Lakeland District Soccer Association

2012 OUTDOOR LEAGUE SCHEDULE

GAME RESULTS POSTED DAILY

<--- CHECK THE LAKELAND LEAGUE SCHEDULE TAB.

** UPDATED 17h58 18 May 2012**

2012 OUTDOOR GAME SHEETS - CLICK Here

2012 Alberta Summer Games

For more information, click HERE.

Try-out dates:

Friday, May 18 - 5:00 to 7:00 PM Girls

Friday, May 18 - 7:00 - 9:00 PM Boys

Saturday, May 19 - 9:00 to 11:00 AM Girls

Saturday, May 19 - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Boys

*Location - Lac La Biche*

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to register

Coaching Courses

Click Here for a list of Coaching courses in Lakeland

For more information, please contact your community Technical Representative,

or Vance Whynot, LDSA Head Coach.

Lakeland Cup Dates & Location

Vermilion: June 15- 17^th (U14 – U18)

St Paul: June 22 -24^th (U12 – U16)

Office Hours

Please conduct all phone calls prior to 9 pm.

Click (Here) for more information.

~~EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH ~~

Respect For The Game - Players - Click (Here)

Respect For The Game - Adults - Click (Here)

An Open Letter to Parents and Coaches of Youth Soccer Teams

Ever wonder what it is like to be a teenager in the middle of a field being criticized loudly, with foul language to boot, over your performance, when you're doing your best? Would you yell at your child like that over a missed kick, a missed goal? Would you put up with a coach who continually berated your child's lack of decisiveness, drive, decision making, and ability as a soccer player? As a coach, would you like to have the parents on your team yelling at you over the team roster, tactics, performance, win / loss record?
The answer is probably not.
Then why is it open season on youth referees? Ever wonder what that brutal comment, so easily shouted across 50 yards of grass will do to their confidence? It may be humorous, but stinging. It may be absolutely right, but does nothing for their self-esteem. We probably train about 800 referees each year in the Edmonton area, but we still have a shortage. We have a huge dropout rate, probably around 98%. Most of it due to the abuse heaped on the kids' heads. Those that survive are the hardened lot, who don the body armour each time they venture out to officiate in a game, who become so shell shocked that no amount of mentoring or coaching is ever going to change their view of the world.
Those of us that try and help them improve their knowledge and skills find it tough penetrating the outer shells, to try and have them put a more human face to their referee skills. It really bothers me that when I do games involving problem coaches and parents, I have fewer problems, probably because I'm an adult. It is strange that we put so much effort into coaching our kids to play the game, yet so little effort into coaching our officials. But then, it wouldn't be much fun to actually work to help the referee, when we could stand on the side and heckle.
Maybe it's time that just once, in one game this season, we back off, maybe take the time to go to the youngster after the game and say thanks. Maybe we offer a little help to those organizations trying to retain , improve and mentor these youngsters to become better at what they do. Hey, if we can do it at one game, let's try for more. Maybe we will start enjoying the games, seeing more youngsters getting better at the job of refereeing the games.
Give the kids a break - they are doing their best.

ASA Referee, Instructor & Assessor