Canada Soccer funds Soccer in Schools grants across Saskatchewan and Ontario

Canada Soccer has announced funding to support its Soccer in Schools project which will initially be offered across Saskatchewan and Ontario in 2024. In the project’s first year, Canada Soccer will support $400,000 in funding across 100 organisations in the two provinces. Canada Soccer plans to expand the project across the rest of the country in future years.

“As a goal, Canada Soccer envisions a country where every child can access quality sport and recreation in a safe, fun, and welcoming environment,” said Canada Soccer President Charmaine Crooks. “In partnership with local organisations, Canada Soccer recognises the integral role that the public school system can play in support of this goal.”

The Soccer in Schools grants will ensure greater inclusion in sport through the public school system, providing opportunities to kids who may not have had the means to participate in organised sports. The grant program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Community Sport for All initiative with the support of the Ministry of Sport and Physical Activity. In all, Canada Soccer will direct more than $1.2 million in funding for programs like Soccer in Schools, Free Kicks – Try It Events, and IDEA learning (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility).

Community clubs within Saskatchewan and Ontario are invited to apply to the Soccer in Schools program before 18 March 2024. The organisation must be a member of Saskatchewan Soccer or Ontario Soccer and they must be a Canada Soccer Club Licence holder or in the process of obtaining their Club Licence.

Soccer is the most popular and widely-accessible team sport across the world. It is a sport that is simple to understand and requires minimal equipment. It is a sport that people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can enjoy. It also offers a range of physical, mental, and social benefits for those who play the sport.

The Soccer in Schools grant will provide schools with enhanced tools and education to deliver an outstanding in-school soccer experience for everyone involved. By connecting local soccer organisations to their local public schools, Canada Soccer will increase the ability for participant engagement and to experience organised play in their community.

For more information on Soccer in Schools, please visit migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/soccerinschools.