Youth Soccer in Edmonton & Area

Edmonton & Area Youth Soccer Petition
310 Morin Maze NW
Edmonton, AB T6K 1V1
May 6, 2005

To all supporters of youth soccer in Edmonton and surrounding communities:

We are parents of children who have played soccer for the past 10 years, both indoor and outdoor, community and club. We have always been strong supporters of the game and have volunteered many hours for our childrens teams. Over the past few years, we have become increasingly frustrated with the division between Edmonton Minor Soccer Association (EMSA) and the Edmonton Interdistrict Youth Soccer Association (EIYSA).
One of our concerns is that the division between the two organizations is leading to a deterioration of club soccer throughout Edmonton and area. We are also concerned that by having two separate organizations governing youth soccer in Edmonton, the parents are not getting full value for the dollars they put into their childrens soccer. By having one governing body over youth soccer, many expenses would not need to be duplicated. For instance, we would not need to pay for two buildings to house the organizations, the expenses of having two executives could be paired down, and technical programs could be streamlined, just to name a few. The whole of youth soccer would benefit immensely if the governing bodies would align themselves more efficiently and productively under one umbrella.
To try and pressure EMSA and EIYSA to work together for the benefit of our youth soccer players, we are organizing a petition to present to them calling for such action. If you agree with the intent of the petition, we are asking that you sign it and share it with all of your players and parents and get as many people as you can to sign it. If our coaches (or managers) could get at least one page of signatures each, the total number would be far too great to be ignored. EMSA and EIYSA would be forced to address the demands of their parents, coaches, players, and community league members. Its time to build a stronger program for our children, where they can play to the highest level of their ability and not be held back because they play for one organization and not the other.
Please feel free to make as many copies of the petition as you like and, again, please encourage as many people as you can to sign the petition. We have the power to make this happen, but only if we stand up and stand together.
The deadline for this petition is June 30, 2005. If all petitions could be mailed back by June 30, they will be presented to EMSAs and EIYSAs next board meetings. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your participation in this endeavor. Should you require any other information regarding this petition or would like to make alternate arrangements for pick up of completed petitions, please feel to contact us at: 450-0931 or [email protected]




We, the undersigned; parents, community league members, players, and supporters of youth soccer in Edmonton and surrounding communities, call for, and hold accountable, the Edmonton Minor Soccer Association (EMSA) and the Edmonton Interdistrict Youth Soccer Association (EIYSA) to take immediate action to align and streamline the youth soccer programs in Edmonton under one organizing umbrella. As we, the undersigned, provide almost all of the funding for EMSA and EIYSA to operate through our registration fees and community league membership fees, we demand that our financial resources be better utilized in a manner that supports youth soccer and promotes healthy competition for all our teams. Having two separate organizing bodies for youth soccer is a waste of financial resources, promotes division between community and club soccer, and compromises the quality of our club teams. Our youth soccer players and coaches and parents deserve better.