Soccer sign‑ups are climbing in Saint John as more families register for the summer season.
Executive director Cynthia Young said more than 100 new youth players have joined the Saint John soccer club this year.
She added that the World Cup has created a noticeable shift in excitement among young players.
“The kids are really excited about the World Cup. They’re watching the games, and the energy at the field just feels different,” she said.
Young said the World Cup being hosted in Canada is also inspiring many young players.
“Having the World Cup in Canada makes it feel more attainable. Kids see it here and think, maybe I could get there too,” she said.
To match the interest, the club is offering six weeks of World Cup‑themed camps running from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Each week focuses on a different country:
- July 6–10: Canada
- July 13–17: Spain
- July 20–24: England
- July 27–31: France
- August 3–7: Portugal
New program aims to support more players
The club is also launching a free All‑Abilities program to support players with physical or mental disabilities.
Young said the idea has been in development for years and comes from training that their technical director completed.
“It’s something our technical director has wanted to do for a couple of years,” She said.
“He took training in Nova Scotia on offering soccer to players of all abilities, and we decided this was the year to start it.”
Young said the program will focus on fun, confidence and a welcoming environment.
The Field House is providing the space at no cost for the sessions on July 15, 22 and 29.
She added that the club’s growth over the years has helped them expand into more inclusive programming.
“We’re 20 years old this year. We’ve been around for a while, but we continue to grow. At one point, we were 100 per cent volunteer, and now we have four full‑time staff year‑round,” she said.
Young said the club hopes the new programs will help more families feel connected to the sport and give players of all abilities a chance to take part.
