Making a pitch for an adult soccer league

Registration now open for Woolwich Youth Soccer Club’s new co-ed adult league

DON’T LET THE ‘Y’ in WYSC fool you: the Woolwich Youth Soccer Club is expanding its horizons to include an outlet for adults.

The new adult league offers individuals 18 years of age and older the opportunity to get involved in a fun, recreational co-ed program for those of all abilities.

“We are excited about this program,” said Brendan Lowther, chair of the club’s rec. committee. “This is meant to help get the parents of our younger players active in the sport and provide a great way to get some exercise and have fun.”

This is the first time the WYSC has offered a program to those outside the youth cohort.

“As a club we wanted to reach out to more than the youth, although that is our main target. We wanted to provide a fitness activity for adults,” he said. “I brought the idea up to the board and they were fully accepting of it through the house league committee.”

Lowther noted that they are very excited about widening their offerings. That being said, with this being the trial run of the new league, they wanted to make it as affordable and as easy as possible for people to participate, leading to the structure of a fun recreational co-ed league – all for $50.

“We suspect this program will be a hit,” he said.

Registration has just begun. In order to play, adults are required to have just the most basic of regular soccer gear: shin guards and soccer cleats.

Teams, consisting of the usual 11-player on-field roster, will play games 50 minutes in length, with two 25 minutes halves. Players will be assigned to teams based on skill level, which will be self-reported when signing up.

“We are trying to create a new, unique and fun way for adults within the Woolwich community to get out and have some fun,” Lowther explained.

Having the first adult league in Woolwich be coed mirrors what neighbouring leagues are doing with great success.

“We thought that a coed league would allow for parents to play together or anybody else who wants to make sure they are on a team with a friend. We thought co-ed would be the way to go,” he said.

Requests to be placed on a team with a friend will be honoured, and those who are interested in playing with a spouse are asked to also put in a request with organizers.

As this is their first year, Lowther hopes they will have at least four teams for the inaugural season.

Games will be refereed and played on Sunday afternoons at Elmira’s Lions Park starting September 10. The fall session will include one game per week, and run for a total of seven weeks.

Registration for the new adult co-ed house league closes on September 1. Those interested in signing up are asked to visit www. woolwichyouthsoccer.com.