NEWS RELEASE
Website: www.sasksoccer.com
SASK SOCCER TO HOST U12 JAMBOREE IN PRINCE ALBERT
Monday, July 19, 2010
Regina, Saskatchewan –
The Saskatchewan Soccer Association is very pleased to announce that the 2010 Sask Soccer U12 Jamboree program will be coming to Prince Albert on Saturday, September 18th, 2010 in conjunction with the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association. 2010 will mark the third year for the popular jamboree program, which provides an opportunity for young athletes to participate in a self-organized, guided discovery-based competition. Originally established in the Netherlands, the jamboree format is designed to emphasize the enjoyment of the players and limit adult involvement.
“We have organized a jamboree in Saskatoon each of the past two years and the feedback from the participants has been outstanding,” explains Dave Nutt, Director of Soccer Operations at Sask Soccer. “As a Technical Department, we want to make this wonderful opportunity accessible to more young athletes from across Saskatchewan by expanding the program to more communities in 2010.”
For a cost of just $25.00, players participate in ten mini-games in each of two, 2-hour sessions. Players are randomly assigned to a field where they meet four-to-five other players to create a team. The players themselves are responsible for organizing their positions, formations and substitutions and receive an individual score based on the result of the match. All players are then reassigned to new teams, with the competition continuing.
“In addition to being an enjoyable soccer event,” Nutt continues, “the Jamboree is also about meeting new people, leadership, communication and problem solving for the young athletes involved. The typical organized soccer environment is very coach-driven and controlled, while the Jamboree turns these responsibilities over to the players themselves. It is amazing to see these young people grow in confidence and enjoyment over the course of the event.”
In addition to being an outstanding event, the 2010 U12 Jamboree program will also serve as an identification opportunity for the Sask Soccer U13 Provincial Teams Program. Sask Soccer Technical Department and Provincial Teams Coaching Staff will attend all jamborees to evaluate athletes for potential involvement in future provincial team programs.
“[Soccer great] Jurgen Klinsmann quoted that „the best players in the world come out of unorganized events‟. I am excited about the opportunity for our grassroots athletes to take part in a program where a player-centred approach and free play is the focus,” states Terrol Russell, Sask Soccer Coordinator of High Performance. “There will be no coach or adult influence which will allow the athletes the opportunity to problem solve and develop creative solutions during the run of play. It is from this environment that athletes will be identified for future entry level Sask Soccer
Provincial Team Programs. I look forward to working with the U12 athletes from throughout the province and hope they enjoy the independence this program provides.”
To register or for further information on the U12 Jamboree program, please refer to the included promotional poster and registration form, contact Dave Nutt at the coordinates below, or visit Sask Soccer online at www.sasksoccer.com.
