Category: News

Kamloops, BC — It’s the time of year again when the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) pays tribute to one of its pioneers, Mike Bartram.

Thirty-two KYSA teams will take part in the Annual Mike Bartram Memorial Youth Soccer Tournament Friday, May 3rd to Sunday, May 5th. The event is partly funded by KYSA Spring League sponsor, The Chopped Leaf.

It will be the first competitive tournament of the season for the boys and girls Spring League teams in the U13 to U18 age groups.

All games will be played at McArthur Island.

The KYSA chose to name it’s early season tournament in Bartram’s honour shortly after he passed away in the year 2000.

Mike Bartram was a dedicated volunteer in the Kamloops soccer community. He served on the KYSA executive for many years, he refereed and he coached. As a father of three daughters, his role in developing girls soccer was particularly noticeable.

Bartram also played the game and was involved in adult soccer, including time spent coaching teams at the University level.

As has been the case in previous years, Mike’s widow Charmaine and his daughters will be present at this year’s tournament, presenting awards and helping celebrate his legacy.

The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) has purchased the Soccer Dome from Lane’s End Holdings Ltd. The association has been leasing the building since 2014 to facilitate indoor training during the winter months. With the lease expiring in April, the opportunity to purchase was available to KYSA and the timing was right.

The Soccer Dome is a much needed facility in the community, allowing KYSA to run programs year-round. Throughout the fall the club’s Centre of Excellence programs take precedence, allowing players to focus on skill development under the guidance of qualified staff coaches. In the winter months leading into the season, Select teams participate in preseason training. Over the past two seasons, the Spring League teams have participated in indoor staffed training sessions prior to the City fields opening.

“We are super excited about the potential to turn this building into a new, fresh KYSA clubhouse. We want to make the Dome a place for our members to come, relax and watch the kids play soccer”, as stated by Candace Dodson-Willis, President of KYSA.

In addition to KYSA’s programming, there are a number of user groups in the Kamloops sporting community that benefit from the Dome. With City fields being closed from mid-October to mid-April, there is an essential need for space.

The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association is actively seeking corporate sponsors to contribute to the upgrade of the Dome, as well as the naming rights for the facility. KYSA will be putting together a volunteer work bee to clean, paint and update in the near future. If you are interested in sponsorship or volunteering in any capacity, please contact Executive Director Missy Cederholm at 250-376-2750 for more information.

#TogetherWeAreKYSA

KAMLOOPS, BC –– The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association’s (KYSA’s) U7 to U12 teams begin play this weekend as the 2019 season gets underway with an Ice Breaker Jamboree that will see the teams in these age groups play several small-sided games over two days.

This event is all for fun and gives players a chance to get back into the groove of playing outdoor soccer, with close to 1200 registered players in the U7 to U12 boys and girls age groups hitting the field this weekend.

The Ice Breaker Jamboree also provides an opportunity for new and returning small-sided referees to be mentored. The KYSA works with the Kamloops Soccer Referees Association (KSRA) to provide a supportive and encouraging environment, as many of these referees will be officiating their first game ever.

On Monday (April 15), the remainder of the teams in the KYSA will take to the fields for regular league play. The association’s U4/5/6 Initiation Training Program begins on Monday, April 22.

Throughout the season, the KYSA will host three additional tournaments: the Mike Bartram Memorial Youth Soccer Tournament (for U13 to U18 teams), the Slurpee Cup (for U11 to U18 select/development teams), and the Errol Wild Memorial Mini-Soccer Festival (for U4 to U12 teams). The end of June will also see U13 to U18 teams compete in the Spring League Playoffs.

There will be the traditional summer hiatus in the months of July and August. In September, players who have registered for the fall season will regroup for a six-week program.

Meanwhile, the KYSA’s 20 U-11 to U18 boys and girls Select and Development teams have begun their participation in this year’s Thompson-Okanagan Youth Soccer League. In addition to Kamloops, the league has representation from Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. KYSA Select teams will be vying to qualify for various levels of Provincial Cup competitions, which take place in July.

We are pleased to announce that Keith Liddiard has been nominated for the 2019 Kamloops Sports Council Sports Person of the Year.  Keith dedicated 10 years of service to the Kamloops community as executive director of the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association.  Keith was instrumental in bring the Canadian Soccer Association U16 National Championships to Kamloops in 2013 as well as multiple local, regional and provincial championships over multiple years.  Under his guidance the KYSA grew into one of the best managed club in the province.

We wish Keith all the best with his nomination!

Applications are now open for the 2019 KYSA Scholarship awards. The application deadline is Friday, May 31st at 4pm.

Click HERE for more info.