Although the Niverville Force soccer team has only been around for two years, they are already accomplishing great things and looking for more players.
This year, the Force are playing indoor soccer for the first time. The team competes in the Manitoba Major Soccer League’s (MMSL) Second Division. After ten games, they are number one in the standings with an impressive 8–0–2 record.
Indoor soccer is the same as the outdoor version, with only a few modifications. Games are played on a half-field and are played with either eight or nine players per side as opposed to the usual 11 per side in outdoor soccer.
Co-owners Andry Giesbrecht and Sue Thompson are very pleased with their team’s current roster. However, the Force will be looking for some new players, with tryouts to start in February.
Giesbrecht says that the team is recreational but competitive so they will require players to have significant skills on the field.
Potential players need to be males aged 16 or older. They also need to be people of good character.
In general, the Niverville team holds one practice and has one game per week, so players need to be prepared to commit this amount of time.
“You have to be a good teammate, be supportive, come to practices, have a good work ethic, etc.,” says Giesbrecht.
The Force currently has players from at least five different countries, including a diverse range of ethnicities, religions, and ages. Some athletes, Giesbrecht says, don’t even speak a lot of English. But it doesn’t matter because they are bonded by the language of soccer.
“It’s a global game and we all just want to be together so the more diversity the better.”
Training sessions for the Force’s indoor and outdoor soccer team are scheduled to take place February 10, 20, and 23 and they require pre-registration. Those chosen to participate will incur a $5 fee.
