Soccer’s #1: Calgary minor soccer supports recent sports survey
Children chose soccer according to recent sports survey
Today in Calgary, there’s 109,000 soccer participants. Over 45,000 are female. Photo: April Cruz
By April Cruz
A recent survey confirmed what thousands of Calgary minor soccer players know. Soccer is the game children want to play more than any other sport in our country.
The physical benefits, affordability and children wanting to participate are the key reasons for soccer’s popularity according to the BMO study.
The parents surveyed provided insight regarding the key influencers on their children when it came to choosing a sport to play, the children themselves.
Out of the 1,005 Canadian parents wtih children under the age of 16 who participated in the survey, 44 per cent expressed wanting to play soccer more than any thing else.
A practical driving force for parents when it comes to enrolling their child in any sport is affordability. Soccer was the preference with parents, viewed as an affordable source of exercise for their kids.
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As for a sport considered to be inclusive and appropriate for both sexes, the survey, conducted by Leger Marketing, proved soccer to be on top once again.
- The vast majority (96 per cent) of parents believe soccer is appropriate for both boys and girls alike;
- 94 per cent see soccer as a sport that embraces kids from all cultures and backgrounds;
- 83 per cent agree that youth soccer provides an effective outlet for children in the community beyond health benefits;
- Three-quarters also say that youth soccer leagues are an important part of communities.
The parents surveyed also provided insight as to why they believed it important to enroll their children in sports at all.
- The majority of parents hope that their children’s enrollment in sports develops their confidence (88 per cent), team spirit (74 per cent) and enthusiasm (65 per cent).
- Parents want their kids to have a good time (82 per cent).
- Interestingly, making their children more competitive had one of the lowest scores at 18 per cent.
The Calgary Minor Soccer Association’s (CMSA) Executive Director, Daryl Leinweber, was able to speak to the relevance of this survey in our city.
“Today in Calgary, there are 109,000 soccer participants. Over 45,000 are females. Our largest growth in Calgary, has been from the diverse population in the North East. The diversity of soccer in Calgary is demonstrated through the clubs and players in that area,” he said.
“The CMSA believes that all children, regardless of economic or cultural background should have the opportunity to experience this beautiful game.”
This doesn’t come without the challenges of trying to meet the demand of this growing sport.
“Due to the diverse languages and cultural backgrounds, the CMSA is working with the ethnic populations to get the information about registration out in ways that are inclusive and can be easily understood,” said Daryl Leinweber.
With the indoor season, soccer is now a year round sport in Calgary. The CMSA has leagues available for all levels between the ages of six to 18.
To broaden their reach even further, the CMSA also works with and supports Kidsport so that all children who apply, can play soccer.
Registration for a child to play indoor soccer is fast approaching. Visit the CMSA website to learn more about the process.
Category: Soccer
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