To kick-off the competitive program for Cochrane’s aspiring soccer stars, the Cochrane Wolves FC took to the Bow Valley High School pitch on April 14 for the opening of their competitive program to get their athletes primed for the upcoming season.
Scott Ansell, director of soccer operations for the Cochrane Wolves, said their opening session consisted of U9 to U11 players in the morning, followed by U12 to U19 players in the afternoon.
“We’ve got everyone coming out to get touches on the ball, make new friends, opportunity to meet the coaches that we’ll have for the season, and future team mates that they might have,” Ansell explained.
Ansell said that the session was being led by director of coaching, Matt Thomas. He explained that the session involved scrimmages with different learning objectives for the players.
“He’s a former professional [soccer] player, at a national and provincial level,” Ansell said. “So, he’s basically going into a full game day, where we’re doing three versus three, where the coaches are each facilitating their station.”
This season, Ansell is hoping to see more personal growth from the players, and believes that soccer helps serve as the basis for other life skills down the line.
“Hopefully we can develop those players, and usually by the end of the season we’ve seen some growth on and off the field,” Ansell said.
The current season runs from mid-April to the third week of September. Ansell said the club plays in the Calgary League with their matches held in Cochrane, Calgary, and the surrounding area.
Ansell said the Wolves are primarily focused on developing the child first.
“We aren’t here to win or create a winning mentality, we are here to create a really positive sporting experience, where they learn new skills, make friends, and create new relationships,” he said.
Registration for the Cochrane Wolves FC is open year-round, explained Ansell. Although there may be pre-set deadlines for competing in the Calgary League, parents can register their kids for teams with available openings.
“We have other programs in these ages as well,” Ansell explained. “Like Skill Centre, which parents can still register for.”
Ansell said he would like to give a special thanks to all the coaches for taking the time to give back to the community and help the kids nurture a love for soccer.
“A few of them are actually parents, but a lot of them are just dedicated coaches that are just getting out because they want to give back to the game, and they’ve taken an interest in their own development,” Ansell said.
For anyone interested in learning more, or registering, Ansell said they can find more information by visiting cochranewolvesfc.ca.
“We’re excited for this season, and we’re hoping to be a pillar in the community for sport,” Ansel said. “Our club is growing each year, and we’ll see where the future takes us.”
