Viasport B.C. is hosting a free Women’s World Cup Legacy workshop at UBC Okanagan on Sept. 20.
The workshop is designed to promote, encourage, and provide training for women’s participation in soccer as coaches, officials, and administrators across the Okanagan. The workshop goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features keynote speeches from Michelle Pye (Kamloops-born women’s World Cup referee), a women in leadership workshop, an introduction to coaching and officiating, followed by a festival with local youth soccer players.
Adam Fritz, director, marketing and corporate partnerships for Viasport B.C., said they are looking for anyone 16 and up to sign up at www.viasport.ca/soccerlegacy. Viasport is offering travel grants for groups such as Pinnacles FC as organizers of the event don’t want money to prevent participants from attending. Fritz added that the more people they get trained in coaching and officiating, it will mean a better experience for those playing the sport.
“We would love to see a huge number of people from Penticton participating,” said Fritz.
Viasport B.C., along with their partners with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, B.C. Soccer, UBC Okanagan, and the Canadian Association for the Advancement for Women in Sport, have donated approximately $100,000 in time and resources to carry on these events across the province.
Fritz said along with providing an intro to coaching and officiating, they also want to give people a chance to see what the experience if for both.
“Soccer is a fantastic game,” he said. “By coaching and officiating, you have the opportunity to impact the lives and the long term future of thousands of youth across B.C. who participate in soccer.”