccer with the David Newsham Outstanding Volunteer Award. David Newsham was an athlete and leader in the Saskatchewan soccer community, and was instrumental in the development of soccer in Saskatchewan.