Inside Soccer – Original Masters Coming to Saskatoon
July 7, 2016
Masters sporting events have been gaining in popularity all over the globe. With the original World Masters Games taking place in Toronto in 1985 with 8000 participants, next year’s games slated for Auckland New Zealand. It could be the biggest ever and will host up to 30,000 athletes. This has become a massive event for athletes over the age of 30.
Masters Sports Festival Director and visionary Hugh Vassos is making the masters dream a reality in our very own city. While our event won’t be attracting tens of thousands, Vassos hopes this will grow into something special.
From July 15-17 The Original Masters Sports Festival will be composed of five sports. The adult soccer community is thrilled to have its sport on that list.
It will be strictly coed. Given the condense weekend schedule it will be shortened games on a quarter field pitch. It’s six-versus-six so you won’t need a large roster to become a part of it. Ideally teams would have 11 players.
As one of the difficulties in summer can be finding enough players to enter a team, Saskatoon Adult Soccer Inc. will be assisting individuals and partial groups to create teams.
Contact executivedirector@saskatoonadultsoccer.com with any inquiries.
One of the concerns was having games early on the Friday. This has been addressed. Quick thinker SASI executive director Danielle Zimmer has made the adjustment. Soccer games will only be scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. With potentially warmer July conditions the 40 minute time slots for games are sounding quite attractive.
Teams are guaranteed four games while the top teams will play a final. Beer Gardens, soccer, music and good Saskatoon summer weather seem like the perfect combination. Every registrant will receive an all access pass to all events on the weekend.
Your registration will also get you a souvenir gift. Teams will also be eligible to win team prizes. In addition, proceeds will be going towards a good cause.
It’s an event designed for all. New players and less skilled players are most welcome as it is designed mainly to combine socializing and sport. It’ll be a pretty chillax atmosphere, with a celebration of sport near the forefront.
With most events based at and around the SaskTel Sports Centre, it’ll be a spectacle for anyone driving by in the north eastern part of our city. It’s something everyone over the age of 30 will want to be a part of.
Being only one of the five featured sports, soccer joins a list that includes golf, beach volleyball, 5km team walk as well as pickle ball, the fastest growing senior sport. Visit www.masterssportsfestival.ca for more information on the event.
Lee Kormish is a freelance writer who can be reached at leekormish@sasktel.net.
Saskatoon Adult Soccer Inc.
150 Nelson Road
Saskatoon, SK S7S 0P2
(306) 975-3427
