BYSA registrants get short reprieve on fees to encourage enrolment
By Shara JJ Cooper
The Boundary Youth Soccer Association (BYSA) is dropping its registration fee back to the early bird rates, in an attempt to boost enrolment before the snow melts.
“Historically, BYSA registers approximately 270 players in the U7 to U16 divisions. Right now we are around 155,” said executive director Jeff Olsen.
This causes problems for the volunteers that run the organization, as they learned last year, when they received an onslaught of late registrations and had to create new teams, rearrange existing teams and rework all the rosters.
“What a mess that causes on all ends,” said Olsen, explaining how frustrating it was for the coaches and other volunteers last year.
This year, they are refusing to do that to the volunteers and are encouraging parents to register as soon as possible, by dropping the fee from $135 (the late enrolment fee) back to $95 (the early bird rate) for one week. Any registrant that has already paid the $135 will be reimbursed the difference.
On March 8th, all registration will be $135 and registration will be closed by March 15th — something Olsen stresses is firm. Exceptions will only be made in extreme circumstances.
He’s confident that they will get their numbers back up, since they have consistently had 260 to 270 players for the last few years.
Olsen says the main problem is that parents become complacent in the winter months and tell him they can’t think about soccer when snow is on the ground.
“If they wait until the snow is melted, their kids aren’t going to be playing soccer,” he stressed.
One thing that is cruising along smoothly this spring is the coaches. Nineteen coaches are in place and only two coaching positions need to be filled, one for U11 (under 11) in Grand Forks and one for U7 (under 7) in the Midway — Rock Creek area.
Many of the coaches are new this year, but were eager and waiting to sign up.
“It’s a fresh batch this year,” said Olsen, but added some of them have come from the association’s new winter program.
The Boundary Development Program is a new indoor initiative that BYSA started this winter. It was designed for players that wanted to be challenged more and to do more than just recreational soccer.
They had 60 players sign up and Olsen said that this was a great turnout and when they he polled the parents the results were favourable. They plan on offering it again next winter.
From the Development Program come coaches that are interested in going to higher levels of training and upgrading their licensing at training events outside the region. This, said Olsen, will allow them to come back and offer more resources and support to new coaches.
All coaches go to a coaches clinic the week before spring break (March 11 and 12) where they get the skills they need to teach their team.
The first BYSA games of the year start April 9th.
For more information about the BYSA or to enroll online go to their website.
