The 2025 outdoor soccer season now features a new format to increase participation and player development. Changes include scheduling, game numbers, practice formats, volunteer roles, and two new leagues. Our three main Leagues are as follows (more details below):
Exciting News:
The new season is set to begin on May 5th, running until the end of July. Lakeland League team division assessments will occur mid-end April, with the potential for practices mid-end April. Exact timings still to be announced.
Register for your desired league.
For players joining the Lakeland League (U-9 to U-19), they must attend player assessments (depending on registration numbers) in mid-end April (dates TBD) to ensure balanced teams.
After assessments, players can choose to continue in the Lakeland League or change to the House League. Any fee difference will be refunded.
The intent of the player assessments is two-fold: to evenly divide the teams, and to identify players who might better benefit from playing in House League. The parents of players identified by the technical staff as better benefiting from House League will be contacted for discussion. It will be the parent’s choice of what league their player ends up in, but with the understanding that development will likely be delayed if they remain in the Lakeland League due to more advanced practice drills and potentially reduced playing time.
At a minimum all players on a Lakeland team will play 50% in all House League matches and 25% in all Lakeland League/Lakeland Cup/Tournament matches. Regardless, players will be actively welcomed and not excluded:)
For all 3 leagues it will depend on registration numbers. House and Adult leagues will only be participating with other Cold Lake House/Adult teams. Only the Lakeland league will be playing associations/clubs.
Note: For the Lakeland League U17 & U19 teams, initial registration numbers will inform the final team composition and fee structure (likely lower due to reduced costs (see end of FAQs)).
The current plan is as follows:
House League
| Age Group | Players per Team | Game Size |
| U5 | 9 | 3v3 (no gk) |
| U7 | 12 | 4v4 (no gk) |
| U9 | 12 | 5v5 (w/ gk) |
| U11 | 16 | 7v7 (w/ gk) |
| U13 | 18 | 9v9 (w/ gk) |
| U15/17/19 | 20 | 11v11 (w/gk) |
Lakeland League
| Age Group | Players per Team | Game Size |
| U9 | 12 | 5v5 (w/ gk) |
| U11 | 16 | 7v7 (w/ gk) |
| U13 | 18 | 9v9 (w/ gk) |
| U15/17/19 | 20 | 11v11 (w/gk) |
Adult League
| Age Group | Players per Team | Game Size |
| 16+ | Team choice | TBD |
Our current plan is for all teams to play at the fields surrounding the Energy Centre. Note: Locations may change due to registration numbers.
Additionally, registration fees include the following allowance for the Energy Centre Turf:
- House League: ~4x times per season.
- Lakeland League: ~1x time per week.
- Adult League: ~8x times per season.
- House League: One game per week from mid-May to end-July. Ref’d/Monitored by a technical/head coach.
-Lakeland League: Follows Lakeland League schedule and plays in the next highest age group's House League (e.g., U11 Lakeland League teams in U13 House League). Referee provided by Lakeland Soccer District for Lakeland League sanctioned games.
- Adult League: One game per week from mid-May to end-July, break in August, resume from early September to early October. Referees TBD.
- House League: Once per week, starting beg-May.
- Lakeland League: Once per week, possibly twice (when no Lakeland game exists that week). Max 3x events per week.
- Adult League teams: One open scrimmage slot per week for pickup soccer. All participants in this must be registered for insurance purposes and cost sharing.
- For House League players looking to enhance their skill, we will be introducing 1x additional skills practice per week. Details to follow.
- Keeper/Goalie specialized practices will also be announced, likely 1-2x per month.
We are introducing a new practice format to minimize parental commitment and enhance instruction quality. Each team will have one assistant coach (no soccer experience required) and share one head coach (soccer/coaching experience required) with another team. Practices will include a warm-up, two 15-20 minute drills with different head coaches (teams rotate), and 20-30 minutes of small-sided games.
This format will ensure that players benefit more equally from quality instruction. Warm-ups and drills will be assigned by the technical director prior to practices for head coaches to review.
This will resemble previous years, with each team having a manager, assistant coach and head coach.
For this season, coaches will be required to adhere to specific tactical themes and general practice structures. This approach is essential for ensuring consistent learning and development, across successive years and different coaching staff.
Not quite playoffs but:
- House League will feature a season end Funfest (tentative July 26-27th), where House teams will compete and enjoy the end of a fantastic season!
- The Lakeland League teams will have the Lakeland Cup at the end of June (dates TBD) and will continue to practice and play House League locally until the end of July. Fun-Fest participation TBD. An out of area tournament is expected in June or July.
- The Adult league will end in October, or whenever it snows!
- House League teams can attend any desired tournament, but it must be organized by the assistant, head coach or parents. Tournament fees are to be paid by the parents, as they are not included in the registration fees. The expectation for House League registration is that no travel is required. Hybrid teams are permitted.
- Lakeland League teams will attend both the Lakeland Cup and an out-of-district tournament selected by the association (date and location TBD). Fees for these tournaments are included with registration. Any additional tournaments must be organized by the manager, assistant, or head coach, with fees paid by the parents. Only the Lakeland Cup and an out-of-district tournament are included in registration fees. The expectation for Lakeland League registration is that only 1x out-of-district tournament attendance per season. Hybrid teams are permitted.
- Adult teams can attend any desired tournament, which must be organized and paid for by the players, as tournament fees are not included in registration fees. Hybrid teams are permitted.
Note: All players across all leagues are Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) registered, allowing participation in any tournament.
- House League players will each receive a jersey with a number. Shorts and socks also for U9 and up.
- Lakeland League players will each receive one/two jerseys, with both a number and their name. Shorts and socks included. The plan is for Light blue (Manchester City) and Pink (Inter Miami) for coordinated Association home and away colours (availability pending).
- Adult League players will each receive a jersey with a number.
- House League: Each player receives a soccer ball.
- Lakeland League: Each player receives a soccer ball, except for U15 and up.
- Adult League: Game balls provided.
These will be at team discretion. Fundraising by the team will be required to pay.
All coaches (House and Lakeland) will receive a Cold Lake Soccer Association shirt, with “COACH/STAFF” on the back. This will help with identification at practices and games.
With the discontinuation of volunteer bonds and associated Bingo activities, we are implementing a new strategy to ensure the fulfillment of our essential parental commitment requirements: financial incentives.
These will be paid near year end, once commitments are verified as having been satisfactorily completed.
Some important points:
Should no parent volunteer to meet the necessary requirements, the team will regrettably be dissolved. We sincerely hope that this situation can be avoided but ultimately our success depends on the participation of parents.
While it depends on the age group and team size, the approximate cost are (per player):
While it depends on the age group and team size, the main additions are as follows (per player):
Email us at technical@clmsa.ca
:)
Lakeland Cup Indoor 2024/2025
Please Join us as We host Lakeland Cup at the Cold lake energy Center
Outdoor Registration
Outdoor Registration for Cold Lake Soccer Association