Introduction

Yorkton United Football Club is proud to be a Canada Soccer MA Level 1 Club License holder. This license allows our players access to a high level of competition in Saskatchewan, namely the PSL and 9-a-side Indoor Provincial Championship. One of the license's requirements is to operate a Canada Soccer Skill Centre.

This change occurred in our Fall 2023/Winter 2024 season and has seen the successful amalgamation of the community and club programs in a dedicated Skill Centre for U8, U10, and U12 programs.  

Our Skill Centre’s goal is to provide all young players between the ages of 6 and 12 with the best possible environment to play in, developing not only skills but also a love of the game. This aligns nationally with the best principles in player development.

Skill Centre Principles

As player development doesn’t follow a linear path, we can only guess which players at early ages will develop to elite levels. This understanding stresses the importance that all players have equal access to the best environment for as long as possible!

#1 Soccer is Fun for All.

By ensuring the element of fun is included during training and play, the love and interest in the game is strengthened. This leads players to stay engaged in the program longer, further developing skills. Equal opportunity for players to play soccer is a cornerstone of the program.

#2 Training Through Play.

For players to effectively develop, skills should be learned through small-sided games with conditions or tasks that recreate game problems using one of the 4 moments of play (attacking, defending, transition to attack and transition to defend) for the players to solve. This is a departure from traditional training methods, moving away from “drills” where players perform skills in isolation from the game and from game based decisions.

#3 Lots of Touches on the Ball

The more contact time players at this age get with the ball, the better! The goal will be to create a training environment that leads to players developing ball mastery.  If a player doesn’t have a soccer ball,  we have some gently used soccer balls we can give to a player at no charge, ensuring they have the opportunity to play soccer away from training.

#4 Meaningful Feedback

Parents can expect to receive program goals and meaningful feedback on the development of their child. Parents have a vital role to play in the development of their child in soccer. Clear communication of goals and feedback will help align parents’ and coaches’ support as the player develops.

Program Details

We will offer programs in three age groups: U8, U10, and U12. The programs are organized by age and gender but are flexible depending on the player's needs. Players will have the option of training one, two, or three days a week! Days and times are listed below under each program.

NEW for the 2024-25 indoor season. 

1. Players have the option of selecting either a static training schedule or a flexible training schedule.
   • Static Training Schedule—Register for a specific day(s) to train. You can only attend the days registered for.
   • Flexible Training Schedule—For an additional $50 fee, players can register for either 1 or 2 training days per week. Players will have the flexibility to choose which day(s) they attend training each week, up to the number of days selected at registration.
2. Under-12 Programs will participate in the Great League Futsal League; U12 will be a development league, and no standings will be posted.  Details on what this will look like are finalized, and we will have it posted ASAP. 

Blocks

Fall Block - Sept 23rd to Dec 7th
Winter Block - Jan 6th to March 15th

Training

Players will be split into groups of 8-10 players. Each group will be led through 4 stations per practice, with one station always being a game. Groups will always be split by gender. Groups can be fluid,  grouped by age, school, physical size, skill, etc.

General info

• Location: Gallagher Centre Flexihall
• Players can sign up to train 1, 2, or 3 days a week.

U8 Skill Centre

For players born in 2017 and 2018, we will offer 60-minute training sessions three days a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

U10 Skill Centre

For players born in 2015 and 2016, we will offer 75-minute training sessions three days a week: Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:45 PM and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:45 PM.

U12 Skill Centre

For players born in 2013 and 2014, we will offer 75-minute training sessions three days a week: Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:45 PM and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:45 PM.

Game Days

Throughout each block, we will schedule 2-3 game days on either Saturday or Sunday. These game days will be in various formats: intra-skill centre games, games against other clubs, Dutch Festivals, 3v3 tournaments, etc. These days will be scheduled at the beginning of each block. We will ask you to ensure attendance for these games is communicated through our TeamLinkt App or by filling out a survey that will be emailed. These must be complete so we can create teams ahead of the games.

Competition Weekends and Tournaments

U8

U10 & U12

• Yorkton, Nov 15 to 17
• Swift Current, Nov 29 to Dec 1

• Moose Jaw, Jan 17 to 19
• Yorkton, Feb 28 to March 2
• Weyburn, March 7 to 9 (optional weekend)
  

Fees

Skill Centre Base Fee - $125
Includes:

• One-time fee for the indoor season (April to Aug 2024)
• SSA & RAMP Fees
• Skill Centre Training Jersey (if you are a returning player, you will not receive another jersey, and a $30 discount will be applied to your registration)
• Player Feedback Report Card

Training Fee - $85
A fee of $85 per day you sign up for. 

Inclusive Environment

Yorkton United FC believes in providing an inclusive environment for our programs. Although we are limit registrations due program capacities, everyone is invited to register.   

Our training groups are fluid, allowing us to modify our training environments to allow us to adjust to player’s individual needs. 

If the registration fee is a barrier to play, please contact us and we can help you apply for financial assistance through Jumpstart,  Kidsports or YUFC athlete assistance program.