FC Edmonton Sets Saskatoon Into Its Pre-season Training As The Team Prepares for Scotland

FC Edmonton Sets Saskatoon Into Its Pre-season Training As The Team Prepares for Scotland

February 29, 2016

REGINA, SK - It is not every day that Saskatoon has the opportunity to host a professional soccer team, but on March 3rd and 4th, the SaskTel Sports Centre will be the site for both on-field and off-field events which will be open to the provincial soccer community and to the public.

In preparation for a series of pre-season friendlies against Patrick Thistle, Airdrie FC, Queens Park FC, and England’s Newcastle United U-21 squad next month in Scotland, the team will be travelling to the city for a set of indoor training sessions. “This is an excellent opportunity for the Saskatchewan soccer community to see professional soccer firsthand. The game is continuing to evolve across the country with professional teams playing a key role in the progress,” said Saskatchewan Soccer Association’s Director of Soccer Operations, Dave Nutt.

The professional North American Soccer League (NASL) team will be taking to the pitch from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on March 3rd for a two-hour training session, which is open to the public to come out and watch. The team will then cap off the trip to “Toontown” with an FC Edmonton Intrasquad game from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on March 4th before returning home.

“It is a tribute to the quality of the SaskTel Sports Centre, that it is able to attract this level of training. We are thankful to FC Edmonton for their visit and look forward to the wonderful opportunity,” added Nutt about the city’s premier indoor facility, one of three full-size soccer facilities in the province.

In addition to the on-field component of the visit, FC Edmonton’s Assistant Coach and Academy Technical Director, Jeff Paulus will be hosting a Coaches Roundtable and presentation of Game Model development. This presentation will focus on the development of training sessions, plans and long-term development of the game, players and coaches. The session will again be open to the soccer community and general public. The Pleasureway Pub in the SaskTel Sports Centre will be the venue for this event.

“We are very thankful to Jeff Paulus and FC Edmonton for their willingness to participate in this initiative. It will be an excellent learning opportunity for Saskatchewan coaches interested in growing their knowledge and understanding through a workshop, which is designed to begin the process of the development of a “game model”. It will be a great opportunity for coaches to interact and discuss the game in a less formal setting with colleagues of the game,” Nutt lamented.

The visit is a great segue to the upcoming Soccer 4 Life (S4L) 8-aside Indoor Youth Provincial Championships set to kick off on Friday, with teams from all over the province converging on Saskatoon for a weekend of high-energy competition. For full details on the Saskatchewan Soccer Association and the S4L Provincial Championships, visit our website.

A bit more on FC Edmonton: The professional soccer team was founded in 2010 and plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The NASL is sanctioned as a second tier of professional soccer in North America, under the Major Soccer League (MLS). It is comprised of 12 teams, with nine in the U.S., two in Canada, and one in Puerto Rico. FC Edmonton’s season begins on Saturday April 2nd at Rayo OKC, before opening at home on April 10th against Minnesota United FC at Clarke Field in Edmonton. Visit the FC Edmonton website at www.fcedmonton.com for full details. For more information on the North American Soccer League, visit their website at www.nasl.com.

For more details, contact Jennifer Ellarma, Coordinator of Communications and Funds Development with the Saskatchewan Soccer Association at 1-306-519-9093, or via email at ccfd@sasksoccer.com.