Courtesy: Vermilion Standard


Lakeland College to introduce soccer program this fall

by Taylor Pollmann

Lakeland College will be introducing a brand new program to its athletic repertoire this fall, soccer.

"We haven't added a program to Lakeland College for a number of years and we felt soccer would be a very good fit" said Rustlers Athletic Director, Alan Rogan.

Both male and female outdoor teams will be represented in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) next year by Lakeland, with all the home games for the Rustlers being held on Lloydminster's main campus gym. While the team will be based out of Lloydminster, Rogan insists the program is open to all students of Lakeland, including Vermilion.

"We're based out of Lloydminster, that is probably where the majority of our student athletes will come from, but we'll have some student athletes that will compete for the Rustlers from the Vermilion Campus as well," said Rogan.

Lakeland also started two futsal teams last year to take part in the ACAC demonstration season. Futsal is a type of soccer played between two teams of five players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Unlimited substitutes per team are permitted. Unlike some other forms of indoor soccer, the game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines; walls or boards are not used. Futsal is also played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regulation soccer. The rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

The program was successful enough the ACAC made a decision to keep the sport last month.

"We just received approval in our May meeting, so futsal is now an official ACAC sport for the upcoming year," said Rogan.

The futsal teams, both male and female will play and practice their games in a variety of different facilities.

"Futsal will be practicing out of the gymnasium in Lloydminster. We host the ACAC championships next year, they will be held at the Commonwealth Centre in Lloydminster," Rogan said.

The Rustlers are currently the futsal provincial champions after posting an impressive undefeated season last year, which Lakeland hopes will carry forward into its outdoor season.

The two outdoor teams will hold open tryouts in Lloydminster in mid-August, where Rogan insists all Lakeland students are welcome to try-out.

"We are holding open try-outs to anyone that wants to participate, as long as they are students of Lakeland College," Rogan said.

The futsal teams will be holding try-outs in the winter


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com