Wanted: Coaches, referees for youth soccer

Wishing to coach, but don’t want too much pressure from training players?

Try volunteering your service with the 2008 NMIFA Fall Youth Football League which is looking for coaches and referees for the opening of the youth event on Sept. 15.

Sue Knecht, vice president of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association and chair of NMIFA’s Youth Committee, said they are looking for coaches who will create a learning, but fun soccer environment for players during training and actual games.

“Think about how much fun you are going to have with these little Under-6, Under-8, and Under-10 players,” Knecht said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

Knecht said first-time coaches need not to worry about having no experience in mentoring a team, as NMIFA will be holding a free coaching clinic for parents and volunteers.

The clinic will be held on Sept. 2 and 3, from 6pm to 8pm. Today’s coaching seminar will take place at the NMIFA office in TSL Building in Garapan, while tomorrow’s clinic will be held at the Civic Center Field and Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Interested participants in the clinic are required to be in an athletic attire, as facilitators will demonstrate game and practice drills in the two-day seminar.

They are also asked to pre-register with NMIFA administrative secretary Sara Yap-Brostrom or Gigi Zapanta. Registration can be made via phone by calling 235-0173 or via email at syap@nmifa.com.

CNMI National Coach Nick Swaim will be spearheading the clinic.

Individuals who will volunteer to coach will be tasked to handle each age group teams from NMIFA’s four clubs, namely the MP United, Matansa, Independents, and Pairie.

Players who are interested to play in the league are requested to register at NMIFA or inquire with the coordinators of the respective clubs.

Tina Goodwin is the coordinator for MP United, Christina Smith for Matansa, Michael Thomas for the Independents, and Francine Sablan for Pairie.

Last year, the fall league had only three clubs, which represented Saipan’s three zones.

Zone 1 was for players from the village north of Isla Road, including the north portion of Capital Hill to Santa Rita Rd. Zone 2 was consisted of players from Navy Hill, Capitol Hill and I Denni area South of Isla road all the way to Santa Rita Road. Zone 2 was extended all the way to every area north of the intersection of Microl/Beach Rd and Mobile Station and Middle Rd. North back to Garapan. Zone 3 was for players from south and east of Microl intersection, Beach road, Mobil station of Middle Rd. and all the way south to Koblerville, and East as far as Papago and Kagman.

NMIFA used zoning last year to encourage stronger participation in areas which might not be able to travel all the way to the centralized playing fields at American Memorial Park.

Today, zoning is still in effect for players wishing to play in any of the four youth football clubs on Saipan.