Abbotsford Soccer Association

Coaches are great, lot's of great opportunities.

The staff at ASA truly care for the community. There have been more times than I can count that I have gone in to visit at the office where they were discussing someone who could not afford to play and how they were going to help that child, or what other programs they could add that would bring value to the people of Abbotsford. This is a club that puts community first, I’m proud to be a part of the ASA family.

I would give the organization, not the coaches, one star. the coaches (which are the strength of any league, get a five star). However, the coaches are incredibly underpaid for the fees the association charges it's members. My daughter used to play on a U12 - 1b girls team but this year we pulled her out since the fees for the year were $850. $400 for registration and admin fees and $450 for coaching fees since it is a "select" team. Challenge here is the coaches only make around $20/practice or game and $1800ish (just my guess) for the season. So ASA collects around $6300 for the "extra coaching fees" of which the coaches only get the previous mentioned $1800. So where does the rest of these coaching fees go. As a point of reference, the North Shore U12 girls team has a $350 registration fee, Gorge Victoria is $350, Surrey is $350, Cpuquitlam is $355 with access to funding support, KLM Vancouver is $565, and the list goes on. And I quote, "The $450 paid coach fee covers costs associated with hiring a coach with all the proper qualifications for the age group. While paid coaches might not receive the full income of funds (although some are close) and obviously the total income received by the club varies from team to team (based on # of players), there is also a contingency for coaching attire, additional coaching aids/resources and ongoing coach education (certification and licenses) to name but a couple of additional, on going expenses that the club inherits with paid staff." Ultimately we had to choose for our family to leave the club since it was being run so poorly, late information, never really knowing what's happening and how they dealt so inappropriately with our previous coach who they fired without warning in front of our girls which resulted in literal wailing in tears since they loved this coach. That is so unprofessional and it does not justify the fees they charge hard working families. The director of the league makes 6 figures. The GM makes as much as I do as a professional full time business development specialist for a very reputable company. These high salaries are in alignment with why they have such high fees and charge a single family $850/player for a U12 girls team. Be careful if you choose to join this league. They do not provide refunds what so ever. One of our previous friends daughters didn't like how the league was running the program so they left the league asking for a refund (it was two weeks into the season). ASA said no. The girl ended up playing in the "other" soccer league in town and after they heard that she had paid but wasn't refunded, they let her play on the team for free. That's how you do non profit. I hope this league gets it's board of directors together so they can appropriately manage the funds. Not paying 50-60% of it to two overpaid execs for the club. Tragic that in a time when my daughter could play a sport she loved, we have to pull her so she can still participate in two other paid programs not associated with ASA. I'll I can say is be aware if you decide to enroll your son/daughter in this league.

My son has been involved for numerous years. The coaches give great skills to our youth.

Progressive leadership, knowledgeable and dedicated staff, and responsive to community needs. Players are provided options of various levels of competition and it’s exciting to see the recent expansion and growth of ASA adult programming. Fitness4Life is the goal ?