Soccer tryouts coming up

The books are closed on another successful soccer season in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but it’s hardly time to rest for the organizers and some of the coaches. 

This summer, more than 400 youth, aged three to 19, participated in the club’s house league and travel programs at the Virgil soccer fields and Memorial Park. Beginning with the Timbits program, for the youngest players, up to the U16 Interlock program, the season wrapped up for house league players with a festival on Aug. 24.

The Club’s “rep”, or travel teams, most of whom play in the Niagara Soccer League, offered opportunities for boys and girls to compete at a higher level against clubs across the Niagara region. 

This weekend, the NOTL Soccer Club’s boys travel teams will hold the first of three weekends of open tryouts for the 2020 soccer season. 

The tryouts take place Sept. 21, 28 and Oct. 5 at the Virgil sports park. The schedule each day is as
follows:

10 a.m. U8 - boys born in 2012 - Coach Joe Pagnotta

11 a.m. U9  - boys  born in 2011 - Coach Adriano Giordano

12 p.m. U10 - boys born in 2010 - Coach  Alison Waller

1 p.m. U12  - boys  born in 2008 - Coaches Howie Taylor and Steve Szewczyk

Boys wishing to try out should show up, should bring a ball, their soccer cleats and shin pads, and report directly to the proper coaches. 

The club is also hoping to offer a U11 boys travel team, but tryout dates have yet to be scheduled for that team. As well, there will be another girls travel team potentially playing out of NOTL, though details on that team and its tryout schedule are also not yet finalized. 

Also coming up for the soccer club is its annual general meeting. That will take place at the Meridian Credit Union arena in the Mary Snider Room.on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. The general public is invited to this meeting and welcomes newcomers to put their names forward for positions that may be opening on the board.