Battlefords United Football Club (BUFC) saw their indoor soccer program continue to grow this year, with six teams competing this season from U-7 and U-9s ages to the U-15s. (submitted photos/Celeste Glasser-Cook)

By Martin Martinson

Community soccer

BUFC caps successful indoor season with continued growth of game

Feb 24, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The Battlefords United Football Club (BUFC) capped their indoor season at provincials over the weekend, bringing to a close another successful campaign.

Although the U-15 boys finished outside the podium at the provincial tournament held in Regina, coach and competitive coordinator of BUFC, Kat Huxley, said the experience gained at the event can only serve as a boon to the club and players involved.

“For every single athlete on the U-15 boys team, this was their first time at a provincial championship with Sask. Soccer so I think the experience, the knowledge and the ‘how-to’ gained this weekend was a huge win for them,” Huxley said. “The boys are very eager to stay training and to get back on the field for the outdoor season because they want to be the top team in the province in their division.”

That commitment to getting better, reinforced by positive coaching strategies, has been integral to the continued rise of soccer’s popularity within the Battlefords’ community. This year was amongst the biggest turnouts enrolment-wise for an indoor season, with teams at various age groups taking home medals throughout the season.

About five years ago, Huxley helped spearhead a movement within the community soccer program, changing the Battlefords’ soccer scene from being one of individual competitive teams in individual age groups to being one main club with one main focus: “to be a solid, consistent, competitive club within the entire province,” she said; adding that the program has been growing incredibly since.

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In addition to honing their skills on the soccer pitch through physical drills and conditioning, since the change, the BUFC has also put an increased emphasis on the mental side of the game.

“[We have been] discussing health and mental health with them and how all of these things come together as a whole and it has really shown an increase in our athletes and in our athletes’ ability, to much success over time,” Huxley said. “This has been a phenomenal season and probably our best indoor season since changing the club around as a whole to become one big club.”

The Battlefords United Football Club will now see a brief pause in action, before shifting to the outdoor soccer season, which will begin in mid-April.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1